Patent Description:
An increase of a screen-to-body ratio of an electronic device such as a mobile phone can enhance a display effect of a screen, and improve an overall user experience. A light collection functional module such as a front camera may need to cooperate with the screen to achieve a corresponding front light collection function. Typically for a full-screen electronic device, a blind hole arranged in the screen and fitted with the front camera occupies a display region of the screen of the electronic device to provide a light path for the front camera.

<CIT> relates to an electronic device, an electrochromic portion control method and a storage medium. The electronic device includes a display screen, a fingerprint module and a processor. The fingerprint module is arranged on a side of the display screen facing the inside of the electronic device. The display screen includes an electrochromic portion, a fingerprint module forming a first projection on the display surface of the display screen, an electrochromic portion forming a second projection on the display surface of the display screen, and a second projection surrounding the first projection; the fingerprint module and the electrochromic portion are electrically coupled to the processor. When the fingerprint module is in an active state, the processor controls the electrochromic portion to display a preset color. When the fingerprint module is in an idle state, the processor controls the electrochromic portion to change the light transmittance so that the display content of the display screen is displayed through the electrochromic portion. When the fingerprint module is activated, the corresponding position of the fingerprint module can be indicated. When the fingerprint module is idle, the display content of the display screen is not affected.

<CIT> relates to a display screen assembly, an electronic device, and a display control method. The electronic device comprises an LCD body, a backlight plate, a camera, and a light filling source. The LCD body comprises a normal display area and a preset area; the normal display area comprises a color filter, a liquid crystal layer and a first thin film transistor, which are orderly arranged from the front to the back; the preset area comprises a colorless resistance chip, a scattering layer and a second thin film transistor; the scattering layer can be switched between a transparent state and a non-transparent state; the backlight plate is provided with a hole opposite to the preset area; the camera and the hole are oppositely arranged so as to obtain external light through the hole and the preset area; the fill-in light source is a multi-color light source capable of field sequential display and is adapted to emit light to the preset area through the hole.

<CIT> relates to an electronic equipment, an electrochromic part control method and a storage medium. The electronic equipment includes a display screen, an electrochromic part, a functional component and a control circuit. The display surface of the display screen is covered with the electrochromic part. The functional component is covered with the display screen. The control circuit is used for controlling the electrochromic part. The control circuit is in coupled connection with the electrochromic part electrically. When the functional component is in an activated state, the control circuit is used for controlling the electrochromic part to change the light transmittance, so that an optical signal passing through the electrochromic part is obtained by the functional component of the electronic equipment, and when the functional component is in an idle state, the control circuit is used for controlling the electrochromic part to reduce the light transmittance, so that the functional component of the electronic equipment is hidden.

Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims,.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

References will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The following description refers to the accompanying drawings in which the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements, unless specified otherwise. The implementations set forth in the following description of the exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the present disclosure. Instead, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with several aspects of the present disclosure as recited in the appended claims.

A blind hole arranged in the screen and fitted with the front camera occupies a display region of the screen of the electronic device, thus reducing a display area and a display effect of the screen. However, the use of a pop-up camera increases thicknesses and structure complexities of the camera and the electronic device.

The light collection functional module may include one or more of a front camera, a photosensitive sensor, and an auxiliary photographing functional module, which is not limited in the present disclosure. Taking the front camera as an example in the following, a specific structural arrangement of the electronic device will be presented in exemplary descriptions.

<FIG> is a schematic sectional view of an exemplary electronic device of the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic view of an electrochromic member in a power-off state of an exemplary electronic device of the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic view of an electrochromic member in a power-on state of an exemplary electronic device of the present invention. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> includes a screen module <NUM> and a front camera <NUM>. The screen module <NUM> includes a display member <NUM> and an electrochromic member <NUM>. The display member <NUM> is provided with a light transmitting hole <NUM> therein. The front camera <NUM> is arranged below the screen module <NUM> and corresponds to the light transmitting hole <NUM> in terms of positions.

