Electronic device

Provided is an electronic device including: a sensing component; a polarization film disposed on the sensing component; and a quarter-wave plate disposed between the sensing component and the polarization film.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices and, more particularly, to an electronic device comprising a display area and a sensing component such that the sensing component is disposed in the display area.

2. Description of Related Art

Owing to technological advancement, electronic products have a trend toward full-screen display in order to meet consumer needs. Therefore, an important topic for research in full-screen display is how to integrate optical sensing components, such as an embedded fingerprint sensor and a front lens, into an electronic device.

However, there are difficulties in placing the embedded sensing component in a display area. For example, when passing through a conventional display system, light is predisposed to interference to the detriment of the accuracy of the embedded sensing component. Furthermore, when placed in the display area, the embedded sensing component is visible to users and thus prevents the display from radiating good taste.

Therefore, it is imperative to provide an electronic device comprising a display area and an embedded sensing component such that the embedded sensing component is disposed in the display area to achieve full-screen display.

SUMMARY

In view of the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art, it is an objective of the present disclosure to provide an electronic device that achieves full-screen display with a quarter-wave plate and by patterned layering.

In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the present disclosure provides an electronic device. The electronic device comprises: a sensing component; a polarization film disposed on the sensing component; and a quarter-wave plate disposed between the sensing component and the polarization film.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The implementation of the present disclosure is hereunder illustrated by specific embodiments. Persons skilled in the art can easily understand the other advantages and effects of the present disclosure by referring to the disclosure contained herein. The present disclose can also be implemented or applied by the other different specific embodiments. Depending on different viewpoints and applications, various modifications and changes can be made to the details disclosed herein without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Ordinal numbers, such as ‘first’, ‘second’, ‘third’ and ‘fourth”, used hereunder describe claimed components but do not state implicitly or explicitly what order the claimed components are previously in, whether a claimed component precedes or follows another claimed component, or what order the steps of a manufacturing method are in. The sole purpose of the ordinal numbers is to distinguish a claimed component from another claimed component when the two claimed components are named exactly the same as each other.

Direction-related prepositions and adjectives used herein, such as “on”, “upper” and “above”, describe aforesaid two components either in direct contact with each other or not in direct contact with each other.

The present disclosure is hereunder described by illustrative embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The present disclosure may be combined with any other structure to form another embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 1, there is shown a cross-sectional view of an electronic device in an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 1, the electronic device of the present disclosure comprises: a sensing component1; a polarization film2disposed on the sensing component1; and a quarter-wave plate3disposed between the sensing component1and the polarization film2. Since the quarter-wave plate3is disposed between the sensing component1and the polarization film2, light which enters the polarization film2and reflects off the sensing component1can be rotated by the quarter-wave plate3by a quarter in terms of its polarized state and thus cannot pass through the polarization film2(i.e., is blocked by the polarization film2). As a result, users of the electronic device cannot see the sensing component1, and thus the sensing component1is visually pleasing or hidden.

When the electronic device is a display device, the electronic device may comprise: a display panel4comprising: a first substrate41; a second substrate42disposed on the first substrate41; and a display medium layer43disposed between the first substrate41and the second substrate42; a sensing component1; a polarization film2disposed on the sensing component1; a quarter-wave plate3disposed between the sensing component1and the polarization film2; and a backlight module5comprising a light guide component51, wherein the light guide component51is disposed between the sensing component1and the polarization film2; and a first light source52disposed adjacent to the light guide component51. The display panel comprises a display area A such that the sensing component1, the polarization film2and the quarter-wave plate3are disposed in the display area A. Since the quarter-wave plate3is disposed between the sensing component1and the polarization film2, the sensing component1can be disposed in the display area A without being visible, thereby achieving full-screen display.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the light guide component51is disposed between the polarization film2and the quarter-wave plate3, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For instance, the light guide component51is disposed between the quarter-wave plate3and the sensing component1.

