Patent Description:
In the related art, a fingerprint sensor is configured beneath a mobile phone display panel, and a glass cover-plate is disposed, as a packaging material, to the surface of the display panel. When performing a fingerprint identification, the glass cover-plate can serve to prevent deformation of the display panel, so as to protect the fingerprint sensor beneath a display screen from being damaged. However, in the case that the packaging material for the surface of the display panel is a flexible material, the display panel will deform under a pressure, so that if a user presses his/her finger on the display screen, or if a reliability test (such as a ball drop test) is performed to the display screen, an area of the display screen corresponding to the fingerprint sensor under the screen will collapse, which in turn will cause oppression and damage on the fingerprint sensor beneath the screen. <CIT> discloses a display device including a display panel configured to be situated under a transparent substrate and display an image on a display area toward the transparent substrate, a fingerprint sensor under the display panel to detect a fingerprint contacting the transparent substrate, and a drive integrated circuit configured to drive the display panel. <CIT> describes a display device which includes a display panel, a cover glass disposed on the display panel, and a biometric sensor device disposed below the display panel. The biometric sensor device includes a printed circuit board, a biometric sensor disposed on the printed circuit board, and a housing disposed on the printed circuit board and in which an opening is formed. The biometric sensor is disposed in the opening of the housing and is attached to a surface of the display panel through the housing. From <CIT>, a display screen is known, including a display layer and a light shielding layer. The display layer includes an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface, the upper surface faces a user, the light shielding layer is arranged to the lower surface of the display layer, and the light shielding layer has a hole. A display device is further described, including the above-mentioned display screen and a fingerprint module disposed below the display screen. The fingerprint module is located at a position corresponding to the hole. <CIT> describes an under-screen biometric feature recognition device, a biometric feature recognition assembly and a terminal device are provided. The under-screen biometric feature recognition device includes: a display screen and a biometric feature recognition module, wherein the biometric feature recognition module is fixedly disposed under the display screen, and there is a gap between the biometric feature recognition module and the display screen.

The present disclosure seeks to remedy these drawbacks of the related art by providing a display screen and an electronic equipment.

According to a first aspect of the disclosure, a display screen is provided, the display screen comprises the features according to claim <NUM>.

According to a second aspect of the disclosure, an electronic equipment is provided, the electronic equipment comprises an aforementioned display screen.

It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and explanatory and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute part of the specification, show the embodiments of the present disclosure and are intended to explain the principle of the present disclosure together with the description.

Exemplary embodiments will now be described more detailed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the embodiments are illustrated. Once the following description involves the drawings, unless otherwise provided, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. Those implementations described in the exemplary embodiments hereinafter may not represent all the implementations in correspondence with the disclosure. Instead, they are merely examples of apparatus and methods in correspondence with some aspects of the disclosure, as specified in the appended claims.

The technical solution provided by the embodiments of this disclosure can involve the following advantageous effects: according to the disclosure, the display panel is superimposed on the upper surface of the middle frame, the through-hole provided on the middle frame and extending through the upper and lower surfaces of the middle frame is filled with a transparent body, and the optical fingerprint sensor is disposed beneath the transparent body. Because the transparent body can effectively prevent the deformation in the display panel and thus can provide both support and protection for the optical fingerprint sensor disposed beneath the transparent body, and also because the display panel and the transparent body are both light-transmittable, the optical fingerprint sensor can get the incoming light passed through the display panel and transparent body, and thereby achieve the function of optical fingerprint identification. Accordingly, the disclosure not only can achieve the function of optical fingerprint identification under the screen, without providing any hole in the display screen, but also can effectively guarantee the reliability of the optical fingerprint sensor.

<FIG> is a cross section illustrating a display screen according to an example. As shown in <FIG>, the display screen comprises a middle frame <NUM>, a display panel <NUM> and an optical fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The display panel <NUM> is superimposed on the upper surface of the middle frame <NUM>, and the display panel <NUM> is light-transmissible. The middle frame <NUM> has a through-hole <NUM> extending through the upper and lower surfaces of the middle frame <NUM>, the through-hole <NUM> is filled with a transparent body <NUM>.

The optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> is provided beneath the transparent body <NUM>.

In the present disclosure, the middle frame may be indicated as a frame for supporting the display panel. The transparent body may be indicated as an object with high transmittance (for example, a transmittance over <NUM>%), in which the transmittance may be indicated as a ratio of the radiation energy projected on and passed through an object to the total radiation energy projected on the object, during a course of which an incident light flux incomes from an illuminated plane or an incident plane of the object to the other plane and exits.

The display panel of the disclosure can implement the function of image display and the display panel is light-transmissible. The display panel may include a LED (Light Emitting Diode) display or an OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display, as long as the display panel is light-transmissible. The type of the display panel is not limited in the disclosure.

According to the light reflected by the object to be measured and caught by the fingerprint sensor, the optical fingerprint sensor of the disclosure can create an image to be identified, and then can perform a fingerprint identification according to the image so as to get a result of fingerprint identification; or else, the optical fingerprint sensor can send the created image to be identified to a terminal device that is communicated with the optical fingerprint sensor, and then the terminal device perform a fingerprint identification according to the image to be identified, so as to get the result of fingerprint identification.

As an example of the present embodiment, the display panel <NUM> can be pasted to an upper surface of the middle frame <NUM>, and the middle frame <NUM> has a through-hole <NUM> extending through the upper and lower surfaces of the middle frame <NUM>. The through-hole <NUM> is filled with a transparent body <NUM> (for example, if the transparent body <NUM> is made of glass, then a columnar glass having a shape fitting to the through-hole <NUM> can be pasted into the through-hole <NUM>). And, an optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> is provided below the transparent body <NUM>, with the light-emitting and light-receiving elements in the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> directly facing the transparent body <NUM>, so that the light from the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> can be emitted outward through the transparent body <NUM> and the display panel <NUM>, and the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> can create an image to be identified according to the incident light passed through the display panel <NUM> and the transparent body <NUM>.

According to the disclosure, the display panel is superimposed on the upper surface of the middle frame, and the through-hole, which is provided in the middle frame and extending through the upper and lower surfaces of the middle frame, is filled with a transparent body, the optical fingerprint sensor is provided below the transparent body. Because the transparent body can effectively prevent the deformation in the display panel and thus can provide both support and protection for the optical fingerprint sensor disposed beneath the transparent body, and also because the display panel and the transparent body are both light-transmittable, the optical fingerprint sensor can receive the incoming light passed through the display panel and transparent body, and thereby achieve the function of optical fingerprint identification. Accordingly, the disclosure not only can achieve the function of optical fingerprint identification under the screen, without providing any hole in the display screen, but also can effectively guarantee the reliability of the optical fingerprint sensor.

In a possible implementation, a liquid transparent body can be injected into the through-hole, and the liquid transparent body can be processed to form a solid transparent body. The disclosure does not limit both the material of the transparent body and the way by which the transparent body is filled within the through-hole.

As an example of the present embodiment, the optical fingerprint sensor can emit light outward through the transparent body and the display panel, and can receive incident light passed through the transparent body and the display panel.

For instance, when the optical fingerprint sensor performs a fingerprint identification, a light can be emitted towards the transparent body and the display panel. The light can be emitted and propagate outward through the transparent body and the display panel, when the light emitted outward meets an object to be measured (for example, the user's finger), some of the light will be reflected back by the object to be measured, and the reflected light may propagate through the display panel and the transparent body towards the optical fingerprint sensor, and the optical fingerprint sensor can create an image to be identified according to the reflected light received by the optical fingerprint sensor, and then determine a result of fingerprint identification according to the image to be identified.

