Patent Application
20250199205
This application claims the benefit and priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0185366, filed in the Republic of Korea on Dec. 19, 2023, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a display device.
In response to the development of the information society, demand for various types of display devices for displaying images is increasing. Recently, a range of display devices, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) devices and organic light-emitting display devices, have recently come into widespread use.
The description provided in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely because it is mentioned in or associated with the background section. The background section may include information that describes one or more aspects of the subject technology.
A display device may include an antiglare layer. The antiglare layer may scatter incident external light.
It is newly recognized by inventors of the present disclosure that sparkling may occur on the antiglare layer, and the sparkling may degrade the display quality of the display panel.
Therefore, the inventors of the present disclosure recognized the problems mentioned above and other limitations associated with the related art, and conducted various experiments to implement a display device in which the display quality is improved.
An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a display device able to reduce image distortion.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a display device able to prevent or reduce sparkling.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a display device able to equalize the heights of textured structures.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a high-quality display device having improved image quality due to the prevention or reduction of sparkling.
To achieve these and other aspects of the inventive concepts, as embodied and broadly described herein, a display device includes: a display panel on which a plurality of subpixels are arranged; and an antiglare layer disposed over the display panel, wherein the antiglare layer includes: a base film; a first coating layer disposed over the base film and including a plurality of textured structures; a plurality of beads disposed inside the textured structures; and a second coating layer disposed over the first coating layer.
The first refractive index of the first coating layer, the second refractive index of the beads, and the third refractive index of the second coating layer may be the same. Each of the first refractive index, the second refractive index, and the third refractive index may be between 1.49 and 1.65.
The height distribution of the textured structures may be 3 or less. The maximum height of the textured structures may be greater than or equal to 2.0 micrometers.
The diameter of the beads may be between 0.8 micrometers and 3.5 micrometers.
According to embodiments, the display device may reduce image distortion.
According to embodiments, the display device may prevent or reduce sparkling.
According to embodiments, the display device may equalize the heights of textured structures.
According to embodiments, the display device may be provided as a high-quality display device having improved image quality by preventing or reducing sparkling.
Other systems, devices, methods, features and advantages will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, devices, methods, features and advantages be included within this description and be within the scope of the present disclosure. Nothing in this disclosure should be taken as a limitation on the appended claims, as the claims are not limited by the disclosure. Further aspects and advantages are discussed below in conjunction with embodiments of the disclosure.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the inventive concepts as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, that may be included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and may be incorporated in and constitute a part of the disclosure, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain various principles of the disclosure.
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals should be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative size and depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience.
In the following description of examples or embodiments of the present disclosure, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which it is shown by way of illustration specific examples or embodiments that can be implemented, and in which the same reference numerals and signs can be used to designate the same or like components even when they are shown in different accompanying drawings from one another. Further, in the following description of examples or embodiments of the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and components incorporated herein will be omitted when it is determined that the description may make the subject matter in some embodiments of the present disclosure rather unclear. The terms such as “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “constituting” “make up of,” and “formed of”′ used herein are generally intended to allow other components to be added unless the terms are used with the term “only.” As used herein, singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The progression of processing steps and/or operations described is an example; however, the sequence of steps and/or operations is not limited to that set forth herein and may be changed as is known in the art, with the exception of steps and/or operations necessarily occurring in a particular order. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout. Names of the respective elements used in the following explanations may be selected only for convenience of writing the specification and may be thus different from those used in actual products.
Advantages and features of the present disclosure, and implementation methods thereof will be clarified through following example embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments may be provided so that this disclosure may be sufficiently thorough and complete to assist those skilled in the art to fully understand the scope of the present disclosure.
The shapes, sizes, ratios, angles, numbers, and the like, which are illustrated in the drawings to describe various example embodiments of the present disclosure are merely given by way of example. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the illustrations in the drawings. Any implementation described herein as an “example” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.
Where positional relationships are described, for example, where the positional relationship between two parts is described using “on,” “over,” “under,” “above,” “below,” “beneath,” “near,” “close to,” or “adjacent to,” “beside,” “next to,” or the like, one or more other parts may be disposed between the two parts unless a more limiting term, such as “immediate (ly),” “direct (ly),” or “close (ly)” is used. For example, when a structure is described as being positioned “on,” “over,” “under,” “above,” “below,” “beneath,” “near,” “close to,” or “adjacent to,” “beside,” or “next to” another structure, this description should be construed as including a case in which the structures contact each other as well as a case in which a third structure is disposed or interposed therebetween. Furthermore, the terms “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom, “downward,” “upward,” “upper,” “lower,” and the like refer to an arbitrary frame of reference.