The various circuits, device components, modules, units, blocks, or portions may have modular configurations, or are composed of discrete components, but nonetheless can be referred to as "units," "modules," or "portions" in general. In other words, the "circuits," "components," "modules," "blocks," "portions," or "units" referred to herein may or may not be in modular forms.

At least a part of the electrochromic member <NUM> is fitted with the light transmitting hole <NUM> to display a color or an image according to a preset state in a controlled manner. The preset state of the electrochromic member <NUM> includes a light transmitting state and an auxiliary display state. When the electrochromic member <NUM> is in the light transmitting state, i.e. the electrochromic member <NUM> allows light transmissions, the front camera <NUM> corresponding to the light transmitting hole <NUM> in terms of positions cooperates with the electrochromic member <NUM> to obtain lights and achieve a photographing function. That is, the front camera <NUM> can obtain the lights through the light transmitting hole <NUM> and the electrochromic member <NUM>. When the electrochromic member <NUM> is in the auxiliary display state, the electrochromic member <NUM> shows the color or the image, and thus the screen module <NUM> has a full-screen display effect.

The electrochromic member <NUM> can be controlled, for example by a processor or processing circuit, to switch between the light transmitting state and the auxiliary display state. When the electrochromic member <NUM> is in the light transmitting state, the electrochromic member <NUM> has a transparent color, and the front camera <NUM> cooperates with the electrochromic member <NUM> to obtain the lights to achieve the photographing function. When the electrochromic member <NUM> is in the auxiliary display state, the electrochromic member <NUM> shows a pure color, a color block or an image, and thus achieves the full-screen display effect of the screen module <NUM>. The use of the electrochromic member <NUM> cooperating with the display member <NUM> and the light collection functional module also reduces the overall thicknesses and the structural complexities of the screen module <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>.

It should be noted that when the electrochromic member <NUM> is in the auxiliary display state, the color or the image shown by the electrochromic member <NUM> is matched with a color or an image of the display member <NUM>, thereby enhancing the full-screen display effect of the screen module <NUM>.

The specific structure of the screen module <NUM> will be presented in exemplary descriptions as follows.

In an embodiment, the screen module <NUM> includes a display member <NUM>, an electrochromic member <NUM>, an encapsulation glass <NUM> and a cover glass <NUM>. That is, the electrochromic member <NUM> is arranged independent of the display member <NUM>, the encapsulation glass <NUM> and the cover glass <NUM>, and is finally assembled therewith into the screen module <NUM>. The electrochromic member <NUM> may be an electrochromic film which may be attached to an upper side surface of the display member <NUM> and correspond to the light transmitting hole <NUM> in terms of positions, so as to cooperate with the front camera <NUM> to be in the light transmitting state or cooperate with the display member <NUM> to be in the auxiliary display state. The encapsulation glass <NUM> covers the electrochromic film. The cover glass <NUM> covers the encapsulation glass <NUM>, and is glued with the encapsulation glass <NUM> by means of an optical clear adhesive (OCA) <NUM>. The arrangement of the encapsulation glass <NUM> and the cover glass <NUM> can encapsulate and protect the display member <NUM> and the electrochromic member <NUM>, and the OCA <NUM> used for gluing also reduces the influence on the display effect of the screen module <NUM> due to its transparence attribute. Alternatively, the electrochromic member <NUM> may also be directly arranged in the light transmitting hole <NUM> of the display member <NUM> to reduce the overall thickness of the screen module <NUM>, which is not limited in the present disclosure.

In the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the electrochromic member <NUM> includes a bistable liquid crystal layer <NUM> and a transparent conductive film layer <NUM> arranged on each side of the bistable liquid crystal layer <NUM>. The bistable liquid crystal layer <NUM> is controlled by a voltage level, such that the electrochromic member <NUM> finally shows the color or the image matched with the display member <NUM>. The electrochromic member <NUM> may be controlled by RGBW (red, green, blue, and white) or RGB technologies, such as having red, green, blue, white pixels, to present various pure colors, color blocks or images matched with the display member <NUM>. In particular, the electrochromism obtained by the RGBW technology have been improved in terms of transmissivity and brightness.

