Patent Publication Number: US-2021191191-A1

Title: Electronic device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure is related to an electronic device, and particularly related to an electronic device with a display panel which can display multiple-view images. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Recently, the electronic device which can have multiple-view image has been proposed. For example, the dual-view display panel may display two images at the same time for two users, and each user can see his own image. However, the interference between two images still exists. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure has proposed a parallax barrier used with a display panel for multiple views, in which the interference may be reduced. 
     In an embodiment, the disclosure provides an electronic device including a display panel and a parallax barrier. The display panel includes a plurality of color sub-pixels of a first color, a second color, and a third color. The parallax barrier overlaps the display panel in a normal direction of the display panel, wherein the parallax barrier includes a plurality of barrier units. A barrier unit of the first color overlaps at least a color sub-pixel of the second color and a color sub-pixel of the third color in a top view. 
     In an embodiment, the disclosure also provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display panel and a parallax barrier, the display panel includes a plurality of color sub-pixels of a first color, a second color, a third color, and a fourth color. The four colors are sequentially designated to the color sub-pixels. The parallax barrier is overlapping the display panel in a normal direction of the display panel. The parallax barrier includes a plurality of barrier units. A barrier unit of the first color overlaps three adjacent sub-pixels in the top view. And the color of the barrier unit is the same as a color of the middle sub-pixel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing, schematically illustrating a viewing effect for two users on a display panel for multiple views, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a drawing, schematically illustrating a structure of an electronic device, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a drawing, schematically illustrating the implementation of the parallax barrier with respect to the display panel, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a drawing, schematically illustrating the viewing effect for the left-view image and the right-view image, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a drawing, schematically illustrating an effect with respect to the viewing angle for different distances d between the CF parallax layer and the CF layer, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a drawing, schematically illustrating the filtering effect from the color filter layer and the parallax barrier, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  to  FIG. 11  are drawings, schematically illustrating the implementations of the parallax barrier with respect to the display panel, according to embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  to  FIG. 13  are drawings, schematically illustrating structures of electronic device, according to embodiments of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The electronic device of the present disclosure is described in detail in the following description. In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details and embodiments are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. The specific elements and configurations described in the following detailed description are set forth in order to clearly describe the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, that the exemplary embodiments set forth herein are used merely for the purpose of illustration, and the inventive concept may be embodied in various forms without being limited to those exemplary embodiments. 
     In addition, the drawings of different embodiments may use similar and/or corresponding numerals to denote similar and/or corresponding elements in order to clearly describe the present disclosure. However, the use of similar and/or corresponding numerals in the drawings of different embodiments does not suggest any correlation between different embodiments. In addition, in this specification, expressions such as “first material layer disposed on/over a second material layer”, may indicate the direct contact of the first material layer and the second material layer, or it may indicate a non-contact state with one or more intermediate layers between the first material layer and the second material layer. In the above situation, the first material layer may not be in direct contact with the second material layer. 
     In addition, in this specification, relative expressions are used. For example, “lower”, “bottom”, “higher” or “top” are used to describe the position of one element relative to another. It should be appreciated that if a device is flipped upside down, an element that is “lower” will become an element that is “higher”. 
     It should be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, portions and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, portions and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, portion or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, portion or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, portion or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. 
     It should be understood that this description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. The drawings are not drawn to scale. In addition, structures and devices are shown schematically in order to simplify the drawing. 
     The terms “about” and “substantially” typically mean +/−20% of the stated value, or +/−10% of the stated value, or +/−5% of the stated value, or +/−3% of the stated value, or +/−2% of the stated value, or +/−1% of the stated value and even or +/−0.5% of the stated value. The stated value of the present disclosure is an approximate value. When there is no specific description, the stated value includes the meaning of “about” or “substantially”. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It should be appreciated that, in each case, the term, which is defined in a commonly used dictionary, should be interpreted as having a meaning that conforms to the relative skills of the present disclosure and the background or the context of the present disclosure, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal manner unless so defined. 
     In addition, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. 
     The disclosures provide a structure of an electronic device in which a parallax barrier is used with a display panel for multiple views. The parallax barrier includes a plurality of barrier units. The interference of two images for adjacent two views may be effectively reduced. 
     Multiple embodiments are provided for description but the disclosure is not just limited to the embodiments as provided. In addition, a suitable modification or combination between the embodiments may be done. 
