Display panel for home appliances, method of manufacturing the same, and display device including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12204206-B2
Application number	US-202418425424-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2024
Priority date	Mar 15, 2023
Publication date	Jan 21, 2025
Grant date	Jan 21, 2025

Abstract

A display panel for a home appliance, including a backlight unit to output light; a micro-lens array on the backlight unit to diffuse the light output from the backlight unit; an optical sheet layer on the micro-lens array to increase straightness of the light diffused by the micro-lens array; a touch panel on the optical sheet layer, through which the straightened light passes; and a surface layer on the touch panel to display an image according to the straightened light, wherein the optical sheet layer is configured to increase the straightness of the light diffused by the micro-lens array so as to increase brightness and sharpness of the image displayed on the surface layer.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A home appliance comprising: a display panel including:
a backlight unit to output light;
a micro-lens array on the backlight unit to diffuse the light output from the backlight unit;
an adjustable optical sheet layer on the micro-lens array to increase straightness of the light diffused by the micro-lens array;
a touch panel on the adjustable optical sheet layer, through which the straightened light passes;
a surface layer on the touch panel to display an image according to the straightened light; and
a sensor to sense a light transmittance of the surface layer,
wherein the adjustable optical sheet layer is configured to control a change in a viewing angle of the light diffused by the micro-lens array based on the sensed light transmittance of the surface layer so as to increase the straightness of the light diffused by the micro-lens array.

2. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein
the surface layer includes a surface material having a light transmittance of 30% or less, and
the surface material includes at least one of wood, ceramic, glass, textile, and in-mold decoration.

3. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein
the micro-lens array includes-a at least one of micro-lens formed in the micro-lens array, the at least one of micro-lens having at least one of a circular, oval, and polygonal shape.

4. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein
the adjustable optical sheet layer has a micro-lens on prism (MOP) structure in which at least one micro-lens sheet is disposed on at least one prism sheet.

5. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein
the adjustable optical sheet layer has a prism on prism (POP) structure in which a second prism sheet is disposed on a first prism sheet.

6. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein
the adjustable optical sheet layer includes a double bright enhancement film (DBEF).

7. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein
the touch panel includes at least one of a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and an infrared sensor.

8. The display panel of claim 1 , wherein
the surface layer on the touch panel has a thickness of 25 mm to 35 mm.

9. A method for manufacturing a display panel for a home appliance, the method comprising:
forming a backlight unit to output light;
forming a micro-lens array on the backlight unit to diffuse the light output from the backlight unit;
forming an adjustable optical sheet layer on the micro-lens array to increase straightness of the light diffused by the micro-lens array;
forming a touch panel on the adjustable optical sheet layer, through which the straightened light passes;
forming a surface layer on the touch panel to display an image according to the straightened light; and
forming a sensor to sense a light transmittance of the surface layer,
wherein the adjustable optical sheet layer is configured to control a change in a viewing angle of the light diffused by the micro-lens array based on the sensed light transmittance of the surface layer so as to increase the straightness of the light diffused by the micro-lens array.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein
forming the micro-lens array includes forming-a at least one of micro-lens, the at least one of micro-lens having at least one of a circular, oval, and polygonal shape.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein
forming the adjustable optical sheet layer includes forming a micro-lens on prism (MOP) structure in which at least one micro-lens sheet is disposed on at least one prism sheet.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein
forming the adjustable optical sheet layer includes forming a prism on prism (POP) structure in which a second prism sheet is disposed on a first prism sheet.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein
forming the adjustable optical sheet layer includes forming a double bright enhancement film (DBEF).

14. A home appliance comprising: a display device including:
a display panel including data lines and gate lines;
a data driving circuit to drive at least one data line of the data lines;
a gate driving circuit to drive the at least one gate line of the gate lines; and
a display controller to control the data driving circuit and the gate driving circuit, wherein the display panel includes:
a backlight unit to output light,
a micro-lens array on the backlight unit to diffuse the light output from the backlight unit,
an adjustable optical sheet layer on the micro-lens array to increase straightness of the light diffused by the micro-lens array,
a touch panel on the adjustable optical sheet layer, through which the straightened light passes,
surface layer on the touch panel to display an image according to the straightened light, and
a sensor to sense a light transmittance of the surface layer, and
wherein the adjustable optical sheet layer is configured to control a change in a viewing angle of the light diffused by the micro-lens array based on the sensed light transmittance of the surface layer so as to increase the straightness of the light diffused by the micro-lens array.

15. The display device of claim 14 , wherein
the surface layer includes a surface material having a light transmittance of 30% or less, and
the surface material includes at least one of wood, ceramic, glass, textile, and in-mold decoration.

16. The display device of claim 14 , wherein
the micro-lens array includes-a at least one of micro-lens formed in the micro-lens array, the at least one of micro-lens having at least one of a circular, oval, and polygonal shape.

17. The display device of claim 14 , wherein
the adjustable optical sheet layer has a micro-lens on prism (MOP) structure in which at least one micro-lens sheet is disposed on at least one prism sheet.

18. The display device of claim 14 , wherein
the adjustable optical sheet layer has a prism on prism (POP) structure in which a second prism sheet is disposed on a first prism sheet.

19. The display device of claim 14 , wherein
the adjustable optical sheet layer includes a double bright enhancement film (DBEF).

20. The display device of claim 14 , wherein
the display controller senses the light transmittance of the surface layer based on artificial intelligence algorithm-based vision examination.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Minkyung
• Koh Youngdeog
• Kim Kwangjoo

Classifications

• G09G3/3677

  suitable for active matrices only · CPC title

• G09G3/3688

  suitable for active matrices only · CPC title

• G09G2310/0278

  Details of driving circuits arranged to drive both scan and data electrodes · CPC title

• G02F1/13338

  Input devices, e.g. touch panels · CPC title

• G02F1/133607 Primary

  the light controlling member including light directing or refracting elements, e.g. prisms or lenses · CPC title