Patent Description:
The present disclosure belongs to the field of display technology, and in particular, to a display panel assembly.

With the continuous development of display technology, 3D display, which can make pictures more realistic and give a user an immersive feeling, has become an important development trend in the display field.

The 3D display includes a glasses-free 3D display and an auxiliary 3D display (i.e., a technique of implementing 3D display by means of an auxiliary viewing device such as 3D glasses). The glasses-free 3D display does not require a viewer to wear corresponding glasses, but has relative large crosstalk and limited depth of field. The auxiliary 3D display has good visual effects, but it is necessary to design a corresponding display panel. This display panel has high cost and long development cycle, which is not conducive to application of the product in various fields.

US patent application <CIT> discloses a display panel comprising a parallax barrier capable of working with natural light, and the parallax barrier comprises transparent barrier provided with at least one set of pattern which is capable of switching between a light-absorbing state and a light-transmitting state, wherein when the set of pattern is the light-absorbing state, a slit grating for 3D display is formed on the transparent barrier.

US patent application <CIT> discloses a stereoscopic display apparatus, which includes a display mode control unit configured to switch the display unit between a first stereoscopic display mode configured for a viewer to view images with stereoscopic viewing glasses and a second stereoscopic display mode configured for a viewer to view images without stereoscopic viewing glasses. Also described is a method of displaying images that includes switching between displaying images in a first stereoscopic display mode in which images are displayed to be viewed with stereoscopic viewing glasses and a second stereoscopic display mode in which images are displayed to be viewed without stereoscopic viewing glasses.

US patent application <CIT> discloses a 3D display apparatus and manufacturing method thereof, and the 3D display apparatus comprises: a liquid crystal display panel; and a first polarizing filter and a second polarizing filter respectively attached to both sides of the liquid crystal display panel; a grating functional structure on the second polarizing filter, wherein a stripe direction of the grating functional structure may be controlled to form a different predetermined angle with a horizontal direction; a polarizing filter functional structure on the grating functional structure, wherein the functional states of the polarizing filter functional structure may be controlled to switch between effective and ineffective. The 3D display apparatus can achieve a compatible switching between a glasses type 3D displaying mode and a naked-eye 3D displaying mode on the same 3D display apparatus.

US patent application <CIT> discloses a touch glasses-free grating 3D display device and manufacturing and control methods thereof. The touch glasses-free grating 3D display device includes a display panel and an electrochromic 3D glasses-free grating disposed on the display panel. The electrochromic 3D glasses-free grating includes a plurality of mutually parallel first grating electrodes, a plurality of mutually parallel second grating electrodes and an electrochromic material disposed between the plurality of mutually parallel first grating electrodes and the plurality of mutually parallel second grating electrodes. Both the plurality of first grating electrodes and the plurality of second grating electrodes are transparent conductive electrodes. The display panel is provided with or includes a plurality of touch electrodes which are intercrossed with and insulated from the plurality of first grating electrodes and the plurality of second grating electrodes. The first grating electrodes and the second grating electrodes not only can apply 3D driving voltage signals but also can apply touch driving signals or output touch sensing signals.

KR patent application <CIT> discloses a stereoscopic image display device of pattern retarder method where a light blocking control layer is formed. The stereoscopic image display device comprises a display panel including: a number of sub pixels arranged in a matrix; a black matrix partitioning the sub pixels; and the light blocking control layer which is formed in parallel with the black matrix formed along the lateral direction, and is formed to have wider width than the width of the black matrix formed along the lateral direction. The light blocking control layer is formed to be overlapped with a part of each of the sub pixels by fixed interval, and transmits a light in a 2D mode in which 2D image data is supplied, and blocks the light in 3D mode in which 3D image data is supplied.

The present invention provides a display panel assembly as defined in independent claims <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

To make those skilled in the art better understand the technical solutions of the present disclosure, the present disclosure will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the specific implementations.

The present disclosure provides a display panel assembly and a display method thereof, which are intended to realize switching between 2D display, auxiliary 3D display, and glasses-free 3D display to meet viewing requirements on different occasions.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a display panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the display panel assembly includes a display panel <NUM> and a display switching device <NUM> disposed on a light outgoing surface of the display panel. The display switching device <NUM> includes an electrode group <NUM>, a common electrode <NUM>, and an electrochromic layer <NUM> disposed between the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM>. The electrode group <NUM> includes a first electrode <NUM> and a second electrode <NUM>. In an embodiment, an insulating layer <NUM> is provided between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>. The electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM> are configured to receive voltage signals such that the electrochromic layer <NUM> presents one of a transparent state for 2D display, a first pattern for auxiliary 3D display, or a second pattern for glasses-free 3D display.

