Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates generally to a field of display technologies, and specifically to a display apparatus.

Camera module is one of the important structures that is often integrated in display apparatuses such as laptops and mobile phones. Usually, the camera(s) in a camera modules is/are configured outside a display region of the display panel (i.e. display screen), and as a result, the area that is occupied by the display screen is reduced.

At present time, in order to improve the area that the display screen occupies, some manufacturers have adopted a compartment design for arranging certain part of the display screen for camera modules and other part of the display screen for display region. Typically a region of a rectangular-shaped display screen is cut for arranging a camera module in the display apparatus, and an irregular-shaped display screen is thus obtained as a result.

However, the manufacturing efficiency of this above irregular-shaped compartment design is relatively low, and problems and issues easily occur during the manufacturing process. Patent Application <CIT> is directed to reduce brightness unevenness at the periphery of a non-display region in a display device that uses an edge-type backlight by means of a display device being provided with a liquid crystal panel, a light guide plate, which has the surface opposing the liquid crystal panel as the light emitting surface and one lateral surface other than the light emitting surface and the surface opposite the light emitting surface as the light incident surface, a light source unit, which opposes the light incident surface, and an opening that pierces the light guide plate from the light emitting surface to the surface opposite the light emitting surface, the configuration being such that the length (X) from the light incident surface to the center of the opening is at least <NUM>/<NUM> the length (L) from the light incident surface to the lateral surface opposite the light incident surface. A display apparatus including the features defined in the preamble of appended claim <NUM> is further disclosed in <CIT>.

<CIT> aims at entirely integrating a conventional camera module into a liquid crystal display panel, such separate conventional camera modules typically including a light-detecting sensor chip and a conventional lens positioned in front of it for projecting images onto the light-detecting sensor chip. <CIT> therefore suggests integrating the sensor chip directly onto the TFT array substrate of the display panel and employing the liquid crystals situated between the colour filter substrate and the array substrate of the LCD panel to create a planar liquid crystal lens, so as to achieve the functions of a traditional lens (e.g., a plastic or glass lens). The liquid crystal lens in <CIT> works in conjunction with the integrated chip on the array substrate to form a camera module (= sensor chip + LC lens), making the camera module (= sensor chip + LC lens) in <CIT> an integrated part of the corresponding liquid crystal panel. <CIT> highlights the advantage of achieving an efficient optical zoom effect in a compact space, thanks to the lightweight and thin characteristics of the liquid crystal lens integrated into the LCD panel rendering a conventional lens of the camera module obsolete.

The present invention provides a display apparatus according to appended claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments of the display apparatus are defined in the appended dependent claims.

To more clearly illustrate some of the embodiments, the following is a brief description of the drawings. The drawings in the following descriptions are only illustrative of some embodiments. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings of other embodiments can become apparent based on these drawings.

In the following, with reference to the drawings of the embodiments disclosed herein, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the invention will be described in a clear and fully understandable way.

It is noted that the described embodiments are merely a portion but not all of the embodiments of the invention. Based on the described embodiments of the invention, those ordinarily skilled in the art can obtain other embodiment(s), which come(s) within the scope sought for protection by the invention.

The purpose of this present disclosure is to provide a display apparatus wherein a camera module is arranged within, and integrated with, a display area of a display module (i.e. display screen).

<FIG> illustrates top view of a display apparatus according to some embodiments of the disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the display apparatus comprises a display module <NUM> and a camera module <NUM>. The camera module <NUM> is substantially arranged within a display area AA (shown by the rectangular shape in the figure) of the display module <NUM>. Importantly, in the display apparatus illustrated in <FIG>, the camera module <NUM> is integrated with the display module <NUM>, as described below and illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic diagram of a structure of a display apparatus disclosed herein according to a first embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> illustrates a schematic diagram of a structure of a display apparatus according to a second embodiment of the disclosure.