Terms, such as “first,” “second,” “A,” “B,” “(A),” or “(B)” may be used herein to describe elements of the present disclosure. Each of these terms is not used to define essence, order, sequence, or number of elements, etc., but is used merely to distinguish the corresponding element from other elements.
When it is mentioned that a first element “is connected or coupled to,” “contacts or overlaps,” etc., a second element, it should be interpreted that, not only can the first element “be directly connected or coupled to” or “directly contact or overlap” the second element, but a third element can also be “interposed” between the first and second elements, or the first and second elements can “be connected or coupled to,” “contact or overlap,” etc., each other via a fourth element. Here, the second element may be included in at least one of two or more elements that “are connected or coupled to,” “contact or overlap,” etc., each other.
When time relative terms, such as “after,” “subsequent to,” “next,” “before,” and the like, are used to describe processes or operations of elements or configurations, or flows or steps in operating, processing, manufacturing methods, these terms may be used to describe non-consecutive or non-sequential processes or operations unless the term “directly” or “immediately” is used together.
In addition, when any dimensions, relative sizes, etc., are mentioned, it should be considered that numerical values for an elements or features, or corresponding information (e.g., level, range, etc.) include a tolerance or error range that may be caused by various factors (e.g., process factors, internal or external impact, noise, etc.) even when a relevant description is not specified. Further, the term “may” fully encompasses all the meanings of the term “can.”
Features of various embodiments of the present disclosure may be partially or overall coupled to or combined with each other, and may be variously inter-operated with each other and driven technically as those skilled in the art can sufficiently understand. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be carried out independently from each other, or may be carried out together in co-dependent relationship.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning for example consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. For example, the term “part” or “unit” may apply, for example, to a separate circuit or structure, an integrated circuit, a computational block of a circuit device, or any structure configured to perform a described function as should be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Hereinafter, a variety of embodiments of the display device will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Further, all the components of each display device according to all embodiments of the present disclosure are operatively coupled and configured.
Referring to
The display panel 110 may include a substrate 111 and a plurality of subpixels SP disposed on the substrate 111.
The substrate 111 of the display panel 110 may include a display area DA on which images (or videos) may be displayed and a non-display area NDA located outside the display area DA. For example, the non-display area NDA may be adjacent to the display area DA or may be disposed to surround the display area DA.
The subpixels SP for displaying images may be provided in the display area DA, and the non-display area NDA may include a pad area located in a first direction from the display area DA.
In the display panel 110 according to embodiments, the non-display area NDA may have a significantly small size. As used herein, the non-display area NDA is also referred to as a “bezel.”
For example, the non-display area NDA may include a first non-display area located outside the display area DA in the first direction, a second non-display area located outside the display area DA in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a third non-display area located outside the display area DA in a direction opposite to the first direction, and a fourth non-display area located outside the display area DA in a direction opposite to the second direction. One or two of the first to fourth non-display areas may include the pad area to which the data driver circuit 120 is connected or bonded. Two or three of the first to fourth non-display areas not including the pad area may have a significantly small size.
In another example, the boundary area between the display area DA and the non-display area NDA may be bent such that the non-display area NDA is located under the display area. In this case, when a user is viewing the display device 100 from the front, little or no portion of the non-display area NDA may be visible to the user.
On the substrate 111 of the display panel 110, various types of signal lines for driving the subpixels SP may be disposed.
The display device 100 according to embodiments may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, or may be a self-illuminating display device in which the display panel 110 is self-illuminating. When the display device 100 according to embodiments is a self-illuminating display device, each of the subpixels SP may include a light-emitting element.
For example, the display device 100 according to embodiments may be an organic light-emitting display device in which the light-emitting element is implemented as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED). In another example, the display device 100 according to embodiments may be an inorganic light-emitting display device in which the light-emitting element is implemented as an inorganic light-emitting diode (LED). In particular, the display device 100 may be a micro LED display device having a smaller light-emitting area for high quality and high resolution realization. In another example, the display device 100 according to embodiments may be a quantum dot display device in which the light-emitting element is implemented as a quantum dot, for example, a self-emitting semiconductor crystal.
The structure of each of the subpixels SP may vary depending on the type of the display device 100. For example, when the display device 100 is a self-emitting display device in which the subpixels SP are self-luminous, each of the subpixels SP may include a self-emitting light-emitting element, one or more transistors, and one or more capacitors.
For example, various types of signal lines may include a plurality of data lines DL transferring data signals (also known as data voltages or image (or video) signals), a plurality of gate lines GL transferring gate signals (also known as scanning signals), and the like.