       FIG. 1  is a drawing, schematically illustrating a viewing effect for two users of a display panel for multiple views, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 1  as an example, an electronic device includes a display panel  50  to display a left-view image of “XYZ” and a right-view image of ABC. The parallax barrier  60  overlaps the display panel  50  in the normal direction of the display panel  50 . Two users  52   a,    52   b  are looking at the images displayed on the display panel  50 . However, for the user  52   a,  the parallax barrier  60  would shield the image  54   b  of “ABC”. As a result, the user  52   a  ideally just views the image  54   a  of “XYZ” but not the image  54   b  of “ABC”. Likewise, for the user  52   b,  the parallax barrier  60  would shield the image  54   a  of “XYZ”. As a result, the user  52   b  ideally just views the image  54   b  of “ABC” but not the image  54   a  of “XYZ”. 
       FIG. 2  is a drawing, schematically illustrating a structure of an electronic device, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 2 , an electronic device includes a display panel  80  a parallax barrier  90 , and a backlight unit  100 . The display panel  80  in an embodiment is a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, wherein the backlight unit  100  is also implemented to provide the light source. It should be noted that the display panel  80  is not limited to the LCD panel. For examples, the display panel  80  may be an E-paper, organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel, mini-LED panel, micro-LED panel, any other suitable display, or the combination thereof. When the display panel can actively emit the color light, the backlight unit  100  can be omitted. 
     In the embodiment of LCD panel, the display panel  80  in detail may include a substrate  104  to implement a sub-pixel layer  106  disposed on one side of the substrate  104 . The sub-pixel layer  106  includes a plurality of sub-pixels  106 A to form a sub-pixel array with a plurality of sub-pixel rows. The sub-pixels  106 A of the sub-pixel layer  106  in one of the sub-pixel rows are arranged to alternately display a first-view image such as left-view image (Lt) and a second-view image such as right-view image (Rt). It should be noted that in this embodiment, the sub-pixels  106 A are arranged to alternately display a first-view image and a second-view image. But the disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     Since the embodiment is taking the LCD panel as an example, the CF layer  110  includes a plurality of color filter (CF) elements  1101 . A color filter (CF) elements  1101  in a CF layer  110  corresponding to the sub-pixels  106 A of the sub-pixel layer  106  are disposed on another substrate  108 , but in some embodiments, the CF layer  110  and the sub-pixel layer are disposed on the same substrate  104 . In the display panel  80 , a color sub-pixel  200  includes one CF element  1101  of the CF layer  110  and one corresponding sub-pixel  106 A of the sub-pixel layer  106 . The black matrix, indicated by black area may be formed between the color sub-pixels  200 . Similarly, the display panel  80  includes multiple color sub-pixels  200  to form a color sub-pixel array with a plurality of color sub-pixel rows. 
     It should be noted that the structure of the display panel  80  may be modified according to the actual design. The disclosure is not limited to a specific structure. 
     The parallax barrier  90  of the disclosure includes a CF parallax layer  114  disposed on a substrate  112 . A polarizer layer  116  can be disposed on an opposite side of the substrate  112 , but the position of the polarizer layer  116  is not limited thereto. The CF parallax layer  114  has multiple CF rows corresponding to the color sub-pixel rows of the display panel  80 . The distance d between the CF parallax layer  114  and the CF layer  110  is the shortest distance between a surface of a CF parallax layer  114  to a surface of the CF layer  110 . In the embodiment of the disclosure, the distance d between the CF parallax layer  114  and the CF layer  110  may be between 60 micrometers and 180 micrometers (60 micrometers≤d≤180 micrometers). In the parallax barrier  90 , the CF parallax layer  114  includes a plurality of color filter (CF) rows, and a CF row has a plurality of barrier units  114 A with colors of red (indicated by R), blue (indicated by B), and green (indicated by G) in a sequence, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     As noted, a barrier unit  114 A overlaps at least two adjacent color sub-pixels  200  in a normal direction DR 1  of the display panel  80 , wherein the at least two adjacent color sub-pixels  200  respectively correspond to the first-view image and the second-view image, and the barrier unit  114 A and the two adjacent color sub-pixels  200  correspond to different colors respectively. For example, a red barrier unit  114 A in a CF row overlaps a green color sub-pixel  200  and an adjacent blue color sub-pixel  200 , and the two color sub-pixels  200  display a right-view image (Rt) and a left-view image (Lt) respectively. Likewise, the blue barrier unit  114 A overlaps the red sub-pixels  200  and green color sub-pixels  200 , and the green barrier unit  114 A overlaps the blue sub-pixels  200  and red color sub-pixels  200 . 
