Display panel and driving method thereof, and display system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11244639-B2
Application number	US-201916980169-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2019
Priority date	Jan 21, 2019
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

A display panel includes a plurality of sub-pixels. At least one sub-pixel of the plurality of sub-pixels includes a first electrode, a light modulation structure disposed on a side of the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed at a side of the light modulation structure away from the first electrode. The light modulation structure includes a refractive index adjustment layer, and a light modulation layer disposed between the refractive index adjustment layer and the first electrode. A refractive index of the refractive index adjustment layer is changed under action of an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode. The light modulation layer is in contact with the refractive index adjustment layer, and at least a part of a surface of the light modulation layer that is in contact with the refractive index adjustment layer is a curved face.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A driving method of a display panel, wherein the display panel comprises a plurality of sub-pixels;
wherein at least one sub-pixel of the plurality of sub-pixels includes:
a first electrode;
a light modulation structure disposed on a side of the first electrode; and
a second electrode disposed at a side of the light modulation structure away from the first electrode;
wherein the light modulation structure includes:
a refractive index adjustment layer; and
a light modulation layer disposed between the refractive index adjustment layer and the first electrode, the light modulation layer is in contact with the refractive index adjustment layer, and at least a part of a surface of the light modulation layer that is in contact with the refractive index adjustment layer is a curved face;
wherein the driving method of the display panel comprises:
inputting a pixel voltage to the first electrode and inputting a common voltage to the second electrode simultaneously, and
controlling a refractive index of the refractive index adjustment layer to be changed under action of an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode, so that the corresponding sub-pixel in the display panel realizes display of different gray scales.

2. The driving method according to claim 1 , wherein in a case where a direction of the electric field is directed from the first electrode to the second electrode, and the common voltage is unchanged, the refractive index of the refractive index adjustment layer decreases as the pixel voltage increases; and
in a case where the direction of the electric field is directed from the second electrode to the first electrode, and the common voltage is unchanged, the refractive index of the refractive index adjustment layer increases as the pixel voltage increases.

3. A display system, comprising:
a display panel comprising a plurality of sub-pixels; wherein at least one sub-pixel of the plurality of sub-pixels includes:
a first electrode;
a light modulation structure disposed on a side of the first electrode; and
a second electrode disposed at a side of the light modulation structure away from the first electrode;
wherein the light modulation structure includes:
a refractive index adjustment layer, and a refractive index of the refractive index adjustment layer is changed under action of an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode; and
a light modulation layer disposed between the refractive index adjustment layer and the first electrode, the light modulation layer is in contact with the refractive index adjustment layer, and at least a part of a surface of the light modulation layer that is in contact with the refractive index adjustment layer is a curved face;
a light source configured to supply beams for illumination to the display panel;
wherein the light source is disposed at a side of the display panel, and a plane where a light exit surface of the light source is located intersects with a plane where a display surface of the display panel is located; and
the display system further comprises:
a transflective mirror and a reflective mirror disposed on a light exit path of the light source, and the transflective mirror is disposed between the reflective mirror and the light source; and
the transflective mirror is configured to transmit light emitted from the light source, so that the light is directed to the reflective mirror, and reflect the light reflected by the reflective mirror to the display panel.

4. The display system according to claim 3 , wherein the transflective mirror is disposed at a side of the first electrode away from the second electrode; and
the display system further comprises a lens disposed at a side of the transflective mirror away from the display panel.

5. The display system according to claim 3 , comprising a processor electrically connected to the display panel; wherein
the processor is configured to output display signals corresponding to a display image to the display panel.

6. The display system according to claim 3 , wherein the light modulation layer includes a plurality of protrusions, and the plurality of protrusions are distributed on a surface of the first electrode facing the refractive index adjustment layer; and
a surface of at least one protrusion of the plurality of protrusions that is in contact with the refractive index adjustment layer is a curved face.

7. The display system according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged in an array, and shapes and sizes of the plurality of protrusions are the same.

8. The display system according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged in a matrix, and shapes and sizes of the plurality of protrusions are the same.

9. The display system according to claim 6 , wherein the surface of the at least one protrusion of the plurality of protrusions that is in contact with the refractive index adjustment layer is a hemispherical face.

10. The display system according to claim 3 , wherein a material constituting the refractive index adjustment layer includes an electro-optic crystal material.

11. The display system according to claim 3 , wherein each sub-pixel includes the first electrode, the light modulation structure and the second electrode; and all second electrodes included in the plurality of sub-pixels are connected together to form a single entire layer.

12. The display system according to claim 3 , wherein the display panel further comprises:
a base substrate; and
a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines disposed in the display panel, wherein the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines cross horizontally and vertically to define a plurality of sub-pixel regions for accommodating the plurality of sub-pixels.

13. The display system according to claim 12 , wherein the display panel further comprises a transistor disposed in each sub-pixel region of the plurality of sub-pixel regions; and
a gate of the transistor is electrically connected to a corresponding gate line of the plurality of gate lines, a first electrode of the transistor is electrically connected to a corresponding data line of the plurality of data lines, and a second electrode of the transistor is electrically connected to the first electrode of a sub-pixel in the sub-pixel region where the transistor is located.

14. The display system according to claim 13 , wherein the display panel further comprises a black matrix;
the black matrix is disposed on a side of the second electrode away from the first electrode; and
the black matrix covers at least a part of the transistor; and/or, the black matrix covers at least a part of the plurality of gate lines and at least a part of the plurality of data lines.

15. The display system according to claim 3 , wherein the display panel further comprises a power supply electrode; and
the power supply electrode is electrically connected to the second electrode, and the power supply electrode is configured to supply a common voltage to the second electrode.

16. The display system according to claim 3 , wherein the display panel further comprises a color filter layer;
the color filter layer is disposed on a side of the second electrode away from the first electrode; or the color filter layer is disposed at a side of the first electrode away from the second electrode; and
the color filter layer covers the light modulation structure in the display panel.

Assignees

• Fuzhou Boe Optoelectronics Tech Co Ltd
• Boe Technology Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shi Changhong
• Wang Jin
• Tao Wenchang
• Li Zongxiang
• Liao Jiamin
• Zhou Min
• Liu Yao
• Wu Hongjiang
• Liu Zuwen

Classifications

• G02F2203/62

  Switchable arrangements whereby the element being usually not switchable · CPC title

• G02F1/136209

  Light shielding layers, e.g. black matrix, incorporated in the active matrix substrate, e.g. structurally associated with the switching element · CPC title

• G09G2300/0426

  Layout of electrodes and connections · CPC title

• G09G3/3406

  Control of illumination source (illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336) · CPC title

• G02F1/136286

  Wiring, e.g. gate line, drain line · CPC title