As shown in both <FIG>, the display apparatus comprises a display module <NUM> and a camera module <NUM>. The camera module <NUM> is arranged within a display area AA of the display module <NUM>, and it is disposed over a side of the display module <NUM> that is far from or distal to a light-emitting surface of the display module <NUM>. In the display apparatus as specifically illustrated in both <FIG>, the light transmission direction is from a bottom to a top (as illustrated by the bottom-to-top arrow in the figures), and the upper side of the display module <NUM> has the light-emitting surface, and the camera module <NUM> is disposed below the lower side of the display module <NUM> in the figures.

The display area AA of the display apparatus comprises a light-incident region A1 that positionally corresponds to a lens of the camera module <NUM>. The light-incident region A1 is configured to allow an environmental light (i.e. the light from an outside environment, such as from a top of the display apparatus) to pass therethrough so as to reach the lens of the camera module <NUM>.

Herein, it should be understood that the display apparatus further comprises other structures such as driving circuits, which can be arranged within a frame region defined by a frame of the display apparatus and can be disposed behind the frame to be thereby shielded. As such, the display area AA of the display module <NUM> is referred to as an area that is surrounded by the frame region.

The region outside the light-incident region A1 in the display area AA comprises a plurality of pixels, and it is configured such that at least two sides of the light-incident region A1 are next to the plurality of pixels. It should be noted that the light-incident region A1 that positionally corresponds to the lens of the camera module <NUM> is referred to as that an orthographic projection of the lens of the camera module <NUM> on the display module <NUM> and an orthographic projection of the light-incident region <NUM> on the display module <NUM> are exactly or substantially matched with each other in size and shape. Herein, considering the manufacturing inaccuracy when assembling the display apparatus, the edge of the light-incident region A1 can slightly exceed the edge of the orthographic projection of the lens of the camera module <NUM> on the display module <NUM>.

In the display apparatus disclosed herein, the camera module <NUM> is arranged inside the display area AA of the display apparatus, thus differing from existing display apparatuses where the camera module <NUM> is typically arranged outside the display module <NUM>, or the display module <NUM> is cut to arrange the camera module <NUM> within a groove thus formed that often has an irregular shape.

In the display apparatus disclosed herein, an area occupied by the display area AA of the display module <NUM> can be relatively larger than that in existing display apparatuses, and as a result, the display apparatus can thus have a larger display screen relative to the whole device.

In addition, because the camera module <NUM> is disposed over a side of the display module <NUM> that is far from its light-emitting side, there is no need to conduct irregular-shaped cutting to the display module <NUM>, therefore the problems of low manufacturing efficiency and low yield caused by conducting irregular-shape cutting to the display module <NUM> can be avoided.

In the present disclosure, the display apparatus is particularly suitable for a liquid crystal display apparatus. Accordingly, in the display apparatus, the aforementioned display module <NUM> comprises a liquid crystal cell <NUM>, and the display apparatus further comprises a backlight portion <NUM>. The display module <NUM> is arranged at a light-emitting side of the backlight portion <NUM>.

In order to reduce a thickness of the display apparatus, as shown in both <FIG>, a mounting hole V1 is configured within the backlight portion <NUM>, and the camera module <NUM> is arranged inside the mounting hole V1.

Herein, the backlight portion <NUM> can comprise a backlight source, which comprises a light-emitting component <NUM> and an optical film group <NUM>. The light-emitting component <NUM> is arranged at a light-incident side of the optical film group <NUM>, whereas the display module <NUM> is arranged at a light-emitting side of the optical film group <NUM>. The mounting hole V1 is arranged to pass through the optical film group <NUM>.

Herein, the backlight source can be a side-entry backlight source or a straight-down backlight source. If a straight-down backlight source is adopted, the bottom side of the optical film group <NUM> is the light-incident side thereof, whereas the upper side of the optical film group <NUM> is the light-emitting side thereof.

If a side-entry backlight source is adopted, the optical film group <NUM> can comprise film layers such as a light-guiding plate, a light-diffusing film layer, and a prism. The light-guiding plate has a light-incident side and a light-emitting side, and the film layers including the light-diffusing film layer and the prism can be configured over the light-emitting side of the light-guiding plate. As such, the light-incident side of the optical film group <NUM> is substantially the light-incident side of the light-guiding plate, and the top side of the optical film group <NUM> is the light-emitting side.