       FIG. 3  is a drawing, schematically illustrating the implementation of the parallax barrier  90  with respect to the display panel  80 , according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 3 , as viewed in a normal direction of the display panel, the display panel  80  has a plurality of color sub-pixels  200   a  and sub-pixels  200   b,  which respectively display the left-view image (Lt) and the right-image (Rt) with the designated color of red, green or blue (indicated by R, G, or B). 
     The parallax barrier  90  overlaps the display panel  80  in a normal direction DR 1  of the display panel  80 . However, in order to show the arrangement of the color, the figure that parallax barrier  90  is shifted from display panel  80  in plane is just for easily understanding. 
     The rule as previously stated is applied to designate the color for the barrier units  114 A, and it is not repeated herein. 
       FIG. 4  is a drawing, schematically illustrating the viewing effect for the left-view image and the right-view image, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the effect of the parallax barrier including a plurality of barrier units  114 A has been observed. Taking one green barrier unit  114 A as an example, since the color light emitted from the red color sub-pixel  200  and the blue color sub-pixel  200  will be filtered by the green barrier unit  114 A, the left viewing range  116 R and a right viewing range  116 L are set up that a viewer can see an image emitted from a green color sub-pixel  200 , meanwhile a viewer in the interface region  118  may see a sufficiently dark image due to the filter effect of green barrier unit  114 A. This would reduce the interference effect between the left-view image and the right-view image. 
       FIG. 5  is a drawing, schematically illustrating an effect with respect to the viewing angle for different distance d between the CF parallax layer and the CF layer, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , when the pixel pitch p as seen in  FIG. 2  is 150 micrometers, and the distance d between the CF parallax layer  114  and the CF layer  110  is set to 60 micrometers and 180 micrometers. It shows that the distance d may influence the viewing angle (in which a user can see a whole color sub-pixel  200 , and the aperture equals to 1). For example, if the distance d is 180 micrometers, the viewer can see a whole color sub-pixel  200  through a barrier unit  114 A when the viewing angle is between 20-50 degrees (or −20 to −50 degrees), but if the distance d is 60 micrometers, the viewer can see a whole color sub-pixel  200  through a barrier unit  114 A when the viewing angle is larger than 60 degrees (or less than −60 degrees). 
       FIG. 6  is a drawing schematically illustrating the filtering effect of the color filter layer and the parallax barrier  114 , according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In  FIG. 6 , the transmittance of the CF parallax layer  114  and color layer  110 , and the spectrum of backlight unit  100  are shown. As shown in  FIG. 6 , each barrier unit  114 A and CF element  1101  may have its own “transmittance-wavelength” relationship. For example, a green barrier unit  114 A (or a green CF element G) has high transmittance in a range of 490 nm-570 nm, but the green barrier unit  114 A (or the green CF element G) has low transmittance when the wavelength of light is less than 450 nm. Similarly, a red barrier unit  114 A (or a red CF element  1101 ) and a blue barrier unit  114 A (or a blue CF element  1101 ) respectively have their own “transmittance-wavelength” relationships, and there are some specific ranges (indicated as the shading region in  FIG. 6 ) in which a certain portion of the light can go through barrier units  114 A (or CF elements  1101 ) of two different colors. In other words, the barrier unit  114 A of one color in the parallax barrier  90  may filter most of the light emitted from the color sub-pixel  200  of other colors, but when the wavelength of light emitted from the color sub-pixel  200  is in the aforementioned specific ranges, light leakage still occurs. However, if the spectrum width of the backlight is reduced, (in other words, the light intensity is more concentrated to the peak spectrum out of the aforementioned specific ranges), then less portion of light emitted from the color sub-pixels  200  is in the aforementioned specific ranges, and the light leakage may be reduced. 
     The filtering effect of the parallax barrier relates to the amount of light leakage. Theoretically, the transmittance of a light emitted from one color sub-pixel  200  to the barrier unit  114 A of a different color may be less than 0.3 or may be even down to 0.05 in some embodiments. 