It should be noted that the transparent conductive film layer <NUM> may be an indium tin oxides (ITO) film with great electric conductivity and electric resistivity, such that the electrochromic member <NUM> can obtain a great color display effect.

Furthermore, a protective layer <NUM> may be arranged on a side of the transparent conductive film layer <NUM> facing away from the bistable liquid crystal layer <NUM>, so as to protect the transparent conductive film layer <NUM> and the bistable liquid crystal layer <NUM>.

In another embodiment, the electrochromic member <NUM> includes at least one of an electrochromic cover glass and an electrochromic encapsulation glass. That is, the screen module <NUM> includes a display member <NUM> and an electrochromic member <NUM>. The electrochromic member <NUM> acts as a cover glass <NUM> or an encapsulation glass <NUM> of the screen module <NUM>, and also has an electrochromic function. For example, when the electrochromic member <NUM> is the electrochromic encapsulation glass, the electrochromic encapsulation glass covers the display member <NUM>. When a user needs to use the front camera <NUM>, the electrochromic encapsulation glass is powered off and becomes transparent, such that the front camera <NUM> can obtain lights through the light transmitting hole <NUM> to complete the photographing function. When the user needs the full-screen display effect, the electrochromic encapsulation glass displays the pure color or the color block matched with the display layer in a controlled manner, so as to achieve a complete full-screen display effect.

In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the screen module <NUM> may also include a control substrate <NUM> arranged below the display member <NUM>, and the control substrate <NUM> includes a light transmitting section <NUM> corresponding to the light transmitting hole <NUM>. When the user needs to use the front camera <NUM>, the light transmitting section <NUM> may be fitted with the light transmitting hole <NUM> to avoid interfering with the light collection of the front camera <NUM>, such that the front camera <NUM> can obtain lights through the light transmitting hole <NUM> to complete the photographing function.

The electronic device <NUM> also includes a sliding rail <NUM> arranged below the screen module <NUM>, and the light collection functional module is slidably mounted to the sliding rail <NUM>. A plurality of the light collection functional modules, such as, in a non limiting example, the front camera <NUM>, the photosensitive sensor and the auxiliary photographing module, are slidably mounted the sliding rail <NUM>. By sliding and position switching of the plurality of the light collection functional modules, an alternative fit of the plurality of the light collection functional modules with the light transmitting hole <NUM> can be achieved, and finally various types of light collection functions can be achieved, thus simplifying the structure of the electronic device <NUM> and also enriching the function of the electronic device <NUM>. When the light collection functional module is merely the front camera <NUM>, the camera may also be arranged to the sliding rail <NUM>, such that the front camera <NUM> may slide to a position corresponding to the light transmitting hole <NUM> so as to collect lights when the photographing function is needed, and slide away from the light transmitting hole <NUM> when the photographing function is not needed, so as to avoid the influence of the structure of the front camera <NUM> on the display effect due to the light transmission of the screen module <NUM>.

It should be noted that, the display member <NUM> may include at least one of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and a liquid crystal display (LCD), which may be arranged and assembled according to specific structures and display requirements, which is not limited in the present disclosure.

In an exemplary electronic device <NUM> according to the present invention, the screen module <NUM> is provided with the display member <NUM> and the electrochromic member <NUM>, and the electrochromic member <NUM> and the light collection functional module are fitted with the light transmitting hole <NUM> of the display member <NUM>, respectively. The electrochromic member <NUM> may switch between the light transmitting state and the auxiliary display state in the controlled manner. When the electrochromic member <NUM> is in the light transmitting state, the light collection functional module cooperates with the electrochromic member <NUM> to obtain lights to achieve the light collection function. When the electrochromic member <NUM> is in the auxiliary display state, the electrochromic member <NUM> shows the pure color, the color block or the image matched with the display member <NUM>, thus achieving the full-screen display effect of the screen module <NUM>. The use of the electrochromic member <NUM> cooperating with the display member <NUM> and the light collection function module also reduces the overall thicknesses and the structural complexities of the screen module <NUM> and electronic device <NUM>.