In the following, with reference to <FIG>, mounting of the camera module <NUM> inside the mounting hole V1 of the display apparatus will be described in detail.

According to a first mounting approach of the camera module <NUM> shown in <FIG>, an adhesive portion <NUM> having a composition of an adhesive glue is arranged between, to thereby bond, the camera module <NUM> and an inner wall of the mounting hole V1. The camera module <NUM> is thus mounted inside the mounting hole V1 through the adhesive portion <NUM>. In some preferred embodiments, the adhesive portion <NUM> is non-transparent, and as a result, the backlight portion <NUM> will not leak lights at a location of the mounting hole V1 to thereby influence the shooting effect of the camera module <NUM>. Herein, the adhesive portion <NUM> can comprise an adhesive glue of a dark color such as a black color or a brown color.

As further shown in <FIG>, a convex portion <NUM> is arranged at an end (i.e. the upper end shown in the figure) of the camera module <NUM> that faces the display module <NUM>. The convex portion <NUM> extends towards a side wall of the mounting hole V1, a first adhesive layer <NUM> is arranged between the convex portion <NUM> and the display module <NUM>. The adhesive portion <NUM> is arranged at a side of the convex portion <NUM> that departs from the display module <NUM>.

Herein, the first adhesive layer <NUM> can comprise a double-sided adhesive. Additionally, the convex portion <NUM> can be configured to be ring-shaped, as such, the area of the double-sided adhesive can be increased, and the stability of the connection between the camera module <NUM> and the display module <NUM> can be increased.

During an assembling process of the display apparatus, the backlight portion <NUM> and the display module <NUM> can be assembled together at first. Next, the camera module <NUM> can be disposed at a pre-set location and can be further assembled with the display module <NUM> by means of the first adhesive layer <NUM>. Then a non-transparent adhesive glue can be instilled into a space between the camera module <NUM> and the side wall of the mounting hole V1 to thereby form the adhesive portion <NUM>.

During the above step of instilling the adhesive glue into the space between the camera module <NUM> and the side wall of the mounting hole V1 to thereby form the adhesive portion <NUM>, because of the presence of the convex portion <NUM>, the adhesive glue is prevented from flowing to a front end of the camera, and the shooting effect of the camera module <NUM> can thus be ensured.

In addition, the convex portion <NUM> is further configured to have an upper end thereof higher than an upper end of the lens of the camera module <NUM>. More specifically, it can be configured such that the upper surface of the convex portion <NUM> has a relatively larger distance to the bottom surface of the display module <NUM> than the upper surface of the lens of the camera module <NUM>. Such a configuration ensures that the lens of the camera module <NUM> and the display module <NUM> do not contact with each other, therefore avoiding the occurrence of wearing of the lens of the camera module <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a second mounting approach of the camera module <NUM>. As shown in the figure, the backlight portion <NUM> further comprises a backboard <NUM>. The backboard <NUM> is arranged at a side of the backlight portion <NUM> distal to the display module <NUM>, and the mounting hole V1 is configured to pass through both the optical film group <NUM> and the backboard <NUM>. A mounting component <NUM> is fixedly mounted onto the backboard <NUM>, and one end of the camera module <NUM> that is far away from the display module <NUM> is fixedly attached with the mounting component <NUM>.

Herein, the backboard <NUM> and the mounting component <NUM> can both be made of a metal material, and the mounting component <NUM> can be fixedly mounted onto the backboard <NUM> by means of welding. The camera module <NUM> can be fixedly attached with the mounting component <NUM> by means of gluing.

Further specifically, a mounting slot that corresponds to the camera module <NUM> can be configured on the mounting component <NUM>. A portion of the camera module <NUM> can be configured to protrude beyond the backboard <NUM> along a direction that is away from the display module <NUM> to thereby extend into the mounting slot.