For example, the data lines DL and the gate lines GL may intersect each other. The respective data lines DL may be arranged to extend in the first direction, and the respective gate lines GL may be arranged to extend in the second direction. Here, the first direction may be a column direction, and the second direction may be a row direction. In another example, the first direction may be a row direction, and the second direction may be a column direction. In the following description, for the sake of brevity, an example in which the respective data lines DL are arranged in the column direction and the respective gate lines GL are arranged in the row direction is described.
The data driver circuit 120 is a circuit for driving the data lines DL, and may output data signals to the data lines DL.
The data driver circuit 120 may receive image data DATA in a digital format from the display controller 140, convert the received image data DATA into analog data signals, and output the converted analog data signals to the respective data lines DL.
For example, the data driver circuit 120 may be connected to the display panel 110 by a tape-automated bonding (TAB) method, connected to bonding pads on the display panel 110 by a chip-on-glass (COG) or chip-on-panel (COP) method, or implemented with a chip-on-film (COF) method to be connected to the display panel 110.
The data driver circuit 120 may be connected to one side (e.g., the upper or lower portion) of the display panel 110. In another example, the data driver circuit 120 may be connected to both sides (e.g., both the upper and lower portions) of the display panel 110 or to two or more sides of the four sides of the display panel 110, depending on the driving method, the design of the display panel, or the like.
The data driver circuit 120 may be connected to the periphery of the display area DA of the display panel 110, but in another example, may be disposed in the display area DA of the display panel 110.
The gate driver circuit 130 is a circuit for driving the gate lines GL, and may output gate signals to the gate lines GL.
The gate driver circuit 130 may be supplied with a first gate voltage corresponding to a turn-on level voltage and a second gate voltage corresponding to a turn-off level voltage along with various gate driving control signals GCS to generate gate signals, and may supply the generated gate signals to the gate lines GL.
In the display device 100 according to embodiments, the gate driver circuit 130 may be mounted inside the display panel 110 by a gate-in-panel (GIP) method. When the gate driver circuit 130 is a gate-in-panel circuit, the gate driver circuit 130 may be provided over the substrate 111 of the display panel 110 during the manufacturing process of the display panel 110.
In display device 100 according to embodiments, the gate driver circuit 130 may be disposed in the display area DA of the display panel 110. For example, the gate driver circuit 130 may be disposed in a first portion of the display area DA (e.g., a left portion or a right portion of the display area DA). In another example, the gate driver circuit 130 may be disposed in a first portion of the display area DA (e.g., a left portion or a right portion within the display area DA) and a second portion of the display area DA (e.g., a right portion or a left portion within the display area DA).
In the present disclosure, the gate driver circuit 130 mounted inside the display panel 110 by the GIP method is referred to as a “GIP circuit.”
The display controller 140 is a device for controlling the data driver circuit 120 and the gate driver circuit 130, and may control the driving timing for the data lines DL and the driving timing for the gate lines GL.
The display controller 140 may supply a data driving control signal DCS to the data driver circuit 120 to control the data driver circuit 120 and a gate driving control signal GCS to the gate driver circuit 130 to control the gate driver circuit 130.
The display controller 140 may receive input image data from the host system 150, and may supply image data DATA to the data driver circuit 120 based on the input image data.
The display controller 140 may be implemented as a separate component from the data driver circuit 120, or may be integrated with the data driver circuit 120 to form an integrated circuit.
The display controller 140 may be a timing controller used in conventional display technology, may be a control device that may include a timing controller to further perform other control functions, may be a control device other than a timing controller, or may be a circuit within a control device. The display controller 140 may be implemented as a variety of circuits or electronic components, such as an integrated circuit (IC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a processor.
The display controller 140 may be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible printed circuit (FPC), or the like, and may be electrically connected to the data driver circuit 120 and the gate driver circuit 130 through the PCB, the FPC, or the like.
The display controller 140 may transmit and receive signals to and from the data driver circuit 120 according to one or more predetermined interfaces. For example, the interface may include a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface, an embedded clock point-point interface (EPI) interface, a serial peripheral interface (SPI), and the like.
To further provide a touch sensing function in addition to an image displaying function, the display device 100 according to embodiments may include a touch sensor and a touch sensing circuit for detecting whether a touch is caused by a touch object, such as a finger or a pen (e.g., a stylus), or for determining a touch position by sensing the touch sensor.
The touch sensing circuit may include a touch driver circuit to drive and sense the touch sensor to generate and output touch sensing data and a touch controller to detect a touch occurrence or determine a touch position using the touch sensing data.
The touch sensor may include a plurality of touch electrodes. The touch sensor may further include a plurality of touch lines for electrically coupling the plurality of touch electrodes to the touch driver circuit.