It should be noted that the electronic device <NUM> can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, and so on, which is not limited in the present disclosure.

The present invention further proposes a screen module <NUM> including a display member <NUM> and an electrochromic member <NUM>. The display member <NUM> is provided with a light transmitting hole <NUM> therein. At least a part of the electrochromic member <NUM> is fitted with the light transmitting hole <NUM> to display a color or an image according to a preset state in a controlled manner. The preset state includes a light transmitting state and an auxiliary display state. When the electrochromic member <NUM> is in the light transmitting state, the electrochromic member <NUM> has a transparent color. When the electrochromic member <NUM> is in the auxiliary display state, the electrochromic member <NUM> shows a color or an image, thereby achieving the full-screen display effect of the screen module <NUM>. The use of the electrochromic member <NUM> cooperating with the display member <NUM> and the light collection function module also reduces the overall thicknesses and the structural complexities of the screen module <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>.

Preferably, the screen module <NUM> includes a display member <NUM>, an electrochromic member <NUM>, an encapsulation glass <NUM> and a cover glass <NUM>. That is, the electrochromic member <NUM> may be arranged independent of the display member <NUM>, the encapsulation glass <NUM> and the cover glass <NUM>, and is finally assembled therewith into the screen module <NUM>. The electrochromic member <NUM> may be an electrochromic film which may be attached to an upper side surface of the display member <NUM> and correspond to the light transmitting hole <NUM> in terms of positions, so as to cooperate with the front camera <NUM> to be in the light transmitting state or cooperate with the display member <NUM> to be in the auxiliary display state. The encapsulation glass <NUM> covers the electrochromic film. The cover glass <NUM> covers the encapsulation glass <NUM>, and is glued with the encapsulation glass <NUM> by means of an optical clear adhesive (OCA) <NUM>. The arrangement of the encapsulation glass <NUM> and the cover glass <NUM> can encapsulate and protect the display member <NUM> and the electrochromic member <NUM>, and the OCA <NUM> used for gluing also reduces the influence on the display effect of the screen module <NUM> due to its transparence attribute. Alternatively, the electrochromic member <NUM> may also be directly arranged in the light transmitting hole <NUM> of the display member <NUM> to reduce the overall thickness of the screen module <NUM>, which is not limited in the present disclosure.

The electrochromic member <NUM> may include a bistable liquid crystal layer <NUM> and a transparent conductive film layer <NUM> arranged on each side of the bistable liquid crystal layer <NUM>. The bistable liquid crystal layer <NUM> is controlled by a voltage level, such that the electrochromic member <NUM> finally shows the color or the image matched with the display member <NUM>. The electrochromic member <NUM> may be controlled by RGBW or RGB technology to present various pure colors, color blocks or images matched with the display member <NUM>. In particular, the electrochromism obtained by the RGBW technology have been improved in terms of transmissivity and brightness.

It should be noted that the transparent conductive film layer <NUM> may be an indium tin oxides (ITO) film with great electric conductivity and electric resistivity, such that the electrochromic member <NUM> may obtain a great color display effect.

Preferably, the electrochromic member <NUM> includes at least one of an electrochromic cover glass and an electrochromic encapsulation glass. That is, the screen module <NUM> includes a display member <NUM> and an electrochromic member <NUM>. The electrochromic member <NUM> acts as a cover glass <NUM> or an encapsulation glass <NUM> of the screen module <NUM>, and also has an electrochromic function. For example, when the electrochromic member <NUM> is the electrochromic encapsulation glass, the electrochromic encapsulation glass covers the display member <NUM>. When a user needs to use the front camera <NUM>, the electrochromic encapsulation glass is powered off and becomes transparent, such that the front camera <NUM> can obtain lights through the light transmitting hole <NUM> to complete the photographing function. When the user needs the full-screen display effect, the electrochromic encapsulation glass displays the pure color or the color block matched with the display layer in a controlled manner, so as to achieve a complete full-screen display effect.