     The arrangement of the sub-pixels of the display panel and the barrier units  114 A of the parallax barrier in  FIG. 2  may be further modified. Further embodiments are provided as the examples.  FIG. 7  to  FIG. 11  schematically illustrate the implementations of the parallax barrier with respect to the display panel, according to some embodiments of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the positions of color sub-pixels  200   a,    200   b  corresponding to the left-view image (Lt) or the right-view image (Rt) in one color sub-pixel row may be shifted. For example, in  FIG. 7 , the color sub-pixels  200 , in the upper color sub-pixel row are shifted by a half of the color sub-pixel width than the color sub-pixels  200  in the lower color sub-pixel row. Meanwhile, the barrier units  114 A corresponding to the color sub-pixels  200  in the upper color sub-pixel row are also shifted by a half of the color sub-pixel width. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the shapes of color sub-pixels  200  for adjacent two color sub-pixel rows may be different. For example, in  FIG. 8 , the color sub-pixels in adjacent two color sub-pixel rows intersects by an included angle, and the shape of the barrier units  114 A is accordingly changed. But the disclosure is not limited thereto. The rule for color designation to the barrier units  114 A is the same as previously stated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , in an embodiment, the parallax barrier  90  includes a black matrix  114 B. In  FIG. 9 , a part of a black matrix  114 B may be placed between two adjacent barrier units  114 A. In an embodiment, the part of the black matrix  114 B may overlap substantially 50% of the area of one color sub-pixel  200 , but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In  FIG. 9 , The barrier units  114 A overlaps two color sub-pixels  200   a,    200   b,  but part of the color sub-pixels  200   a,    200   b  is overlapped with the neighboring part of the black matrix  114 B. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , in an embodiment, the CF parallax layer  114  may be in back of the display panel  80  instead of being in front of the display panel  80  in the foregoing embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the electronic device may display three-view image. In an embodiment, a third view image is added for a third user. The third-view image, as indicated by C is located between the left-view image Lt and the right-view image Rt. In the embodiment, a fourth orange color sub-pixel  200   a  (indicated by O) is added with a red color sub-pixel  200 , a green color sub-pixel  200  and a blue color sub-pixel  200 , but it should be noted that the fourth color is not limited to orange. The color sub-pixel  200  to display the third-view image C may be referred as the middle color sub-pixel, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     In  FIG. 11 , the barrier unit  114 A of the CF parallax layer  114  overlaps three color sub-pixels  200   a,    200   b  and  200   c  in a normal direction of the display panel  80 . The color of the barrier unit  114 A is the same as the color of the middle color sub-pixel  200   b.    
     As previously stated, the embodiments as provided may have suitable combination therebetween. The disclosure is not just limited to the embodiments as provided. 
     Further to the display panel based on the LED panel, the CF parallax layer  114  may be applied as well.  FIG. 12  to  FIG. 13  schematically illustrate structures of the electronic device, according to embodiments of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the display panel  80  is an organic LED (OLED) panel in the embodiment, the display panel  80  includes the sub-pixel layer  302  with OLED  302 A on a substrate  300  to display the left-view image Lt or the right-view image Rt. However, a CF layer  308  formed on another substrate  306  is provided to produce the designated color. One CF element in the CF layer  308  and one OLED  302 A form one color sub-pixel  200 . It should be noted that in some embodiments, the display panel  80  may be a mini-LED panel or a micro-LED panel. In other words, the sub-pixel  302 A in the sub-pixel layer  302  is not limited to OLED, the sub-pixel layer may include mini-LEDs, micro-LEDs or other light emitting elements. 
     The CF parallax layer  312  includes barrier units  312 A with the designated color. The function of the CF parallax layer  312  may be similar to previous embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , another embodiment is disclosed. In  FIG. 13 , a color sub-pixel  200  may be a micro-LED to emit color light directly, and the CF layer is not needed and the CF layer may be replaced by a substrate  406 . It should be noted that the color sub-pixel  200  is not limited to color micro-LED, in some embodiments, the color sub-pixel  200  is a color OLED, a color mini-LED or other light emitting element. 
     In an embodiment, a parallax barrier  90  includes a CF parallax layer  410  which is disposed on another substrate  408 . A polarizer layer  412  may also be disposed on the opposite side of the substrate  408  but not the limitation. In an embodiment, a CF parallax layer  410  includes barrier units  410 A with the designated color. The function of the CF parallax layer  410  may be similar to previous embodiments. 
     The disclosure provides an electronic device in which the parallax barrier includes a CF parallax layer. The barrier units of the CF parallax layer are designated with proper colors. A barrier unit overlaps at least two adjacent sub-pixels in a normal direction of the display panel, and the barrier unit may filter the lights of different colors and keep the light of the same color to transmit. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure covers combinations, modifications and variations of this disclosure are still in the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.