The touch sensor may be present either outside the display panel 110 in the form of a touch panel or inside the display panel 110. When the touch sensor is in the form of a touch panel external to the display panel 110, the touch sensor is referred to as an add-on touch sensor. When the touch sensor is an add-on touch sensor, the touch panel and the display panel 110 may be fabricated separately and fitted together during assembly. Such an add-on touch panel may include a substrate for the touch panel and a plurality of touch electrodes on the substrate for the touch panel.
When the touch sensor is present inside the display panel 110, the touch sensor may be provided on the substrate during the fabrication process of the display panel 110, along with signal lines and electrodes associated with display driving.
The touch driver circuit may supply a touch driving signal to at least one of the touch electrodes, and may sense at least one of the touch electrodes to generate touch sensing data.
The touch sensing circuit may perform touch sensing in a self-capacitance sensing manner or a mutual-capacitance sensing manner.
When the touch circuit performs touch sensing in the self-capacitance sensing manner, the touch circuit may perform touch sensing based on the capacitance between each touch electrode and a touch object (e.g., a finger or a pen (e.g., a stylus)). According to the self-capacitance sensing, each of the touch electrodes may act as both a driving touch electrode and a sensing touch electrode. The touch driver circuit may drive all or some of the touch electrodes and sense all or some of the touch electrodes.
When the touch circuit performs touch sensing in the mutual capacitance sensing manner, the touch circuit may perform touch sensing based on the capacitance between the touch electrodes. According to the mutual capacitance sensing, the touch electrodes are divided into driving touch electrodes and sensing touch electrodes. The touch driver circuit may drive the driving touch electrodes and sense the sensing touch electrodes.
The touch driver circuit and the touch controller of the touch sensing circuit may be implemented as separate devices or as a single device. In addition, the touch driver circuit and the data driver circuit may be implemented as separate devices or as a single device.
The display device 100 may further include a power supply circuit for supplying various power to the display driving circuit and/or the touch sensing circuit, and the like.
The display device 100 according to embodiments may be, but is not limited to, a mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet, or a monitor of various sizes, a television set (TV), or the like, and may be any display of various types and various sizes capable of displaying information or images (or videos).
The display device 100 according to embodiments may further include electronic devices such as a camera (or image sensor) and a detection sensor. For example, a detection sensor may be a sensor that receives light, such as infrared, ultrasonic, or ultraviolet light, to detect an object or a human body.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The pixel driving transistors may include a driving transistor DT for driving the light-emitting element ED and a scanning transistor ST that is turned on or off in response to a scanning signal SC.
The driving transistor DT may supply driving current to the light-emitting element ED.
The scanning transistor ST may be configured to control the electrical state of a corresponding node in the subpixel circuit SPC or to control the state or operation of the driving transistor DT.
The at least one capacitor may include a storage capacitor Cst for maintaining a constant voltage during a frame.
To drive the subpixel SP, a data signal VDATA, an image signal, and a scanning signal SC, a gate signal, and the like may be applied to the subpixel SP. In addition, to drive the subpixel SP, a common pixel driving voltage including a first common driving voltage VDD and a second common driving voltage VSS may be applied to the subpixel SP.
The light-emitting element ED may include an anode AND, a light-emitting element interlayer EL, and a cathode CAT. The light-emitting element interlayer EL may be disposed between the anode AND and the cathode CAT.
When the light-emitting element ED is an organic light-emitting element, the light-emitting element interlayer EL may include an emission layer EML, a first common interlayer COM1 between the anode AND and the emission layer EML, and a second common interlayer COM2 between the emission layer EML and the cathode. The emission layer EML may be disposed in every subpixel SP. In comparison, the first common interlayer COM1 and the second common interlayer COM2 may be provided in common across two or more subpixels among the plurality of subpixels SP. The emission layer EML may be disposed in each emission area, and the first common intermediate layer COM1 and the second common intermediate layer COM2 may be disposed in common across a plurality of emission and non-emission areas. The first common intermediate layer COM1 and the second common intermediate layer COM2 are collectively referred to as a common intermediate layer EL_COM.
For example, the first common interlayer COM1 may include a hole injection layer HIL, a hole transfer layer HTL, and the like. The second common intermediate layer COM2 may include an electron transfer layer ETL, an electron injection layer EIL, and the like. The hole injection layer may inject holes from the anode AND into the hole transfer layer, the hole transfer layer may transfer holes to the emission layer EML, the electron injection layer may inject electrons from the cathode CAT into the electron transfer layer, and the electron transfer layer may transfer electrons to the emission layer EML.