Herein, in the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, a convex portion <NUM> can also be arranged at the upper end of the camera module <NUM>. The convex portion <NUM> can be further arranged at a surrounding area of the camera module <NUM>. The upper end of the convex portion <NUM> is configured to be higher than the upper end of the lens of the camera module <NUM>. As such, the lens of the camera module <NUM> will not be in contact with the display module <NUM> to thus preventing wearing of the lens from occurring. The convex portion <NUM> can also be attached with the display module <NUM> by means of gluing (such as by means of the first adhesive layer <NUM> in the embodiments shown in <FIG>).

It should be noted that the mounting approach of the camera module <NUM> inside the mounting hole V1 is not limited to the approaches as illustrated in <FIG>. For example, the mounting approaches in <FIG> can be combined according to some embodiments where the aforementioned mounting component <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> can also be employed in the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>. As such, the camera module <NUM> can be mounted to be assembled though both the adhesive portion <NUM> and the mounting component <NUM> at the same time, therefore the mounting effect can be improved.

As described above, the display module <NUM> comprises the liquid crystal cell <NUM>. In the following, the structure of the display module <NUM> will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>, and <FIG>.

The liquid crystal cell <NUM> comprises an array substrate <NUM> and an opposing substrate <NUM>, which are arranged to face against each other. A liquid crystal layer <NUM> is arranged between the array substrate <NUM> and the opposing substrate <NUM>. A first alignment layer <NUM> is configured between the array substrate <NUM> and the liquid crystal layer <NUM>, and a second alignment layer <NUM> is configured between the opposing substrate <NUM> and the liquid crystal layer <NUM>. In other words, the array substrate <NUM>, the first alignment layer <NUM>, the liquid crystal layer <NUM>, the second alignment layer <NUM>, and the opposing substrate <NUM> are sequentially stacked in the liquid crystal cell <NUM>, as illustrated in a bottom-to-top direction in each of <FIG>.

Herein, the array substrate <NUM> can comprise a first base substrate 111a, and a display component layer 111b over the first base substrate 111a. The display component layer 111b is specifically arranged over a side of the first base substrate 111a that faces the liquid crystal layer <NUM>.

The display component layer 111b can comprise a film layer that is related to display. Specifically, display component layer 111b can comprise a thin film transistor layer (including a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer, an active layer and a source-drain electrode layer, and so on), an inter-layer insulating layer, a passivation layer, and a planarization layer. In order to prevent the display component layer 111b from influencing the strength of the light obtained by the camera module <NUM>, in some embodiments, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the display component layer 111b is configured at a region outside the light-incident region A1.

The opposing substrate <NUM> can comprise a second base substrate 112a, and can further comprise, over the second base substrate 112a, a light filter layer 112b, a black matrix 112c, and a transparent protection layer 112d. The transparent protection layer 112d can be configured to cover the whole display area AA. The light filter layer 112b and the black matrix 112c are both arranged between the transparent protection layer 112d and the second base substrate 112a.

According to some preferred embodiments of the display apparatus, the light filter layer 112b and the black matrix 112c can be both arranged within a region of the display area AA outside the light-incident region A1, so that the camera module <NUM> can obtain images whose color is the same as the real color of the objects in the environment.

<FIG> respectively illustrates a structure of the display module <NUM> according to three embodiments of the disclosure (i.e. a first embodiment, a second embodiment, and a third embodiment, corresponding respectively to <FIG>, and <FIG>).

In the first embodiment of the display module <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the liquid crystal layer <NUM> is arranged at a region of the display area AA outside the light-incident region A1, whereas the first alignment layer <NUM> and the second alignment layer <NUM> are both configured to cover the whole display area AA.

In the second embodiment and the third embodiment of the display module <NUM> as respectively shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the liquid crystal layer <NUM> is configured to cover the whole display area AA, just as the first alignment layer <NUM> and the second alignment layer <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, in both the second embodiment and the third embodiment of the display module <NUM>, the display module <NUM> can further comprise a driving electrode layer <NUM> that is arranged within the light-incident region A1. The driving electrode layer <NUM> is configured to generate an electric field in a portion of the liquid crystal layer <NUM> that positionally corresponds to the light-incident region A1. The electric field generated thereby can in turn drive the liquid crystal molecules of the portion of the liquid crystal layer <NUM> positionally corresponding to the light-incident region A1 to deflect, therefore adjusting an angle of lights that enter the lens of the camera module <NUM> to thereby realize zooming of the lens of the camera module <NUM>.