In a possible implementation, the through-hole may be provided at any position on the symmetrical axis of the middle frame. Since the symmetrical axis is at a distance from either side of the middle frame, which can facilitate a user to press his/her fingerprint at a position corresponding to the through-hole on the display screen, to prevent the user's finger from deviating the display screen area, and thereby, promote the optical fingerprint sensor to acquire the whole fingerprint image. For example, the through-hole can be provided at the center of the middle frame. The through-hole overlaps at least partially with the longitudinal or transverse symmetrical axis of the middle frame close to either end of the middle frame.

In a possible implementation, the through-hole can also be provided at other positions of the middle frame. For example, if the middle frame is of a rectangular configuration, the through-hole can be provided near any one of the four corners of the middle frame. It should be noted that the through-hole may be provided at any position of the middle frame as needed, and the position of the through-hole at the middle frame is not limited in the disclosure.

According to the invention as claimed, the transparent body is made of hard material. As such, the deformation from the display panel can be blocked more effectively by the transparent body, and thereby the optical fingerprint sensor beneath the transparent body can be supported and protected more effectively.

In a possible implementation, the material of the transparent body comprises any one of glass, ceramic and plastic. It should be noted that other material with high transmittance may also be selected for the transparent body as needed, and the material of the transparent body is not limited in the disclosure.

As an example of the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> is disposed in the through-hole <NUM>.

The middle frame <NUM> has a thickness larger than that of the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM>. The display panel <NUM> can be pasted to the upper surface of the middle frame <NUM>, and the through-hole <NUM> in the middle frame <NUM> is provided to have a cross-section fitting to that of the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM>, with the through-hole <NUM> extending through the upper and lower surfaces of the middle frame <NUM>. The transparent body <NUM> may be processed in accordance with the shape of the gap between the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the display panel <NUM>, so that the transparent body <NUM> embedded within the through-hole <NUM> can well fill the gap between the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the display panel <NUM>, that is, when the transparent body <NUM> and the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> are embedded into the through-hole <NUM>, the lower surface of the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the lower surface of the middle frame <NUM> are substantially flush. Next, the processed transparent body <NUM> may be embedded into the through-hole <NUM> and the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> is embedded beneath the transparent body <NUM> in the through-hole <NUM>, and that the light-emitting and light-receiving elements in the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> are provided to directly face the transparent body <NUM>, such that the lower surface of the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> and the lower surface of the middle frame <NUM> are substantially flush.

Accordingly, the disclosure not only can achieve the function of optical fingerprint identification beneath the screen, without providing any hole in the display screen, but also can effectively guarantee the reliability of the optical fingerprint sensor. Also, the thickness of the display screen can be decreased effectively.

<FIG> is a cross section illustrating a display screen according to an example, which does not fall within the scope of the appended claims. As shown in <FIG>, the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed outside the through-hole <NUM> and close to the lower surface of the middle frame <NUM>. For example, the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> may be disposed at least partially on the lower surface 101b of the middle frame <NUM>.

For instance, the middle frame <NUM> can be provided with a through-hole <NUM>, the through-hole <NUM> extends through an upper surface 101a and a lower surface 101b of the middle frame <NUM>. The display panel <NUM> can be pasted to the upper surface 101a of the middle frame <NUM>. The transparent body <NUM> can be processed in accordance with the shape of the through-hole <NUM>, the transparent body <NUM> can be embedded into the through-hole <NUM> such that the transparent body <NUM> can well fill the entire through-hole <NUM>, and then the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> can be pasted to the lower surfaces of both the middle frame <NUM> and the transparent body <NUM>, and that the light-emitting and light-receiving elements in the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> are provided to directly face the transparent body <NUM>.

As an example of the present embodiment, the display panel can be a flexible display panel. The flexible display panel can be made from a flexible material (for example, the flexible material can be a phosphorescent organic light emitting device (PHOLED). In general, the flexible display panel may be a deformable and bendable display device. In this way, the disclosure not only can achieve the function of optical fingerprint identification beneath a flexible, folding display screen, without providing any hole in the display screen, but also can effectively guarantee the reliability of the optical fingerprint sensor beneath a flexible, folding display screen.