The first substrate41and the second substrate42each can be a glass substrate or any other rigid substrate. Alternatively, the first substrate41and the second substrate42each can be a flexible substrate or a thin-film, wherein the first substrate41and the second substrate42can be made of the same material or different materials. The electronic device may further comprise a third substrate61disposed on the second substrate42. The third substrate61can be a glass substrate or any other rigid substrate. Alternatively, the third substrate61can be a flexible substrate or a thin-film. Examples of the glass substrate or any other rigid substrate comprise a quartz substrate, a glass substrate, a silicon wafer substrate, and a sapphire substrate. The material of the flexible substrate or thin-film may comprise, for example, polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), any other plastic or polymer, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The display medium layer43may comprise liquid crystal (LC), organic light-emitting diode (OLED), quantum dot (QD), quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED), fluorescent material, phosphor, light-emitting diode (LED), micro light-emitting diode (micro LED) or mini light-emitting diode (mino LED), any other display medium, or a combination thereof, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the LED has a chip scale of around 300 μm to 10 mm, the mini LED has a chip scale of around 100 μm to 300 μm, the micro LED has a chip scale of around 1 μm to 100 μm, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The sensing component1can be a front lens, a fingerprint sensor or any other optical sensor, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The electronic device can be a display device, a fingerprint sensing device, an optical sensing device, or an image capturing device, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The light guide component51is a transparent light guide component penetrable by light and the material of the light guide component51may comprise glass, transparent resin or any other appropriate material, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first light source52is can be a light-emitting diode (LED), a cold cathode tube or any other appropriate light source, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. When the display medium layer43comprises liquid crystal, the electronic device further comprises a sealant44disposed adjacent to the display medium layer43. In an embodiment, the sealant44surrounds the display medium layer43.

The backlight module5may further comprise a first spacing layer53and a second spacing layer54which are disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the light guide component51, respectively. Hence, the first spacing layer53is disposed between the light guide component51and the display panel4, whereas the second spacing layer54is disposed between the light guide component51and the sensing component1, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For instance, the light guide component51may comprise a first spacing layer53disposed on the upper surface of the light guide component51. Alternatively, the light guide component51may comprise a second spacing layer54disposed on the lower surface of the light guide component51. The first spacing layer53and the second spacing layer54can be an air gap, a silicon oxide layer, an aluminum oxide layer or any other layer with appropriate material, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device in another embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device ofFIG. 2is substantially identical to that ofFIG. 1except that the light guide component51is disposed between the quarter-wave plate3and the sensing component1. The other technical features of the electronic device ofFIG. 2are the same as their counterparts shown inFIG. 1and thus are, for the sake of brevity, not described herein again.

FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device ofFIG. 3is substantially identical to that ofFIG. 1orFIG. 2except for the differences described below. This embodiment is depicted byFIG. 3, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. As shown inFIG. 3, the electronic device further comprises a first blocking layer71. The first blocking layer71is disposed between the light guide component51and the sensing component1. The first blocking layer71has a plurality of first openings711.

The first blocking layer71can be a first reflecting layer, and the material thereof may comprise aluminum, silver, other suitable metal, an alloy thereof, or a combination thereof. The first blocking layer71may comprise a light-blocking material with an absorbance greater than 0.5, such as black matrix or any other appropriate material, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The shape and size of the first openings711are not limited by the present disclosure; for instance, the first openings711can be round, oval, rectangular or of an irregular shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the first blocking layer71can be a first reflecting layer, and the first openings711correspond to the sensing component1. In an embodiment, one of the first openings711corresponds to one of the sensing components1. In an embodiment, plural first openings711correspond to one of the sensing components1. In an embodiment, one of the first openings711corresponds to a plurality of sensing components1. In an embodiment, one of the first openings711does not correspond to the sensing component1. But the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device ofFIG. 4is substantially identical to that ofFIG. 3except that the light guide component51is disposed between the polarization film2and the quarter-wave plate3, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the light guide component51is disposed between the quarter-wave plate3and the sensing component1. As shown inFIG. 4, the electronic device further comprises: a second blocking layer72disposed between the first blocking layer71and the sensing component1, wherein the second blocking layer72has a plurality of second openings721; and a buffer layer73disposed between the second blocking layer72and the first blocking layer71, wherein the second blocking layer72has an absorbance greater than 0.5 and less than or equal to 1.0, and the buffer layer73has an absorbance less than or equal to 0.5 and greater than or equal to zero.