Herein, depending on different embodiments of the disclosure, the driving electrode layer <NUM> can be arranged over the array substrate <NUM>, over the opposing substrate <NUM>, or partially over the array substrate <NUM> and partially over the opposing substrate <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the display apparatus where the display component layer 111b is arranged outside the light-incident region A1, within the light-incident region A1, it can be configured such that only the driving electrode layer <NUM>, the first alignment layer <NUM>, the second alignment layer <NUM>, the liquid crystal layer <NUM>, the transparent protection layer 112d, and signal lines (not shown in the figures) for providing signals to the driving electrode layer <NUM> are arranged between the first base substrate 111a and the second base substrate 112a.

The display module <NUM> further comprises pixel electrodes and common electrodes in the display area AA, which can be arranged outside the light-incident region A1 to thereby generate electric fields for display outside the light-incident region A1. According to some embodiments, the electric field generated by the driving electrode layer <NUM> in the light-incident region A1 and the electric fields generated by the pixel electrodes and common electrodes at other regions of the display area AA are configured to be independent from each other, such that the zooming process for the camera module <NUM> and the displaying process of the display module <NUM> do not influence each other.

In addition, in order to maintain the thickness of the liquid crystal cell, in some embodiments shown in both <FIG> and <FIG>, a transparent spacer <NUM> is arranged between the array substrate <NUM> and the opposing substrate <NUM> within the light-incident region A1.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, the display module <NUM> further comprises a first polarizer <NUM> and a second polarizer <NUM>. The second polarizer <NUM> is arranged over a side of the array substrate <NUM> that departs from the opposing substrate <NUM>, and the second polarizer is arranged over a side of the opposing substrate <NUM> that departs from the array substrate <NUM>. It is further configured such that a transmission axis of the fist polarizer <NUM> and a transmission axis of the second polarizer <NUM> are substantially perpendicular to each other.

As further shown in <FIG>, a cover plate <NUM> can be further arranged over a side of the second polarizer <NUM> that departs from the opposing substrate <NUM>, and a second adhesive layer <NUM> is arranged between the cover plate <NUM> and the second polarizer <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> respectively illustrate the bonding between the display module <NUM> and the cover plate <NUM> according to two embodiments of the disclosure. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, a light-transmissive opening V2 is arranged both in the first polarizer <NUM> at a position corresponding to the light-incident region A1 and in the second polarizer <NUM> at a position corresponding to the light-incident region A1. As such, when the lights from the environment pass through the light-transmissive opening V2 in the first polarizer <NUM> and the light-transmissive opening V2 in the second polarizer <NUM>, the polarization states do not change. Thus the brightness of the lights will not be reduced, and thus the brightness of the lights received by the camera module <NUM> will be improved and the shooting effect will also be improved.

Optionally, one or both of the light-transmissive opening V2 in the first polarizer <NUM> and the light-transmissive opening V2 in the second polarizer <NUM> can be further filled with a transparent film layer <NUM>. According to some preferred embodiments shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the light-transmissive opening V2 in the second polarizer <NUM> is filled with the transparent film layer <NUM>. This configuration can prevent an air layer from being formed between the cover plate <NUM> and the opposing substrate <NUM>. The air layer thus formed can negatively influence the shooting effect.

In the manufacturing process, the second adhesive layer <NUM> and the cover plate <NUM> can be first bonded together. Next, the second polarizer <NUM> and the opposing substrate <NUM> can be bonded together, and the transparent film layer <NUM> can be filled into the light-transmissive opening V2. Then, the cover plate <NUM> that is boned with the second adhesive layer <NUM> can be further bonded with the second polarizer <NUM> that is bonded with the opposing substrate <NUM>.

Herein, the transparent film layer <NUM> can comprise a transparent adhesive or comprise a film layer made of a solidified transparent liquid. Specifically, the material of the transparent film layer <NUM> can be same as the material of the second adhesive layer <NUM>.