For example, the cathode CAT may be electrically connected to a second common driving voltage line VSSL. The second common driving voltage VSS, which is a type of common pixel driving voltage, may be applied to the cathode CAT through the second common driving voltage line VSSL. The anode AND may be electrically connected to the first node N1 of the driving transistor DT of each of the subpixels SP. In the present disclosure, the second common driving voltage VSS may also be referred to as the base voltage VSS, and the second common driving voltage line VSSL may also be referred to as the base voltage line VSSL.
For example, the anode AND may be a pixel electrode disposed in each of the subpixels SP, and the cathode CAT may be a common electrode disposed in common in the subpixels SP. In another example, the cathode CAT may be a pixel electrode disposed in each of the subpixels SP, and the anode AND may be a common electrode disposed in common in the subpixels SP. In the following description, for the sake of brevity, a case in which the anode AND is a pixel electrode and the cathode CAT is a common electrode is considered.
Each light-emitting element ED may be a portion in which an anode AND, a light-emitting element interlayer EL, and a cathode CAT overlap. Each light-emitting element ED may form an emission area. For example, the emission area of each light-emitting element ED may include an area where the anode AND, the light-emitting element interlayer EL, and the cathode CAT overlap.
For example, the light-emitting element ED may be an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), an inorganic light-emitting diode (LED), a quantum dot light-emitting element, or the like. For example, when the light-emitting element ED is an OLED, the light-emitting element interlayer EL in the light-emitting element ED may include an organic light-emitting element interlayer EL.
The driving transistor DT may be a driving transistor for supplying the driving current to the light-emitting element ED. The driving transistor DT may be connected to a first common driving voltage line VDDL and to the light-emitting element ED.
The driving transistor DT may include a first node N1 electrically connected to the light-emitting element ED, a second node N2 to which the data signal VDATA may be applied, and a third node N3 to which the first common driving voltage VDD is applied from the first common driving voltage line VDDL.
In the driving transistor DT, the second node N2 may be a gate node, the first node N1 may be a source node or a drain node, and the third node N3 may be a drain node or a source node. In the following description, for the sake of brevity, an example in which the second node N2 may be a gate node, the first node N1 may be a source node, and the third node N3 may be a drain node in the driving transistor DT is considered.
The scanning transistor ST included in the subpixel circuit SPC illustrated in
The scanning transistor ST may be on/off-controlled by the scanning signal SC, which is a gate signal, applied through a scan line SCL, which is a type of gate line GL, to control an electrical connection between the second node N2 of the driving transistor DT and the data line DL. The drain electrode or the source electrode of the scanning transistor ST may be electrically connected to the data line DL, the source electrode or the drain electrode of the scanning transistor ST may be electrically connected to the second node N2 of the driving transistor DT, and the gate electrode of the scanning transistor ST may be electrically connected to the scan line SCL.
The storage capacitor Cst may be electrically connected to the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DT. The storage capacitor Cst may include a first capacitor electrode electrically connected to the first node N1 of the driving transistor DT or corresponding to the first node N1 of the driving transistor DT and a second capacitor electrode electrically connected to the second node N2 of the driving transistor DT or corresponding to the second node N2 of the driving transistor DT.
The storage capacitor Cst may be an external capacitor intentionally designed to be outside of the driving transistor DT, rather than being a parasitic capacitor (e.g., Cgs or Cgd), which is an internal capacitor present between the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DT.
Each of the driving transistor DT and the scanning transistor ST may be an n-type transistor or a p-type transistor.
The display panel 110 may have a top emission structure or a bottom emission structure, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The display panel 110 may also have a dual emission structure.
When the display panel 110 has the top emission structure, at least a portion of the subpixel circuit SPC may overlap at least a portion of the light-emitting element ED in the vertical direction. In contrast, when the display panel 110 has the bottom emission structure, the subpixel circuit SPC may not overlap the light-emitting element ED in the vertical direction.
The subpixel circuit SPC may have a 2T1C structure including two (2) transistors DT and ST and one (1) capacitor Cst as shown in
For example, the subpixel circuit SPC may have an 8T1C structure including eight (8) transistors and one (1) capacitor. In another example, the subpixel circuit SPC may have a 6T2C structure including six (6) transistors and two (2) capacitors. In another example, the subpixel circuit SPC may have a 7T1C structure including seven (7) transistors and one (1) capacitor.
The type and number of gate lines for supplying gate signals to the subpixels SP may vary depending on the structure of the subpixel circuit SPC.
In addition, the type and number of common pixel driving voltages supplied to subpixels SP may vary depending on the structure of the subpixel circuit SPC.