Referring to <FIG>, the display switching device <NUM> is disposed on the light outgoing surface of the display panel <NUM>. The display switching device <NUM> includes, from top to bottom, the common electrode <NUM>, the electrochromic layer <NUM>, and the electrode group <NUM> including the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>. The insulating layer <NUM> is disposed between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> so that the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> are insulated from each other.

The display switching device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure controls the electrochromic layer <NUM> to form different patterns by controlling voltage signals applied to the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM>. In some embodiments, the electrode group <NUM> includes a first electrode <NUM> and a second electrode <NUM> that may be paired with the common electrode <NUM>. In some embodiments, the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM> are configured to perform one of the following: generating a first electric field between the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM>, such that the electrochromic layer <NUM> presents the transparent state to achieve 2D display; generating a second electric field between the first electrode <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM>, such that the electrochromic layer <NUM> presents the first pattern to achieve auxiliary 3D display; and generating a third electric field between the second electrode <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM>, such that the electrochromic layer <NUM> presents the second pattern to achieve glasses-free 3D display. When the display panel assembly is operated to display, in a case where no voltage signal is applied between the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM>, the electrochromic layer <NUM> is in the transparent state, thereby realizing 2D display; in a case where a first voltage signal is applied between the common electrode <NUM> and the first electrode <NUM>, the electrochromic layer <NUM> forms the first pattern, thereby achieving auxiliary 3D display; in a case where a second voltage signal is applied between the common electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>, the electrochromic layer <NUM> forms the second pattern, thereby achieving glasses-frees 3D display. In this way, switching between 2D display, auxiliary 3D display, and glasses-free 3D display can be realized, thereby satisfying the viewing requirements on different occasions. It can be understood that the way to make the electrochromic layer <NUM> in the transparent state is not limited to the absence of a voltage signal between the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM>, and the electrochromic layer <NUM> may be made in a transparent state by applying a corresponding voltage signal between the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM> based on the material of the electrochromic layer.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM> are each made of a transparent electrode material.

That is to say, both the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM> in the display switching device may be transparent electrodes. For example, the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM> may be made of a material such as indium tin oxide ITO or indium zinc oxide IZO. In the present embodiment, the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM> made of a transparent material do not affect the aperture ratio of the display product.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating a principle of auxiliary 3D display performed by a display panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. During auxiliary 3D display, the first voltage signal between the common electrode <NUM> and the first electrode <NUM> causes the electrochromic layer <NUM> to form blocking strips extending in a first direction, and the blocking strips extending in the first direction serve as a lateral grating, which cooperates with an auxiliary viewing device (e.g., corresponding 3D glasses) to present a clear 3D image in left and right eyes of a person, achieving an auxiliary 3D display of the display device. As shown in <FIG>, a left-eye image L and a right-eye image R are horizontally interleaved to achieve auxiliary 3D display. In this case, by adjusting the first voltage signal between the common electrode <NUM> and the first electrode <NUM>, the width of the lateral grating is controlled, so that the viewing angle of the auxiliary 3D display can be controlled. It can be understood that the larger the width of the lateral grating, the larger the viewing angle of the auxiliary 3D display. A larger viewing angle can be achieved compared to conventional auxiliary 3D display. In addition, since the viewing angle of the auxiliary 3D display can be controlled by adjusting the first voltage signal between the common electrode <NUM> and the first electrode <NUM>, the viewing angle of the auxiliary 3D display can be reduced by adjusting the first voltage signal in a case that a small viewing angle can satisfy the viewing demand, and the viewing angle of the auxiliary 3D display can be enlarged by adjusting the first voltage signal in a case that a large viewing angle is needed, thereby achieving the effect of reducing the power consumption. <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating a principle of glasses-free 3D display performed by a display panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. During glasses-free 3D display, the second voltage signal between the common electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> causes the electrochromic layer <NUM> to form blocking strips extending in a second direction, and the blocking strips extending in the second direction serve as a vertical grating or an oblique grating (see the lower part of <FIG>) to achieve glasses-free 3D display of the display device. As shown in the upper part of <FIG>, a left-eye image and a right-eye image are vertically interleaved to achieve glasses-free 3D display. In this case, by adjusting the second voltage signal between the common electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>, the width of the vertical grating or the oblique grating is controlled, so that the viewing angle of the glasses-free 3D display can be controlled.