Additionally, other structural arrangements of the screen module <NUM> may be the same with those of the screen module <NUM> involved in the above examples of the electronic device, which will not be repeated herein.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the above described modules/units can each be implemented by hardware, or software, or a combination of hardware and software. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also understand that multiple ones of the above described modules/units may be combined as one module/unit, and each of the above described modules/units may be further divided into a plurality of sub-modules/sub-units.

In the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the terms "lower," "upper," "center," "longitudinal," "transverse," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inside," "outside," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," "column," "row," and other orientation or positional relationships are based on example orientations illustrated in the drawings, and are merely for the convenience of the description of some embodiments, rather than indicating or implying the device or component being constructed and operated in a particular orientation. Therefore, these terms are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

In the present disclosure, the terms "installed," "connected," "coupled," "fixed" and the like shall be understood broadly, and may be either a fixed connection or a detachable connection, or integrated, unless otherwise explicitly defined. These terms can refer to mechanical or electrical connections, or both. Such connections can be direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium. These terms can also refer to the internal connections or the interactions between elements. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art on a case-by-case basis.

In the present disclosure, a first element being "on," "over," or "below" a second element may indicate direct contact between the first and second elements, without contact, or indirect through an intermediate medium, unless otherwise explicitly stated and defined.

Moreover, a first element being "above," "over," or "at an upper surface of" a second element may indicate that the first element is directly above the second element, or merely that the first element is at a level higher than the second element. The first element "below," "underneath," or "at a lower surface of" the second element may indicate that the first element is directly below the second element, or merely that the first element is at a level lower than the second feature. The first and second elements may or may not be in contact with each other.

In the description of the present disclosure, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," and the like may indicate a specific feature described in connection with the embodiment or example, a structure, a material or feature included in at least one embodiment or example. In the present disclosure, the schematic representation of the above terms is not necessarily directed to the same embodiment or example.

To provide for interaction with a user, implementations of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented with a computer and/or a display device, e.g., a VR/AR device, a head-mount display (HMD) device, a head-up display (HUD) device, smart eyewear (e.g., glasses), a CRT (cathode-ray tube), LCD (liquid-crystal display), OLED (organic light emitting diode) display, other flexible configuration, or any other monitor for displaying information to the user and a keyboard, a pointing device, e.g., a mouse, trackball, etc., or a touch screen, touch pad, etc., by which the user can provide input to the computer.

Other types of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. In an example, a user can speak commands to the audio processing device, to perform various operations.

Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombinations.

Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variations of a subcombination.

Thus, particular implementations of the subject matter have been described. In certain implementations, multitasking or parallel processing may be utilized.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>), comprising:
a screen module (<NUM>), comprising:
a display member (<NUM>) provided with a light transmitting hole (<NUM>); and
an electrochromic member (<NUM>), at least a part of the electrochromic member (<NUM>) being fitted with the light transmitting hole (<NUM>) to display a color or an image according to a preset state,
wherein the preset state comprises a light transmitting state and an auxiliary display state;
responsive to that the electrochromic member (<NUM>) is in the light transmitting state, the electrochromic member (<NUM>) becomes transparent and allows light to pass therethrough; and
responsive to that the electrochromic member (<NUM>) is in the auxiliary display state, the electrochromic member (<NUM>) shows a color or an image matched with the display member (<NUM>); and
a first light collection functional module arranged below the screen module (<NUM>) and corresponding to the light transmitting hole (<NUM>) in terms of positions,
wherein
responsive to that the electrochromic member (<NUM>) is in the light transmitting state, the light collection functional module is configured to obtain lights through the light transmitting hole (<NUM>) and the electrochromic member (<NUM>);
characterized in that
the electronic device (<NUM>) further comprises a sliding rail (<NUM>) arranged below the screen module (<NUM>), and a plurality of light collection functional modules, comprising the first light collection functional module, are mounted to the sliding rail (<NUM>) and configured to slide relative to the sliding rail (<NUM>) and switch their positions so as to be fitted with the light transmitting hole (<NUM>), respectively.