Since the circuit elements (in particular, the light-emitting element ED implemented as an OLED in each of the subpixels SP including an organic material) are susceptible to external moisture or oxygen, the encapsulation layer 200 may be disposed on the display panel 110 to prevent or reduce external moisture or oxygen from penetrating the circuit elements (in particular, the light-emitting element ED). The encapsulation layer 200 may be configured in various forms to prevent or reduce the light-emitting element ED from coming into contact with moisture or oxygen.
Referring to
The image display layer 320 may be disposed over the substrate 310. The image display layer 320 may include a plurality of subpixels.
The polarizer 330 may be disposed over the image display layer 320. The polarizer 330 may filter external light so as not to be reflected back to the user. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the polarizer 330 may be omitted when necessary.
The antiglare film 340 may be disposed over the polarizer 330. The antiglare film 340 may scatter external light. Accordingly, the antiglare film 340 may prevent or reduce external light from being reflected back to the user.
The antiglare film 340 may include a base film 341, a coating layer 342, and a plurality of beads 343.
The base film 341 may be disposed on the lowermost portion of the antiglare film 340. The base film 341 may be a plastic film. The base film 341 may be transparent.
For example, the base film 341 may include one selected from among triacetyl cellulose (TAC), polyester (TPEE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide (PI), polyamide (PA), aramid, polyethylene (PE), polyacrylate (PAR), polyether sulfone, polysulfone, polypropylene (PP), diacetyl cellulose, polyvinyl chloride, acrylic resin (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), epoxy resin, urea resin, urethane resin, melamine resin, or the like.
The coating layer 342 may be disposed over the base film 341. The coating layer 342 may include a light stabilizer, an UV absorber, an antistatic agent, a flame retardant, an antioxidant, and the like.
The beads 343 may be included inside the coating layer 342. Since the beads 343 may be included inside the coating layer 342, the coating layer 342 may be in the form of a layer having protrusions. The protrusions may be in the shape of fine or microscopic textured structures or concave-convex structures.
The coating layer 342 may include the beads 343, and thus may include flat portions in which no beads are contained and protruding portions in which beads are contained.
External light incident on the beads may be scattered. As a result, external light incident on the display device 100 may not reach the user. For example, the antiglare film 340 may prevent or reduce degradation of visibility due to external light.
Referring to
The image display layer 320 may emit image light in an upward direction. The image light may pass through a color filter.
After passing through the image display layer 320, the image light may pass through the polarizer 330 and reach the antiglare film 340.
Upon reaching the antiglare film 340, the direction of the image light may be bent by the beads 343.
In this case, as the refracted beams of image light pass through the antiglare film 340 and intersect each other, the antiglare film 340 may act as a lens. For example, a lensing phenomenon may occur.
In particular, when the effect of the lensing phenomenon caused by the antiglare film 340 is greater than the scattering effect caused thereby, sparkling points may appear. As the resolution of the image display layer 320 becomes increasingly higher and thus the size of the subpixel SP decreases, such sparkling may be perceived as a stronger indication of the lensing function in internal transmission light when the scattering effect by the beads 343 in the antiglare film 340 is not uniform with respect to the size of the subpixel SP.
Referring to
Most of the luminances Lu according to positions P may equal to a predetermined reference luminance Lu.
However, sparkling may occur at a first position P1, a second position P2, and a third position P3. The luminances Lu of the sparkling portions may be relatively high.
In particular, this phenomenon may be more prominent when a plurality of subpixels are micro-LEDs.
Accordingly, embodiments may provide a display device 100 able to reduce image distortion.
Embodiments may provide a display device 100 able to preventing or reducing sparkling.
Embodiments may provide a display device 100 able to equalize the heights of textured structures.
Embodiments may provide a display device 100 able to operate at low power due to the prevention or reduction of sparkling.
Referring to
The base film SF may be disposed on the lowermost portion of the antiglare layer 700.
The first coating layer CTL1 is disposed over the base film SF and may include a plurality of fine or microscopic textured structures. The first coating layer CTL1 may include acrylic or the like.
A plurality of beads BD may be disposed inside the textured structures. The first coating layer CTL1 may include the beads BD. The beads BD may be silica beads. The beads BD may be silica particles, polyacrylic resin, or polystyrene resin.
The beads BD may be in the form of spheres or balls.
The portion of the first coating layer CTL1 containing the beads BD may convexly protrude in the form of textured structures. For example, the first coating layer CTL1 may include a plurality of textured structures.
Each of the textured structures of the first coating layer CTL1 may include two or more beads BD. Referring to
External light may be scattered by the beads BD. External light may be incident on the beads BD and scattered into a plurality of light beams.
Referring to
The second coating layer CTL2 may be disposed over the first coating layer CTL1. The second coating layer CTL2 may include acrylic or the like.