<FIG> is a cross section illustrating a display screen according to an example. As shown in <FIG>, the display panel <NUM> may comprise an organic light emitting diode display <NUM> and a flexible packaging layer <NUM>, the flexible packaging layer <NUM> is superimposed on the organic light emitting diodes display <NUM>. For example, the material of the flexible packaging layer <NUM> may comprise a polyimide (PI) membrane, which has good performance in electrical insulation and exhibits outstanding resistance to radiation, high temperature, and chemical corrosion. The PI membrane can be pasted on the organic light emitting diode display <NUM> to form a packaging layer, so as to provide protection for the organic light emitting diode display <NUM>. The material of the transparent body <NUM> may include glass, ceramics, rigid plastics or other solid, hard material with high transmittance. In this way, the transparent body <NUM> supports the flexible display panel <NUM>, and effectively avoids the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> from being damaged due to deformation as being squeezed by the flexible display panel <NUM>. Meanwhile, the display panel <NUM> and the transparent body <NUM> are light-transmissible, so that the function of optical identification of the optical fingerprint sensor <NUM> beneath a flexible, folding display screen can be achieved, without providing any hole in the display screen, also without affecting the display effect in the corresponding area of the through-hole <NUM>, and also improve the mechanical strength and closure performance of the display screen.

In a possible implementation, an electronic equipment is provided, the electronic equipment may comprise an aforementioned display screen. The electronic equipment may be, for example, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a smartwatch, a notebook computer or other electronic equipment, which is not limited hereby. For instance, in the electronic equipment the display panel is light-transmissible. The middle frame beneath the display panel may be provided with a through-hole extending through the upper and lower surfaces of the middle frame, the through-hole is filled with a transparent body, and an optical fingerprint sensor may be disposed beneath the transparent body. The optical fingerprint sensor can emit light outward through the transparent body and the display panel, and can receive an incoming light passed through the transparent body and the display panel. An image to be identified can be formed according to the incoming light, and the electronic equipment can perform a fingerprint identification according to the image to be identified.

In a possible implementation, the optical fingerprint sensor can emit light outward through the transparent body and the display panel, and can receive incident light passed through the transparent body and the display panel.

According to the invention as claimed, the transparent body is made of hard material.

According to the invention as claimed, the optical fingerprint sensor is disposed in the through-hole.

In a possible implementation, which does not fall within the scope of the appended claims, the optical fingerprint sensor is disposed outside the through-hole and close to the lower surface of the middle frame.

In a possible implementation, the display panel is a flexible display panel.

In a possible implementation, the display panel comprise an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a flexible packaging layer, and the flexible packaging layer is superimposed on the OLED display.

In a possible implementation, the through-hole overlaps at least partially with the symmetrical axis of the middle frame.

In a possible implementation, the material of the transparent body includes any one of glass, ceramic and plastic.

Claim 1:
A display screen, comprising:
a middle frame (<NUM>) comprising an upper surface (101a) and a lower surface (101b), wherein the middle frame (<NUM>) is provided with a through-hole (<NUM>) extending through the upper and lower surfaces (101a, 101b) of the middle frame (<NUM>);
a display panel (<NUM>) superimposed on the upper surface (101a) of the middle frame (<NUM>), wherein the display panel (<NUM>) is light-transmissible; and
an optical fingerprint sensor (<NUM>), and
wherein the through-hole (<NUM>) is filled with a transparent body (<NUM>),
wherein the optical fingerprint sensor (<NUM>) is disposed in the through-hole (<NUM>) and beneath the transparent body (<NUM>), and the through-hole (<NUM>) in the middle frame (<NUM>) is provided to have a cross-section fitting to that of the optical fingerprint sensor (<NUM>),
the middle frame (<NUM>) has a thickness larger than that of the optical fingerprint sensor (<NUM>), and a lower surface of the optical fingerprint sensor (<NUM>) and the lower surface of the middle frame (<NUM>) are flush, and
the transparent body (<NUM>) is made of hard material to prevent a deformation in the display panel (<NUM>) and to support and protect the optical fingerprint sensor (<NUM>).