Display device comprising a light diffusion layer exhibiting a first diffusion degree in a first direction which is higher than a second diffusion degree in a second direction and illumination device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10928671-B2
Application number	US-201715803104-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2017
Priority date	Nov 14, 2016
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a display device includes a display panel including a first sub-display area and a second sub-display area and an illumination device which illuminates the display panel, the illumination device including a first light guide opposing the first sub-display area, a second light guide opposing the second sub-display area, and a light diffusion layer disposed between the display panel and each of the first light guide and the second light guide, the light diffusion layer exhibiting a first diffusion degree in a first direction along which the first light guide and the second light guide are arranged, which is higher than a second diffusion degree in a second direction crossing the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display device comprising:
a display panel comprising a first sub-display area and a second sub-display area; and
an illumination device which illuminates the display panel,
the illumination device comprising:
a first light guide opposing the first sub-display area,
a second light guide opposing the second sub-display area, and
a light diffusion layer disposed between the display panel and each of the first light guide and the second light guide,
the light diffusion layer exhibiting a first diffusion degree in a first direction along which the first light guide and the second light guide are arranged, which is higher than a second diffusion degree in a second direction crossing the first direction,
the display panel comprising a third sub-display area adjacent to the first sub-display area along the second direction, and a fourth sub-display area adjacent to the second sub-display area along the second direction,
the illumination device comprising a third light guide opposing the third sub-display area, and a fourth light guide opposing the fourth sub-display area,
the first light guide comprising an opening opposing the light diffusion layer,
a length of a first side of the opening along the first direction being different from a length of a second side along the second direction,
the illumination device comprising a first ridge between the first light guide and the second light guide and a second ridge between the first light guide and the third light guide, and
under the light diffusion layer, a first brightness in the first ridge being lower than a reference brightness in the opening, and a second brightness in the second ridge being higher than the reference brightness.

2. A display device comprising:
a display panel comprising a first sub-display area and a second sub-display area; and
an illumination device which illuminates the display panel,
the illumination device comprising:
a first light guide opposing the first sub-display area,
a second light guide opposing the second sub-display area, and
a light diffusion layer disposed between the display panel and each of the first light guide and the second light guide,
the light diffusion layer exhibiting a first diffusion degree in a first direction along which the first light guide and the second light guide are arranged, which is higher than a second diffusion degree in a second direction crossing the first direction,
the display panel comprising a third sub-display area adjacent to the first sub-display area along the second direction, and a fourth sub-display area adjacent to the second sub-display area along the second direction,
the illumination device comprising a third light guide opposing the third sub-display area, and a fourth light guide opposing the fourth sub-display area,
the first light guide comprising an opening opposing the light diffusion layer,
a length of a first side of the opening along the first direction being different from a length of a second side along the second direction,
the illumination device comprising a first ridge between the first light guide and the second light guide and a second ridge between the first light guide and the third light guide, and
under the light diffusion layer, a first brightness in the first ridge and a second brightness in the second ridge being lower than a reference brightness in the opening, and the first brightness being lower than the second brightness.

3. A display device comprising:
a display panel comprising a first sub-display area and a second sub-display area; and
an illumination device which illuminates the display panel,
the illumination device comprising:
a first light guide opposing the first sub-display area,
a second light guide opposing the second sub-display area, and
a light diffusion layer disposed between the display panel and each of the first light guide and the second light guide,
the light diffusion layer exhibiting a first diffusion degree in a first direction along which the first light guide and the second light guide are arranged, which is higher than a second diffusion degree in a second direction crossing the first direction,
the display panel comprising a third sub-display area adjacent to the first sub-display area along the second direction, and a fourth sub-display area adjacent to the second sub-display area along the second direction,
the illumination device comprising a third light guide opposing the third sub-display area, and a fourth light guide opposing the fourth sub-display area,
the first light guide comprising an opening opposing the light diffusion layer, a length of a first side of the opening along the first direction being different from a length of a second side along the second direction,

the illumination device comprising a first ridge between the first light guide and the second light guide and a second ridge between the first light guide and the third light guide, and
under the light diffusion layer, a first brightness in the first ridge and a second brightness in the second ridge being higher than a reference brightness in the opening, and the first brightness being higher than the second brightness.

4. The display device of claim 1 , wherein
the illumination device comprises a first light source opposing the first sub-display area and surrounded by the first light guide, and a second light source opposing the second sub-display area and surrounded by the second light guide.

5. The display device of claim 1 , wherein
the illumination device comprises a first light source and a second light source, opposing the first sub-display area and surrounded by the first light guide,
a length of a first side of the opening is greater than a length of a second side, and
the first light source and the second light source are arranged along the first direction.

6. A display device comprising:
a display panel comprising a first sub-display area and a second sub-display area; and
an illumination device which illuminates the display panel,
the illumination device comprising:
a first light guide opposing the first sub-display area,
a second light guide opposing the second sub-display area, and
a light diffusion layer disposed between the display panel and each of the first light guide and the second light guide,
the light diffusion layer exhibiting a first diffusion degree in a first direction along which the first light guide and the second light guide are arranged, which is higher than a second diffusion degree in a second direction crossing the first direction,
the display panel comprising a third sub-display area adjacent to the first sub-display area along the second direction, and a fourth sub-display area adjacent to the second sub-display area along the second direction, and
the illumination device comprising a third light guide opposing the third sub-display area, and a fourth light guide opposing the fourth sub-display area,
the first light guide comprising an opening opposing the light diffusion layer, and

a length of a first side of the opening along the first direction being different from a length of a second side along the second direction,
the illumination device comprising a first ridge between the first light guide and the second light guide, and a second ridge between the first light guide and the third light guide, and
on the light diffusion layer,
a difference between a brightness in the first ridge and a brightness in the opening being less than a difference between a brightness in the second ridge and the brightness in the opening.

7. The display device of claim 6 , wherein
the brightness in the second ridge is higher than the brightness in the opening.

8. The display device

Assignees

• Japan Display Inc

Inventors

• Yata Tatsuya
• Aoki Shigenori

Classifications

• G02F1/133603 Primary

  with LEDs · CPC title

• G02F1/133606 Primary

  including a specially adapted diffusing, scattering or light controlling members · CPC title

• G02F1/133602 Primary

  Direct backlight · CPC title

• G02B6/0051

  Diffusing sheet or layer · CPC title

• G02F1/133605

  including specially adapted reflectors · CPC title