When the sensing component1is a fingerprint sensor, the present disclosure entails enhancing the resolution of the fingerprint sensor disposed in the display area A by the first blocking layer71and the second blocking layer72.

The second blocking layer72can be a reflecting layer and the material thereof may comprise aluminum, silver, other suitable metal, an alloy thereof, or a combination thereof. The second blocking layer72may comprise a light-blocking material with an absorbance greater than 0.5, such as black matrix or any other appropriate material, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The material which the buffer layer73is made of is not limited by the present disclosure; for instance, the buffer layer73may comprise glass or transparent resin, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The shape and size of the second openings721are not limited by the present disclosure; for instance, the second openings721can be round, oval, rectangular or of an irregular shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the second blocking layer72is a black matrix layer, and the second openings721correspond to the sensing component1. The positions of the second openings721relative to the sensing component1are similar to the positions of the first openings711relative to the sensing component1and thus are, for the sake of brevity, not described herein again.

FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device ofFIG. 5is substantially identical to that ofFIG. 4except for the differences described below. As shown inFIG. 5, the electronic device further comprises: a second reflecting layer74; and a third blocking layer75disposed between the second blocking layer72and the second reflecting layer74, wherein the third blocking layer75has a plurality of third openings751, and a distribution density of the second openings721can be different from a distribution density of the third openings751. The sensing component1is disposed between the second blocking layer72and the second reflecting layer74. In this embodiment, the electronic device has a reduced thickness because of the second reflecting layer74. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second blocking layer72disposed between the first blocking layer71and the sensing component1, and having a plurality of second openings721; and the third blocking layer75disposed between the second blocking layer72and the second reflecting layer74, and having a plurality of third openings751; wherein in view of a normal direction of an upper surface411of the first substrate41, at least two of the first opening711, the second opening721or the third opening751are partially overlapped.

In this embodiment, the third blocking layer75can be made of the same material as the second blocking layer72, whereas the second reflecting layer74can be made of the same material as the first reflecting layer71. The shape and size of the third openings751are not limited by the present disclosure; hence, this embodiment will work well, provided that the distribution density of the third openings751is different from the distribution density of the second openings721. In this embodiment, the distribution density of the third openings751is greater than the distribution density of the second openings721, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the second reflecting layer74is a patterned reflecting layer, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 6AandFIG. 6Bare cross-sectional views of a portion of the electronic device in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device ofFIG. 6AandFIG. 6Bis substantially identical to that ofFIG. 3orFIG. 4except that electronic device further comprises: a third blocking layer75disposed between the second blocking layer72and the sensing component1and having a plurality of third openings751; and a fourth blocking layer76disposed between the third blocking layer75and the sensing component1and having a plurality of fourth openings761, wherein the fourth openings761correspond to the sensing component1. The positions of the fourth openings761relative to the sensing component1are similar to the positions of the first openings711relative to the sensing component1and thus are, for the sake of brevity, not described herein again. The difference betweenFIG. 6AandFIG. 6Blies in the thickness of the buffer layer73. As shown inFIG. 6A, the buffer layer73disposed between the third blocking layer75and the fourth blocking layer76has the greatest thickness. As shown inFIG. 6B, the buffer layer73disposed between the second blocking layer72and the third blocking layer75has the greatest thickness, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The fourth blocking layer76can be made of the same material as the second blocking layer72. The shapes, sizes and positions of the first openings711, second openings721, third openings751, and fourth openings761are not limited by the present disclosure; for instance, the first openings711, second openings721, third openings751, and fourth openings761are either aligned with each other as shown inFIG. 6Aor are not aligned with each other as shown inFIG. 6B, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 6Cis a cross-sectional view of a portion of another electronic device in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device ofFIG. 6Cis substantially identical to that ofFIG. 5except that the second reflecting layer74is a full-size reflecting layer. The sensing component1is disposed correspondingly to one of the third openings751, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In a variant embodiment, the sensing component1is disposed between the second blocking layer72and the third blocking layer75or between the third blocking layer75and the second reflecting layer74.

FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device ofFIG. 7is substantially identical to that ofFIG. 5andFIG. 6Cexcept for the differences described below. As shown inFIG. 7, the electronic device further comprises: a fourth substrate62disposed on the third substrate61; a light guide layer63disposed between the third substrate61and the fourth substrate62; and a second light source11disposed adjacent to at least one of the light guide component51, the first substrate41, the second substrate42, the fourth substrate62, and the light guide layer63. The second light source11is an invisible light source. To enhance the resolution of the sensing component1, the electronic device may further comprise the second light source11serving as a light source for the sensing component1. To prevent the second light source11from affecting the display effect of the electronic device, the second light source11is designed to be an invisible light source, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Therefore, this embodiment will work well, provided that the wavelength of the second light source11facilitates the detection of the sensing component1.

In this embodiment, the fourth substrate62can be made of the same material as the third substrate61, whereas the light guide layer63can be made of the same material as the light guide component51. The second light source11can be a light-emitting diode (LED), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 8AandFIG. 8Bare cross-sectional views of the electronic device in another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 8AandFIG. 8B, the display device of the present disclosure can combine with another display device to form another electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a first portion P1and a second portion P2. The first portion P1is one of the electronic devices of the present disclosure. The second portion P2is a conventional liquid crystal display device, light-emitting diode display device, micro light-emitting diode display device, organic light-emitting diode display device, quantum dot light-emitting diode display device or a combination thereof, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The electronic device also can combine with a display device with any other display medium. More specifically, the quarter-wave plate3corresponds in position to the sensing component1to therefore reduce production costs. Regarding the electronic device in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG. 8A, the first portion P1is one of the electronic devices of the present disclosure, whereas the second portion P2is a conventional liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device shown inFIG. 8Acomprises: a reflecting layer101; a backlight module102; a diffusion film103; a brightening film104; a polarization film2; a first substrate41; a second substrate42; a display medium layer43; and a third substrate61; wherein the display medium layer43comprises liquid crystal, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Regarding the electronic device in another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG. 8B, the first portion P1is one of the electronic devices of the present disclosure, whereas the second portion P2is a light-emitting diode display device. The light-emitting diode display device comprises: a first substrate41; and a fourth light source105. The fourth light source105is an organic light-emitting diode, light-emitting diode, micro light-emitting diode, quantum dot light-emitting diode or a combination thereof, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 9AandFIG. 9Bare schematic views of a portion of the electronic device. As shown inFIG. 9A, when the reflecting layer81, sensing component82, and openings83are spaced apart by equal distances, the sensing component82not only receives signals (indicated by bold lines) but also receives any other noise (indicated by fine lines), thereby causing deterioration of sensitivity. Regarding the electronic device in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the spacing distances between the sensing component82, reflecting layer81, and openings83are adjusted such that the sensing component82, reflecting layer81, and openings83become spaced apart by unequal distances to therefore reduce the noise received by the sensing component82, thereby enhancing sensitivity. As shown inFIG. 9B, when the reflecting layer81, sensing component82, and openings83are spaced apart by unequal distances, there is a reduction in the noise received by the sensing component82. Noise not received by the sensing component82is indicated by dashed lines. When viewed from above, as shown inFIG. 9C, the openings83are not spaced apart by equal distances, and thus they are irregularly arranged, thereby reducing the noise to be received by the sensing component82.

