The present application is directed generally to liquid crystal displays and, more specifically, to liquid crystal displays that have an active area with a viewable area in which displayed content is visible and a non-viewable area in which no content is visible.
A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a backlight that emits light through a series of layers including liquid crystal cells to produce an image. A wide variety of electronic devices are LCDs including but not limited to 706 televisions, computer monitors, digital clocks, calculators, and smartphones. LCDs are also used as components in a variety of larger products, such as within displays in vehicles, electrical appliances, and consumer electronic products.
The backlight of an LCD includes one or more lights that are mounted on or at a substrate, such as a printed circuit board. The lights can be spaced apart in a variety of configurations depending upon the lighting arrangement. Backlights include integrated circuit (IC) components that are mounted on the substrate and control the operation of the lights. The amount of available space on the substrate is limited making it difficult to place the IC components. This causes mechanical integration complexities with the design including positioning the IC components on the substrate or integrating another substrate to mount the IC components.
Another issue with LCD displays is the limited lighting options. This can result in the design having an undesirable lighting arrangement that can cause a variety of undesirable optical effects such as reflections and inadequate depth of field.
One aspect is directed to a liquid crystal display comprising a backlight configured to emit light in a first direction, a protective layer in an overlapping arrangement with the backlight, and layers positioned between and overlapping with the backlight and the protective layer with the layers comprising a liquid crystal cell layer and a color filter layer. An active area overlaps with the layers with the active area comprising a viewable area configured to display images that are visible through the protective layer and a non-viewable area in which images are not visible through the protective layer.
In another aspect, the backlight comprises a substrate and light emitting diodes with the light emitting diodes overlapping with both the viewable area and the non-viewable area.
In another aspect, the backlight comprises a substrate and one or more rail lights that extend along one or more edges of the substrate.
In another aspect, an inactive area is positioned laterally away from the active area with the inactive area positioned to be non-illuminated by the backlight.
In another aspect, the backlight comprises a substrate and light emitting diodes and with the inactive area overlapping with the substrate and non-overlapping with the light emitting diodes.
In another aspect, the backlight comprises a substrate and light emitting diodes with the light emitting diodes overlapping with the active area and laterally away from the inactive area.
In another aspect, the protective layer comprises a transparent section that forms the viewable area and an opaque section that forms the non-viewable area.
In another aspect, the layers further comprise a first polarizing film layer overlapping with and behind the liquid crystal cell layer, a second polarizing film layer overlapping with and in front of the liquid crystal cell layer, and one or more light guide and diffuser layers.
In another aspect, a housing comprises a body with an enclosed interior space and an opening with the liquid crystal display positioned in the interior space with the protective layer aligned within the opening.
One aspect is directed to a liquid crystal display comprising a protective layer, a backlight, a liquid crystal cell layer, and a color filter layer. An active area comprises a vertical stack of the cover layer, the backlight, the liquid crystal cell layer, and the color filter layer with the active area comprising a viewable active area in which a displayed image is visible through the protective layer and a non-viewable active area in which the displayed image is not visible through the protective layer.
In another aspect, the liquid crystal cell layer and the color filter layer are positioned between the protective layer and the backlight.
In another aspect, the backlight comprises a substrate and a plurality of light emitting diodes with the light emitting diodes vertically aligned with both the viewable active area and the non-viewable active area.
In another aspect, the backlight comprises a substrate and one or more rail lights that extend along one or more edges of the substrate.
In another aspect, the protective layer comprises a transparent section that forms the viewable active area and an opaque section that forms the non-viewable active area.
In another aspect, a first polarizing film layer is positioned vertically below the liquid crystal cell layer, a second polarizing film layer is positioned vertically above the liquid crystal cell layer, and one or more light guide and diffuser layers.
In another aspect, the display includes a housing comprising a body with an enclosed interior space and an opening with the LCD display positioned in the interior space with the protective layer aligned within the opening.
One aspect is directed to a liquid crystal display comprising a backlight configured to emit light in a first direction, a diffuser/light guide layer vertically stacked in the first direction over the backlight, a polarizing film layer vertically stacked in the first direction over the backlight, a thin film transistor layer vertically stacked in the first direction over the backlight, a liquid crystal cell layer vertically stacked in the first direction over the backlight, a color filter layer vertically stacked in the first direction over the backlight, and an active area comprising a viewable active area in which displayed images are visible and a non-viewable active area in which the displayed image are not visible.
In another aspect, the display includes a protective layer stacked in the first direction over the backlight.
In another aspect, the protective layer is a cover layer.
In another aspect, the polarizing film layer comprises a first polarizing film layer positioned vertically below the liquid crystal cell layer and the color filter layer and a second polarizing film layer positioned vertically above the liquid crystal cell layer and the color filter layer.
The various aspects of the various embodiments may be used alone or in any combination, as is desired.
The present application is directed to a liquid crystal display (LCD) that includes an active area. The active area overlaps with a liquid crystal cell layer and a color filter layer and is configured to receive light from a backlight. The active area includes a viewable area in which content is displayed and visible to a user. The active area also includes a non-viewable area in which content is not visible.
In one example, the elements of the LCD display 20 are referred to as being vertically stacked. This overlapping configuration provides for the different layers to be positioned at various locations along the vertical stack. For example, the liquid crystal cell layer 40 is above the backlight 30 and below the cover layer 20. In another example, polarizing films 24 are positioned both above and below the liquid crystal cell layer 40.
The backlight 30 is positioned behind and provides backlighting to the layers including the liquid crystal cell layer 40. In the example of
The LEDs 31 can be operated in a number of different settings. In one example, each LED is individually controlled and set to a lighting level. In another example, the LEDs 31 are divided into zones that can each be controlled separately to provide different brightness levels (referred to as full-array local dimming (FALD)).