The second coating layer CTL2 may be disposed over the first coating layer CTL1 but may not cover the entirety of the first coating layer CTL1.
The second coating layer CTL2 may be disposed between the textured structures of the first coating layer CTL1.
An image display layer (not shown) may be disposed under the antiglare layer 700. The image display layer (not shown) may emit imaging light toward the antiglare layer 700.
Since the second coating layer CTL2 may be disposed between the textured structures of the first coating layer CTL1, the sparkling caused by the imaging light may be prevented or reduced.
Referring to
Referring to
When the second coating layer CTL2 is not disposed between the textured structures of the first coating layer CTL1 (Before), it can be seen that the heights of the textured structures are somewhat irregular.
When the second coating layer CTL2 is disposed between the textured structures of the first coating layer CTL1 (After), it can be seen that the heights of the textured structures are similar to each other.
Because the heights of the textured structures are similar to each other, sparkling that would otherwise be caused by imaging light may be prevented or reduced.
In the following, the heights of a plurality of textured structures will be discussed in more detail.
Referring to
Each of samples may include the arithmetic mean height Ra, the maximum height Rz, the height distribution Rku, and surface photograph data of textured structures. The arithmetic mean height Ra, the maximum height Rz, and the height distribution Rku of the textured structures are in micrometers.
Referring to
To evaluate data from a plurality of textured structures, concepts such as a minimum value, a maximum value, a mean value, an arithmetic mean height, a maximum height, and the height distribution of textured structures may be used.
The minimum value means the lowest value among the low points of the textured structures.
The maximum value means the highest value among the high points of the textured structures.
The mean value means the sum of all of the high points of the textured structures divided by the number of the textured structures. A height from the mean value to the low or high point may be referred to as an absolute height value.
The arithmetic mean height Ra of textured structures means the absolute height value integrated by the number of samples and then divided by the number of samples. The arithmetic mean height Ra of textured structures may also be referred to as a centerline mean of roughness, an arithmetic mean, a centerline mean, or the like.
The maximum height Rz means the mean of the absolute values of the five highest values among the high points and the five lowest values among the low points with respect to the mean value. The maximum height Rz may be referred to as a 10-point mean of roughness, or the like.
The height distribution Rku represents the distribution of the heights with respect to the mean value, which is the measure of peakedness of the profile of the height about the mean value. When the height distribution Rku is closer to 3, the distribution of the heights is interpreted as being closer to a normal distribution. When the height distribution Rku is greater than 3, the distribution of the heights is interpreted as flat. When the height distribution Rku is less than 3, the distribution of the heights is interpreted as consisting of constant heights of textured structures. The height distribution Rku may be referred to as kurtosis.
The arithmetic mean height Ra, the maximum height Rz, the height distribution Rku, and the like of the textured structures may be referred to as parameters. The above-described parameters correspond to ISO 4287 defined by the International Organization for Standardization.
The arithmetic mean height Ra of textured structures may be lower than a predetermined reference height.
When the height distribution Rku of the textured structures is 3 or less, the height distribution Rku of the textured structures may be determined to be uniform.
In a first sample, Sample 1, the textured structures have an arithmetic mean height Ra of 0.1, a maximum height Rz of 0.8, and a height distribution Rku of 4.8. In this case, referring to the height distribution Rku and the surface photograph data, it can be seen that the heights of the textured structures are generally flat.
In a second sample, Sample 2, the textured structures have an arithmetic mean height Ra of 0.15, a maximum height Rz of 1.4, and a height distribution Rku of 3.8. In this case, referring to the height distribution Rku and the surface photograph data, it can be seen that the textured structures are a little higher.
In a third sample, Sample 3, the textured structures have an arithmetic mean height Ra of 0.3, a maximum height Rz of 1.6, and a height distribution Rku of 3.1. In this case, referring to the height distribution Rku and the surface photograph data, it can be seen that the height deviation of the textured structures is increased.
In a fourth sample, Sample 4, the textured structures have an arithmetic mean height Ra of 0.53, a maximum height Rz of 1.9, and a height distribution Rku of 2.7. In this case, referring to the height distribution Rku and the surface photograph data, it can be seen that the heights of the textured structures are uniform.
In a fifth sample, Sample 5, the textured structures have an arithmetic mean height Ra of 0.18, a maximum height Rz of 0.7, and a height distribution Rku of 2.2. In this case, referring to the height distribution Rku and the surface photograph data, it can be seen that the heights of the textured structures are more uniform than those of Sample 4.
The height distribution Rku of the textured structures may be set to be 3 or less by setting the arithmetic mean height Ra and the maximum height Rz of the textured structures. In this case, the maximum height of the textured structures may be greater than or equal to 2.0.