It is noted that in addition to the above mentioned embodiments where a light-transmissive opening V2, filled with or without a transparent film layer <NUM>, is arranged in both the first polarizer <NUM> and the second polarizer <NUM> and at positions corresponding to the light-incident region A1 to thereby allow the lights from the outside environment to pass through the first polarizer <NUM> and the second polarizer <NUM> to ultimately enter the lens of the camera module <NUM> without block, according to some other embodiments of the disclosure, each of the first polarizer <NUM> and the second polarizer <NUM> can be configured to have a portion thereof that positionally corresponds to the light-incident region A1 is light-transmissive.

In other words, instead of having a light-transmissive opening V2 (i.e. a though hole absent of the polarizer material), each of the first polarizer <NUM> and the second polarizer <NUM> can have a light-transmissive portion (i.e. comprising a material that is integrated with other portions of the polarizer yet is transparent or light-transmissive) to thereby allow the environmental lights to pass therethrough to thereby be able to enter the lens of the camera module <NUM>.

In order to process the above structure, a polarizer (i.e. the first polarizer <NUM> or the second polarizer <NUM>) can be first disposed to cover the whole display area AA. Then, a laser processing can be conducted over a portion of the polarizer that positionally corresponds to the light-incident region A1, such that the portion of the polarizer does not change the polarization state of the lights.

In the display apparatus disclosed herein, the camera module is still arranged in the display region of the display module. As a result, the area the display screen occupied in the display apparatus can be increased (in some example, the percentage of the display screen in the display apparatus can be more than <NUM>%).

In addition, the camera module is arranged over a side of the display module that is far away from its light-emitting side. Therefore there is no need to conduct irregular-shaped cutting over the display module, and in turn, the problems of low yield and low production efficiency caused by irregular- shaped cutting can thus be avoided.

Furthermore, a driving electrode layer can be arranged within a region of the liquid crystal cell that positionally corresponds to the lens of the camera module. The driving electrode layer can drive the liquid crystal molecules to deflect, which can change the incident angle of the light entering the lens of the camera module, thereby realizing zooming of the lens of the camera module.

Although specific embodiments have been described above in detail, the description is merely for purposes of illustration.

Claim 1:
A display apparatus, comprising:
a display module (<NUM>); and
a camera module (<NUM>);
wherein:
the camera module (<NUM>) is within a display area (AA) of the display module (<NUM>);
the camera module (<NUM>) is over a side of the display module (<NUM>) distal to a light-emitting surface of the display module (<NUM>); and
the display area (AA) of the display module (<NUM>) comprises a light-incident region (A1) positionally corresponding to a lens of the camera module (<NUM>), wherein the light-incident region (A1) is configured to allow light from a side of the display apparatus proximal to the light-emitting surface of the display module (<NUM>) to pass therethrough to thereby enter the lens of the camera module (<NUM>), and
wherein the display module (<NUM>) comprises a liquid crystal cell (<NUM>), the liquid crystal cell (<NUM>) comprises an array substrate (<NUM>), a liquid crystal layer (<NUM>), and an opposing substrate (<NUM>), sequentially stacked over one another along a direction of light transmission,
the liquid crystal layer (<NUM>) covers the light-incident region (A1),
the display module (<NUM>) further comprises a driving electrode layer (<NUM>) at a position of the liquid crystal cell (<NUM>) corresponding to the light-incident region (A1),
the driving electrode layer (<NUM>) is configured to generate an electric field in a portion of the liquid crystal layer (<NUM>) positionally corresponding to the light-incident region (A1) to drive liquid crystal molecules in said portion of the liquid crystal layer (<NUM>) to deflect, the electric field generated by the driving electrode layer (<NUM>) being independent from any of electric fields generated in portions of the liquid crystal layer (<NUM>) positionally corresponding to regions of the display area (AA) other
than the light-incident region (A1), characterized in that the electric field generated by said electrode layer (<NUM>) in said portion of the liquid crystal layer (<NUM>) positionally corresponding to the light-incident region (A1) is configured to adjust an incidence angle of light that enters the lens of the camera module (<NUM>) to realize zooming of the lens of the camera module (<NUM>).