US20160320655A1 - Electronic Device with Inverted Liquid Crystal Display - Google Patents
Electronic Device with Inverted Liquid Crystal Display Download PDFInfo
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- US20160320655A1 US20160320655A1 US15/204,895 US201615204895A US2016320655A1 US 20160320655 A1 US20160320655 A1 US 20160320655A1 US 201615204895 A US201615204895 A US 201615204895A US 2016320655 A1 US2016320655 A1 US 2016320655A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/1335—Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
- G02F1/133509—Filters, e.g. light shielding masks
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/1345—Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
- G02F1/13454—Drivers integrated on the active matrix substrate
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/1335—Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
- G02F1/133509—Filters, e.g. light shielding masks
- G02F1/133512—Light shielding layers, e.g. black matrix
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/1335—Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
- G02F1/133509—Filters, e.g. light shielding masks
- G02F1/133514—Colour filters
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/136—Liquid crystal cells structurally associated with a semi-conducting layer or substrate, e.g. cells forming part of an integrated circuit
- G02F1/1362—Active matrix addressed cells
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/136—Liquid crystal cells structurally associated with a semi-conducting layer or substrate, e.g. cells forming part of an integrated circuit
- G02F1/1362—Active matrix addressed cells
- G02F1/136209—Light shielding layers, e.g. black matrix, incorporated in the active matrix substrate, e.g. structurally associated with the switching element
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/136—Liquid crystal cells structurally associated with a semi-conducting layer or substrate, e.g. cells forming part of an integrated circuit
- G02F1/1362—Active matrix addressed cells
- G02F1/1368—Active matrix addressed cells in which the switching element is a three-electrode device
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/133357—Planarisation layers
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/1335—Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
- G02F1/13356—Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors characterised by the placement of the optical elements
- G02F1/133562—Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors characterised by the placement of the optical elements on the viewer side
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/136—Liquid crystal cells structurally associated with a semi-conducting layer or substrate, e.g. cells forming part of an integrated circuit
- G02F1/1362—Active matrix addressed cells
- G02F1/136222—Colour filters incorporated in the active matrix substrate
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- G02F2001/133357—
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- Mathematical Physics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
- Liquid Crystal (AREA)
Abstract
An electronic device may have a liquid crystal display with backlight structures. The backlight structures may produce backlight that passes through an array of display pixels. The display pixels may include electrode structures and thin-film transistor structures for controlling electric fields in a layer of liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal material may be formed between an outer display layer and an inner display layer. The inner display layer may be interposed between the backlight structures and the liquid crystal material. Thin-film transistor structures, electrodes, and conductive interconnection lines may be deposited in a layer on the inner surface of the outer display layer. A layer of color filter elements may be used to provide the display with color pixels. The color filter elements may be formed on top of the thin-film transistor layer or on a separate color filter array substrate such as the inner display layer.
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/424,950, filed Mar. 20, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application claims the benefit of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/424,950, filed Mar. 20, 2012.
- This relates generally to electronic devices and, more particularly, to displays for electronic devices.
- Electronic devices such as computers and cellular telephones are generally provided with displays. Displays such as liquid crystal displays contain a thin layer of liquid crystal material. Color liquid crystal displays include color filter layers. The layer of liquid crystal material in this type of display is interposed between the color filter layer and a thin-film transistor. Polarizer layers may be placed above and below the color filter layer, liquid crystal material, and thin-film transistor layer.
- When it is desired to display an image for a user, display driver circuitry applies signals to a grid of data lines and gate lines within the thin-film transistor layer. These signals adjust electric fields associated with an array of pixels on the thin-film transistor layer. The electric field pattern that is produced controls the liquid crystal material and creates a visible image on the display.
- Image quality in conventional displays can be degraded during off-axis viewing, because off-axis viewing angles can allow light from display pixels of one color to bleed into adjacent display pixels of another color. Although off-axis quality can be improved somewhat by incorporating wide black matrix structures into the display, the use of excessively large black matrix masking lines can adversely affect display brightness.
- It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved electronic device displays.
- Electronic devices may be provided with displays such as liquid crystal displays. A display may have an array of display pixels. The display pixels may be controlled using a grid of data lines and gate lines. Each pixel may receive display data on a data line and may have a thin-film transistor that is controlled by a gate line signal on a gate line. The thin-film transistors may be controlled to apply electric fields to a layer of liquid crystal material.
- A liquid crystal display may be provided with backlight structures. The backlight structures may produce backlight that passes through an array of display pixels. The display pixels may include electrode structures and thin-film transistor structures for controlling electric fields in the layer of liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal material may be formed between an outer display layer and an inner display layer.