For example, the height distribution Rku of the textured structures of the antiglare layer 700 may be 3 or less. The maximum height of the textured structures of the antiglare layer 700 may be 2.0 or less.
Referring to
The diameter of each of the beads BD may be greater than or equal to 0.8 and less than or equal to 3.5. By setting the diameter of the beads to be greater than or equal to 0.8 and less than or equal to 3.5, the height distribution Rku of the textured structures of the antiglare layer 700 may be set to be less than or equal to 3.
When the bead size is 0.8, the arithmetic mean height Ra of textured structures is 0.12, and the maximum height Rz of textured structures is 0.78.
When the bead size is 1.5, the arithmetic mean height Ra of textured structures is 0.17, and the maximum height Rz of textured structures is 1.41.
When the bead size is 2, the arithmetic mean height Ra of textured structures is 0.23, and the maximum height Rz of textured structures is 1.52.
When the bead size is 3.5, the arithmetic mean height Ra of textured structures is 0.53, and the maximum height Rz of textured structures is 1.90.
Referring to
Referring to
In other words, the bead size may be a major factor in increasing the height of textured structures.
Referring to
The refractive indices of the antiglare layer 700 may include a first refractive index n1 of the first coating layer CTL1, a second refractive index n2 of the beads BD, and a third refractive index n3 of the second coating layer CTL2.
Referring to
Each of the first refractive index n1, the second refractive index n2, and the third refractive index n3 may be between 1.49 and 1.65. Each of the first refractive index n1, the second refractive index n2, and the third refractive index n3 may be 1.5, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Data obtained by dividing the refractive index into the three cases are described as an example.
In a first experimental example, Case 1, each of the first refractive index n1, the second refractive index n2, and the third refractive index n3 may be 1.5. Because the second coating layer CTL2 is disposed between the textured structures of the first coating layer CTL1 and the refractive indices are the same, sparkling that would otherwise be caused by imaging light may be prevented or reduced. The antiglare layer 700, to which the first refractive index n1, the second refractive index n2, and the third refractive index n3 described above are applied, is shown in
In a second experimental example, Case 2, each of the first refractive index n1, the second refractive index n2, and the third refractive index n3 may be 1.6. The base film SF may be polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The antiglare layer 700, to which the first refractive index n1, the second refractive index n2, and the third refractive index n3 described above are applied, is shown in
In a third experimental example, Case 3, each of the first refractive index n1 and the second refractive index n2 may be 1.5. The refractive index n3 of a first portion CTL2a of the second coating layer CTL2 may be 1.5, and the refractive index n4 of a second portion CTL2b of the second coating layer CTL2 may be 1.3. The antiglare layer 700, to which the first refractive index n1, the second refractive index n2, the refractive index n3 of the first portion CTL2a, and the refractive index n4 of the second portion CTL2b described above are applied, is shown in
The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are briefly reviewed as follows.
Embodiments may provide a display device including: a display panel on which a plurality of subpixels are arranged; and an antiglare layer disposed over the display panel, wherein the antiglare layer includes: a base film; a first coating layer disposed over the base film and including a plurality of textured structures; a plurality of beads disposed inside the textured structures; and a second coating layer disposed over the first coating layer.
The arithmetic mean height of the textured structures may be lower than a reference height.
The height distribution of the textured structures may be 3 or less.
The maximum height of the textured structures may be greater than or equal to 2.0 micrometers.
The diameter of the beads may be between 0.8 micrometers and 3.5 micrometers.
The first refractive index of the first coating layer, the second refractive index of the beads, and the third refractive index of the second coating layer may be the same.
Each of the first refractive index, the second refractive index, and the third refractive index may be between 1.49 and 1.65.
The base film may be made of polyethylene terephthalate.
The second coating layer may be disposed between the plurality of textured structures of the first coating layer.
The plurality of textured structures may protrude from an upper surface of the second coating layer.
The second coating layer may include a first portion and a second portion overlying the first portion.
A refractive index of the second portion of the second coating layer may be lower than that of the first portion of the second coating layer.
According to embodiments, the display device may reduce image distortion.
According to embodiments, the display device may prevent or reduce sparkling.
According to embodiments, the display device may equalize the heights of textured structures.
According to embodiments, the display device may be provided as a high-quality display device having improved image quality by preventing or reducing sparkling.
The above description has been presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the technical idea of the present disclosure, and has been provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications, additions and substitutions to the described embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the technical idea and scope of the present disclosure. The above description and the accompanying drawings provide an example of the technical idea of the present disclosure for illustrative purposes only. For example, the disclosed embodiments are intended to illustrate the scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments.
These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0185366 | Dec 2023 | KR | national |