It can be understood that it is also possible to apply no voltage between the common electrode <NUM> and the first electrode <NUM> during auxiliary 3D display. In this case, the electrochromic layer <NUM> exhibits the transparent state, but such an auxiliary 3D display has a small viewing angle, which is not conducive to viewing.

As an optional implementation in the embodiment, the first electrode <NUM> includes a plurality of strip electrodes extending in the first direction, and the second electrode <NUM> includes a plurality of strip electrodes extending in the second direction. The angle between the first direction and the second direction is greater than zero.

In an embodiment, the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating a common electrode and an electrode group in a display panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the common electrode <NUM> is an integral layer of electrode, and the electrode group <NUM> includes horizontal electrode strips and vertical electrode strips which are perpendicular to each other. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of an electrode group in a display panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the horizontal electrodes (i.e., the first electrode <NUM>) of the electrode group <NUM> are each bonded to a first chip, and the first chip supplies signals to the horizontal first electrode <NUM>; the vertical electrodes (i.e., the second electrode <NUM>) of the electrode group <NUM> is bonded to a second chip, and the second chip supplies signals to the vertical second electrode <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the case that the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> are perpendicular to each other, and it can be understood that the case that an angle between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> is not <NUM>° is similar thereto, and will not be described here.

In one embodiment, an orthographic projection of the first electrode <NUM> on the display panel <NUM> and an orthographic projection of the second electrode <NUM> on the display panel <NUM> both fall within an orthographic projection of the common electrode <NUM> on the display panel <NUM>.

When voltages are applied to the first electrode <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM>, the electrochromic layer <NUM> forms blocking strips extending in the first direction; when voltages are applied to the second electrode <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM>, the electrochromic layer <NUM> forms blocking strips extending in the second direction; the orthographic projection of the first electrode <NUM> on the display panel <NUM> and the orthographic projection of the second electrode <NUM> on the display panel <NUM> both fall within the orthographic projection of the common electrode <NUM> on the display panel <NUM>. In this way, the common electrode <NUM> can not only form an electric field with the first electrode <NUM> but also form an electric field with the second electrode <NUM>.

In an embodiment according to the present disclosure, the electrochromic layer <NUM> is made of an electrochromic material. The electrochromic material in the embodiments of the present disclosure refers to a material whose optical property (reflectivity, transmittance, absorptivity, etc.) undergoes a stable and reversible color change (reversible change in color and transparency in appearance) under the action of an externally-applied electric field. A material having electrochromic property is referred to as an electrochromic material. Typically, the electrochromic material includes inorganic and organic electrochromic materials. For example, the electrochromic material may include polythiophenes and derivatives thereof, viologen, tetrathiafulvalene, metal phthalocyanine compounds, and the like.

As an alternative implementation in this embodiment, the electrochromic material turns black in response to a second electric field formed between the first electrode <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM>, and the electrochromic material turns black in response to a third electric field formed between the second electrode <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM>.

In order to enable the display panel assembly applied to the display device to better realize the switching between 2D display, auxiliary 3D display, and glasses-free 3D display to meet the viewing requirements on different occasions, an electrochromic material that can turn a deep color after power up may be selected. For example, a material that can turn dark purple after power up may be selected. Alternatively, a material that can turn black after power up is selected.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a display panel assembly includes a display panel <NUM> and a display switching device <NUM> disposed on a light outgoing surface of the display panel. The display switching device <NUM> includes an electrode group <NUM> and an electrochromic layer <NUM>. The electrode group <NUM> includes a first electrode <NUM> and a second electrode <NUM>. The display switching device <NUM> includes a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate includes a first electrode <NUM>, a first common electrode, and a first insulating layer between the first electrode <NUM> and the first common electrode, the second substrate includes a second electrode <NUM>, a second common electrode and a second insulating layer between the second electrode <NUM> and the second common electrode, and the electrochromic layer <NUM> is located between the first substrate and the second substrate.

In response to a first electric field formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the electrochromic layer <NUM> presents a transparent state to achieve 2D display; in response to a second electric field formed between the first electrode <NUM> and the second common electrode, the electrochromic layer <NUM> presents a first pattern to achieve auxiliary 3D display; in response to a third electric field formed between the second electrode <NUM> and the first common electrode, the electrochromic layer <NUM> presents a second pattern to achieve glasses-free 3D display.