- The inner display layer may be interposed between the backlight structures and the liquid crystal material. Thin-film transistor structures, electrodes, and conductive interconnection lines may be deposited in a layer on the inner surface of the outer display layer.
- A layer of color filter elements may be used to provide the display with color pixels. With one suitable configuration, the color filter elements may be formed on the thin-film transistor layer. In this type of configuration, the inner display layer may be formed from a layer of clear glass or plastic. In another suitable configuration, the color filter elements may be formed on the inner display layer.
- A patterned layer of opaque masking material may be formed in a peripheral border region of the outer display layer. A planarization layer may be used to cover the opaque masking layer. The thin-film transistors and other display pixels structures may be formed on the planarization layer.
- Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
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FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with a display such as a portable computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with a display such as a cellular telephone or other handheld device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with a display such as a tablet computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with a display such as a computer monitor with a built-in computer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing circuitry that may be used in operating an electronic device with a display in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an illustrative display pixel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an illustrative liquid crystal display with backlight structures in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative electronic device having a display that overlaps housing sidewall structures in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative electronic device having a display that overlaps housing sidewall structures and having a display cover layer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative electronic device having a display with edges that are mounted between opposing housing sidewalls in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative electronic device having a display with edges that are mounted between opposing housing sidewalls and having a display cover layer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of a display showing how backlight structures may be used to provide the display with backlight in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative display having a substrate layer on which thin-film transistor structures and color filter structures have been formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative display having an upper layer on which thin-film transistor structures have been formed and having a lower layer that serves as a color filter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 15 is a top view of a portion of a display showing how a black matrix may be used to separate color filter elements in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a display showing how black matrix structures in the display may be used to cover underlying structures such as conductive lines on a thin-film transistor substrate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative display showing how formation of a layer of color filter elements on top of underlying thin-film structures such as electrode structures on a thin-film-transistor substrate may help improve off-axis display performance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. - An illustrative electronic device of the type that may be provided with a display is shown in
FIG. 1 .Electronic device 10 may be a computer such as a computer that is integrated into a display such as a computer monitor, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a somewhat smaller portable device such as a wrist-watch device, pendant device, or other wearable or miniature device, a cellular telephone, a media player, a tablet computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, a computer monitor, a television, or other electronic equipment. - As shown in
FIG. 1 ,device 10 may include a display such asdisplay 14.Display 14 may be a touch screen that incorporates capacitive touch electrodes or other touch sensor components or may be a display that is not touch sensitive.Display 14 may include image pixels formed from liquid crystal display (LCD) components or other suitable display pixel structures. Arrangements in whichdisplay 18 is formed using liquid crystal display pixels are sometimes described herein as an example. This is, however, merely illustrative. Any suitable type of display technology may be used in formingdisplay 14 if desired. -
Device 10 may have a housing such ashousing 12.Housing 12, which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of any two or more of these materials. -
Housing 12 may be formed using a unibody configuration in which some or all ofhousing 12 is machined or molded as a single structure or may be formed using multiple structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, one or more structures that form exterior housing surfaces, etc.). - As shown in
FIG. 1 ,housing 12 may have multiple parts. For example,housing 12 may haveupper portion 12A andlower portion 12B.Upper portion 12A may be coupled tolower portion 12B using a hinge that allowsportion 12A to rotate about rotational axis 16 relative toportion 12B. A keyboard such askeyboard 18 and a touch pad such astouch pad 20 may be mounted inhousing portion 12B. - In the example of
FIG. 2 ,device 10 has been implemented using a housing that is sufficiently small to fit within a user's hand (i.e.,device 10 ofFIG. 2 may be a handheld electronic device such as a cellular telephone). As show inFIG. 2 ,device 10 may include a display such asdisplay 14 mounted on the front ofhousing 12.Display 14 may be substantially filled with active display pixels or may have an inactive portion and an inactive portion.Display 14 may have openings (e.g., openings in the inactive or active portions of display 14) such as an opening to accommodatebutton 22 and an opening to accommodatespeaker port 24. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view ofelectronic device 10 in a configuration in whichelectronic device 10 has been implemented in the form of a tablet computer. As shown inFIG. 3 ,display 14 may be mounted on the upper (front) surface ofhousing 12. An opening may be formed indisplay 14 to accommodatebutton 22. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view ofelectronic device 10 in a configuration in whichelectronic device 10 has been implemented in the form of a computer integrated into a computer monitor. As shown inFIG. 4 ,display 14 may be mounted on the front surface ofhousing 12.Stand 26 may be used to supporthousing 12. - Other configurations may be used for