The light from the backlight 30 passes through the liquid crystal cell layer 40. As illustrated in
The light guide and diffuser layer 23 directs the light from the backlight 30 to the liquid crystal cell layer 40. The layer 23 provides for better light uniformity and brighter transfer of light. The layer 23 can be made from various materials, including but not limited to plastic, glass, and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
The polarizing film layer 24 is positioned in proximity to the liquid crystal cell layer 40. In one example, the polarizing film layer 24 includes layers positioned on the opposing sides of the liquid crystal cell layer 40. In one example, one polarizing film layer 24 has a vertical axis and another polarizing film layer 24 has a horizontal axis with the axes perpendicular to each other.
The TFT layer 25 provides an appropriate voltage for individual subpixels 42 of the liquid crystal cell 40 to provide for an active matrix. In one example, the TFT layer 25 is positioned between the polarizing film layers 24.
The color filter layer 26 absorbs light in specific wavelength ranges and allows other wavelength ranges to pass. As light travels from the backlight 30, the color filter layer 26 blocks the unnecessary colors. The color filter layer 26 can be a single layer, or multiple layers (e.g., a layer for red light, a layer for green light, and a layer for blue light).
The protective layer 110 is positioned at the front of the LCD display 20. In one example, the protective layer 110 is a cover layer 80 bonded onto the LCD display 20. The cover layer 80 provides protection to the LCD display 20. In one example, a touch layer is positioned in or behind the cover layer 80.
The various layers can include a single layer of material or multiple layers of materials. In the multiple layer embodiments, the layers can be the same or different materials. The LCD display 20 can also include additional layers than those shown in
The LCD display 20 has an active area 50 formed at the overlap of the pixels 41 of the liquid crystal cell layer 40 and the color filters 26. The active area 50 includes a viewable active area 51 in which the images are visible to a user through the cover layer 80. The active area 50 also includes a non-viewable active area 52 in which images are not visible. The viewable active area 51 can have various shapes, shapes and sections and be positioned at various locations on the cover layer 80.
The non-viewable active area 52 includes one or more sections in which images are not visible. The non-viewable active area 52 can be caused by one or more of the illumination of the backlight 30 and the cover 80.
In one example, the backlight 30 is configured such that light is not emitted at the non-viewable active area 52 and thus no images are created for this area 52. In one specific example, the LEDs 31 are controlled to provide light to display images to just the viewable active area 51 while no light is into the non-viewable active area 52. One example as illustrated in
Additionally or alternatively, the protective layer 110 forms the viewable active area 51 and the non-viewable active area 52. In one example, the cover layer 80 includes a viewing section 81 that forms the viewable active area 51. The viewing section 81 overlaps with the liquid crystal cell layer 40 and the color filter layer 26. In one example, the viewing section 81 is a transparent material such as plastic or glass through which the displayed image is viewable by a user.
In one example, the cover layer 80 includes a cover section 82 that overlaps with the liquid crystal cell layer 40 and the color filter layer 26 and prevents the user from visually seeing the underlying layers of the LCD display 20. The cover section 82 is an opaque material. In one example, the cover section 82 is constructed from an opaque plastic film that is attached to the face of the cover layer 80.
In another example as illustrated in
The backlight 30 can include various configurations. In one example as described above, the backlight comprises an array of LEDs 31 mounted on the substrate 32. In another example as illustrated in
In addition to an active area 50, the LCD display 20 also includes an inactive area 60. The inactive area 60 does not overlap with the liquid crystal cell layer 40 and therefore does not display images. In one example, the inactive area 60 also does not overlap with the color filter layer 36.
In one example, the cover layer 80 is positioned away from the inactive area 60. In another example, the cover layer 80 extends over and overlaps with the inactive area 60. In a specific example, the cover section 82 of the cover layer 80 overlaps with the inactive area 60.
In one example with the protective layer 110 formed by the screen 130 of the housing 130, the screen 130 is completely transparent. In another example, the screen 130 includes one or more transparent sections that forms the viewable area 51 and one or more opaque sections that forms the non-viewable area 52.
In the examples disclosed above, the LCD display 20 includes a protective layer 110. In another example, the LCD display 20 does not include a protective layer 110.
The control unit 35 is configured to operate the LCD display 20. The control unit 35 includes control circuitry and a memory circuitry. The control circuitry controls overall operation according to program instructions stored in the memory circuitry. The control circuitry can include one or more circuits, microcontrollers, microprocessors, hardware, or a combination thereof. Memory circuitry includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing program instructions, such as a computer program product, that configures the control circuitry to implement one or more of the techniques discussed herein. Memory circuitry can include various memory devices such as, for example, read-only memory, and flash memory. In one example, the control unit 35 includes communications circuitry to send and receive information. The communications circuit can include one or more interfaces that provide for different methods of communication. The control unit 35 can also include a power source to provide power.
In one example, the control unit 35 includes Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) that control LED drivers which control the LEDs 31. The FPGAs can include internal memory and/or are loaded/programmed at power up.
Spatially relative terms such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper”, and the like, are used for ease of description to explain the positioning of one element relative to a second element. These terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to different orientations than those depicted in the figures. Further, terms such as “first”, “second”, and the like, are also used to describe various elements, regions, sections, etc. and are also not intended to be limiting. Like terms refer to like elements throughout the description.
As used herein, the terms “having”, “containing”, “including”, “comprising” and the like are open ended terms that indicate the presence of stated elements or features, but do not preclude additional elements or features. The articles “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural as well as the singular, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
The present invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.