According to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, a display panel assembly includes a display panel <NUM> and a display switching device <NUM> disposed on a light outgoing surface of the display panel. The display switching device <NUM> includes an electrode group <NUM> and an electrochromic layer <NUM>. The electrode group <NUM> includes a first electrode <NUM> and a second electrode <NUM>. The first electrode <NUM> includes a plurality of strip electrodes extending in a first direction and closely arranged, and the second electrode <NUM> includes a plurality of strip electrodes extending in a second direction and closely arranged, and the electrochromic layer <NUM> is disposed between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>. For example, an interval between adjacent two of the closely arranged strip electrodes may be about <NUM>.

In response to a first electric field formed between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>, the electrochromic layer <NUM> presents the transparent state to achieve 2D display; in response to a second electric field formed between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>, the electrochromic layer <NUM> presents the first pattern to achieve auxiliary 3D display; in response to a third electric field formed between the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>, the electrochromic layer <NUM> presents the second pattern to achieve glasses-free 3D display.

For example, when voltage signals are applied to part of strip electrodes extending in the first direction and voltage signals are applied to all of the strip electrodes extending in the second direction, since all the strip electrodes extending in the second direction are closely arranged, the strip electrodes extending in the second direction may function as a planar electrode, so that the electrochromic layer <NUM> can form blocking strips extending in the first direction. When voltage signals are applied to part of the strip electrodes extending in the second direction and voltage signals are applied to all of the strip electrodes extending in the first direction, since all the strip electrodes extending in the first direction are closely arranged, the strip electrodes extending in the first direction may function as a planar electrode, so that the electrochromic layer <NUM> can form blocking strips extending in the second direction.

<FIG> are schematic structural diagrams of a display panel assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, the display panel <NUM> includes a color filter substrate <NUM>, the display switching device <NUM> is disposed on the light outgoing surface of the color filter substrate, a black matrix <NUM> having a portion extending in the first direction and a portion extending in the second direction and intersecting the portion extending in the first direction is provided on a light incident surface of the color filter substrate, and a color filter <NUM> is provided in a region defined by the black matrix on the light incident surface of the color filter substrate. In order to meet the optical principle requirements of 3D imaging, in an embodiment, the portion of the black matrix <NUM> extending in the first direction is disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the blocking strips extending in the first direction, and the portion of the black matrix <NUM> extending in the second direction is disposed in one-to-one correspondence with the blocking strips extending in the second direction.

The display switching device <NUM> is formed on the color filter substrate to realize the corresponding switching function between 2D display, auxiliary 3D display, and glasses-free 3D display.

In one embodiment, a width of the blocking strips extending in the first direction is greater than a width of the portion of the black matrix <NUM> extending in the first direction, and a width of the blocking strips extending in the second direction is greater than a width of the portion of the black matrix 41extending in the second direction. In an embodiment, a width of an orthographic projection of the blocking strips extending in the first direction on a base substrate of the color filter substrate is greater than a width of an orthographic projection of the corresponding portion of the black matrix <NUM> on the base substrate of the color filter substrate, and a width of an orthographic projection of the blocking strips extending in the second direction on the base substrate of the color filter substrate is greater than a width of an orthographic projection of the corresponding portion of the black matrix <NUM> on the base substrate of the color filter substrate. In this way, the effect of increasing the viewing angle can be achieved compared to the case where the blocking strips are not formed.

Signals may be applied to the first electrode <NUM> at the position of the portion of the black matrix <NUM> extending in the first direction to enlarge the viewing angle and achieve auxiliary 3D display; signals may be applied to the second electrode <NUM> at the position of the portion of the black matrix <NUM> extending in the second direction to achieve glasses-free 3D display.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, a phase retardation film <NUM> and a polarizer <NUM> are disposed on the light outgoing surface of the color filter substrate, and the phase retardation film <NUM> and the polarizer <NUM> are disposed between the display switching device <NUM> and the color filter substrate. In an embodiment, the phase retardation film <NUM> is disposed closer to the display switching device <NUM> than the polarizer <NUM>. By combining a phase retardation film and a bi-directionally controlled electrochromic device, mutual switching between glasses-free 3D display, auxiliary 3D display, and 2D display can be achieved.