FIG. 10Ais a cross-sectional view of the electronic device in another embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device ofFIG. 10Ais substantially identical to that ofFIG. 4except for the differences described below. As shown inFIG. 10, the electronic device further comprises: a third reflecting layer77disposed between the first blocking layer71and the second blocking layer72; and a fourth reflecting layer78disposed between the third reflecting layer77and the sensing component1, wherein the fourth reflecting layer78is curved. Referring toFIG. 10B, there is shown a partial enlarged view ofFIG. 10A. The fourth reflecting layer78is curved; hence, after a light beam irradiates on the fourth reflecting layer78, the light beam reflects off the fourth reflecting layer78and reaches the third reflecting layer77. The relative positions of the third reflecting layer77and the fourth reflecting layer78can be adjusted to further limit the angle of incidence, thereby reducing the noise to be received by the sensing component1.

The material of the third reflecting layer77and the fourth reflecting layer78may comprise aluminum, silver, another metal, an alloy thereof, or a combination thereof, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the fourth reflecting layer78is a concave mirror.

FIG. 11is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device in another embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device ofFIG. 11is substantially identical to that ofFIG. 4andFIG. 6Aexcept that the electronic device ofFIG. 11dispenses with any light guide component. As shown inFIG. 11, when the electronic device is a display device, the electronic device may comprise: a display panel91comprising: a first substrate911; and a third light source912disposed on the first substrate911; a sensing component92; a polarization film93disposed on the sensing component92; and a quarter-wave plate94disposed between the sensing component92and the polarization film93. The polarization film93and the quarter-wave plate94are disposed on the display panel91. The quarter-wave plate94is disposed between the polarization film93and the display panel91. In an embodiment, the electronic device comprises a protective layer99disposed on the third light source912. For instance, the protective layer99is disposed between the third light source912and the quarter-wave plate94.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device may further comprise a second blocking layer95disposed between the quarter-wave plate94and the sensing component92. The second blocking layer95is disposed between the display panel91and the sensing component92. The second blocking layer95has a plurality of second openings951and has an absorbance greater than 0.5. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device may further comprise: a third blocking layer96having a plurality of third openings961and having an absorbance greater than 0.5; and a buffer layer97disposed between the second blocking layer95and the third blocking layer96and having an absorbance less than 0.5.

In this embodiment, the second openings951correspond in position to the sensing component92, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The positions of the second openings951relative to the sensing component92are similar to the positions of the first openings711relative to the sensing component1and thus are, for the sake of brevity, not described herein again. In an embodiment, the third light source912is a light-emitting diode, a micro light-emitting diode, an organic light-emitting diode, or a quantum dot light-emitting diode, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The protective layer99can be an insulating layer, a planer layer, an encapsulating layer (inorganic layer-organic layer-inorganic layer), a blocking structure, a light-blocking structure, an encapsulating structure, or a light-form adjustment structure, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 12is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device in another embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device ofFIG. 12is substantially identical to that ofFIG. 11except that the polarization film93and the quarter-wave plate94are disposed between the display panel91and the sensing component92, whereas the polarization film93is disposed between the display panel91and the quarter-wave plate94. The electronic device may further comprise a second reflecting layer98. The third blocking layer96is disposed between the second blocking layer95and the second reflecting layer98, whereas the second blocking layer95is disposed between the quarter-wave plate94and the third blocking layer96, wherein the distribution density of the second openings951is different from the distribution density of the third openings961. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sensing component92is disposed between the second blocking layer95and the second reflecting layer98. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sensing component92is disposed between the second blocking layer95and the third blocking layer96. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second blocking layer95disposed between the first blocking layer71and the sensing component92, and having a plurality of second openings951; and the third blocking layer96disposed between the second blocking layer95and the second reflecting layer98, and having a plurality of third openings961; wherein in view of a normal direction of an upper surface9111of the first substrate911, at least two of the first opening711, the second opening951or the third opening961are partially overlapped.

In conclusion, an electronic device of the present disclosure is characterized in that a quarter-wave plate is disposed between a sensing component and a polarization film such that the sensing component can be disposed in a display area and thus is unlikely to be seen, so as to achieve full-screen display.

The aforesaid specific embodiments of the present disclosure must be interpreted to be solely illustrative rather than restrictive, in any way, of the present disclosure.