The positional relationship between the electrode group <NUM>, the common electrode <NUM>, the phase retardation film <NUM>, the polarizer <NUM> and the color filter <NUM> is shown in <FIG> corresponding to the present embodiment. In the embodiment, the phase retardation film <NUM> is a positive or negative quarter-wavelength (<NUM>/<NUM>λ) phase retardation film and is precisely aligned with the color filter <NUM>. In some embodiments, the phase retardation film <NUM> includes odd-numbered rows and even-numbered rows alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction, a length of each of the odd-numbered rows and the even-numbered rows in the longitudinal direction are equal to a length of a pixel in the color filter <NUM> in the longitudinal direction, and boundary lines between the odd-numbered rows and the even-numbered rows are aligned with center lines of a portion of the black matrix between two rows of pixels. It should be noted that, in the case that the display panel in the present disclosure receives 3D display data, the odd-numbered rows and the even-numbered rows of the phase retardation film <NUM> can respectively exhibit different polarization states, and then cooperate with polarized glasses to realize auxiliary 3D display.

In one embodiment, the display panel includes an OLED display panel.

That is, the present disclosure is also applicable to OLED display. In this case, the display switching device is formed on a light outgoing surface of a cover plate of the OLED.

It should be noted that, in the drawings of the present disclosure, the size, thickness, and the like of each structural layer are merely illustrative. In the process implementation, a projected area of each structural layer on a substrate can be changed and adjusted according to actual needs. The desired structural layers may be formed by an etching process; at the same time, the structures shown in the drawings do not limit the geometry of each structural layer which, for example, may be a rectangle as shown in the drawing, or may be a trapezoid, or other shape formed by etching.

Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a display method using the display panel of the above embodiments, including the following steps S01 to S03.

S01 includes inputting display content to the display panel. In some embodiments, the display content includes image data and video data.

S02 includes determining format of the display content. In some embodiments, when images or videos are decoded, images or videos of different formats may be calibrated with different codes by encoding.

S03 includes controlling, based on a result of the determination, voltage signals applied to the electrode group and the common electrode, to control the electrochromic layer to present one of a transparent state for 2D display, a first pattern for auxiliary 3D display, or a second pattern for glasses-free 3D display.

In some embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, step S03 may further include the following steps S03a to S03c.

At S03a, in a case that the display content is 2D display content, no voltage signal is applied between the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM> such that the electrochromic layer <NUM> presents the transparent state, and the display panel displays a 2D image.

At S03b, in a case that the display content is auxiliary 3D display content, a first voltage signal is applied between the first electrode <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM> such that the electrochromic layer <NUM> forms blocking strips extending in the first direction to control a viewing angle of auxiliary 3D display, and the display panel displays an auxiliary 3D display image.

In one embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, black lines, i.e., blocking strips extending in the first direction, appear at positions corresponding to horizontal portion of the black matrix. In this case, the blocking strips extending in the first direction function to enlarge the viewing angle.

At S03c, in a case that the display content is glasses-free 3D display content, a second voltage signal is applied between the second electrode <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM> such that the electrochromic layer <NUM> forms blocking strips extending in the second direction to control a viewing angle of glasses-free 3D display, and the display panel displays a glasses-free 3D display image.

In one embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, black lines, i.e., blocking strips extending in the second direction, appear at positions corresponding to the vertical portion of the black matrix. In this case, the blocking strips extending in the second direction function to present a glasses-free stereoscopic image.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the voltage signal between the electrode group <NUM> and the common electrode <NUM> depends on the display content input to the display panel, thereby implementing the corresponding switching function between 2D display, auxiliary 3D display, and glasses-free 3D display.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a display device including any one of the above-described display panel assemblies. The display device may be any product or component having a display function, such as a liquid crystal display device, an electronic paper, an OLED display device, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a television, a display, a notebook computer, a digital photo frame, a navigator, and the like.

Claim 1:
A display panel assembly, comprising a display panel (<NUM>) and a display switching device (<NUM>) on a light outgoing surface of the display panel (<NUM>), and characterized in that:
the display switching device (<NUM>) comprises an electrode group (<NUM>) and an electrochromic layer (<NUM>); the electrode group (<NUM>) comprises a first electrode (<NUM>) and a second electrode (<NUM>); and
the first electrode (<NUM>) and the second electrode (<NUM>) are configured to receive voltage signals to make the electrochromic layer (<NUM>) present each of a transparent state for 2D display, a first pattern for 3D display by means of an auxiliary viewing device, and a second pattern for glasses-free 3D display,
the first electrode (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of strip electrodes, the plurality of strip electrodes extend in a first direction and are closely arranged, the second electrode (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of strip electrodes, the plurality of strip electrodes extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction and are closely arranged, and the electrochromic layer (<NUM>) is between the first electrode (<NUM>) and the second electrode (<NUM>).