electronic device 10 if desired. The examples ofFIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are merely illustrative. - A diagram showing circuitry of the type that may be used in
device 10 is shown inFIG. 5 . As shown inFIG. 5 ,display 14 may be coupled todevice components 28 such as input-output circuitry 30 andcontrol circuitry 32. Input-output circuitry 30 may include components for receiving device input. For example, input-output circuitry 30 may include a microphone for receiving audio input, a keyboard, keypad, or other buttons or switches for receiving input (e.g., key press input or button press input from a user), sensors for gathering input such as an accelerometer, a compass, a light sensor, a proximity sensor, touch sensor (e.g., touch sensors associated withdisplay 14 or separate touch sensors), or other input devices. Input-output circuitry 30 may also include components for supplying output. Output circuitry may include components such as speakers, light-emitting diodes or other light-emitting devices for producing light output, vibrators, and other components for supplying output. Input-output ports incircuitry 30 may be used for receiving analog and/or digital input signal and may be used for outputting analog and/or digital output signals. Examples of input-output ports that may be used incircuitry 30 include audio ports, digital data ports, ports associated with 30-pin connectors, and ports associated with Universal Serial Bus connectors and other digital data connectors. -
Control circuitry 32 may be used in controlling the operation ofdevice 10.Control circuitry 32 may include storage circuits such as volatile and non-volatile memory circuits, solid state drives, hard drives, and other memory and storage circuitry.Control circuitry 32 may also include processing circuitry such as processing circuitry in a microprocessor or other processor. One or more integrated circuits may be used in implementingcontrol circuitry 32. Examples of integrated circuits that may be included incontrol circuitry 32 include microprocessors, digital signal processors, power management units, baseband processors, microcontrollers, application-specific integrated circuits, circuits for handling audio and/or visual information, and other control circuitry. -
Control circuitry 32 may be used in running software fordevice 10. For example,control circuitry 32 may be configured to execute code in connection with the displaying of images on display 14 (e.g., text, pictures, video, etc.). -
Display 14 may include a pixel array such aspixel array 34.Pixel array 34 may be controlled using control signals produced by display driver circuitry such asdisplay driver circuitry 36.Display driver circuitry 36 may be implemented using one or more integrated circuits (ICs) and may sometimes be referred to as a driver IC, display driver integrated circuit, or display driver. Display driver integratedcircuit 36 may be mounted on an edge of a thin-film transistor substrate layer in display 14 (as an example). The thin-film transistor substrate layer may sometimes be referred to as a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer. - During operation of
device 10,control circuitry 32 may provide data to displaydriver 36. For example,control circuitry 32 may use a path such aspath 38 to supplydisplay driver 36 with digital data corresponding to text, graphics, video, or other images to be displayed ondisplay 14.Display driver 36 may convert the data that is received onpath 20 into signals for controlling the pixels ofpixel array 34. -
Pixel array 34 may contain rows and columns ofdisplay pixels 40. The circuitry ofpixel array 34 may be controlled using signals such as data line signals ondata lines 42 and gate line signals on gate lines 44. -
Pixels 40 inpixel array 34 may contain thin-film transistor circuitry (e.g., polysilicon transistor circuitry or amorphous silicon transistor circuitry) and associated structures for producing electric fields across liquid crystal material indisplay 14. The thin-film transistor structures that are used in formingpixels 40 may be located on a substrate (sometimes referred to as a thin-film transistor layer or thin-film transistor substrate). The thin-film transistor (TFT) layer may be formed from a planar glass substrate, a plastic substrate, or a sheet of other suitable substrate materials. - Gate driver circuitry 46 may be used to generate gate signals on gate lines 44. Circuits such as gate driver circuitry 46 may be formed from thin-film transistors on the thin-film transistor layer. Gate driver circuitry 46 may be located on both the left and right sides of pixel array 34 (as shown in
FIG. 5 ) or may be located on only one side ofpixel array 34. - The data line signals in
pixel array 34 carry analog image data (e.g., voltages with magnitudes representing pixel brightness levels). During the process of displaying images ondisplay 14, display driver integratedcircuit 36 may receive digital data fromcontrol circuitry 18 viapath 38 and may produce corresponding analog data onpath 48. The analog data signals onpath 48 may be demultiplexed bydemultiplexer circuitry 50 in accordance with control signals provided bydriver circuitry 36. This demultiplexing process produces corresponding color-coded analog data line signals on data lines 42 (e.g., data signals for a red channel, data signals for a green channel, and data signals for a blue channel). - The data line signals on
data lines 42 may be provided to the columns ofdisplay pixels 40 inpixel array 34. Gate line signals may be provided to the rows ofpixels 40 inpixel array 34 by gate driver circuitry 46. - The circuitry of
display 14 such asdemultiplexer circuitry 50 and gate driver circuitry 46 and the circuitry ofpixels 40 may be formed from conductive structures (e.g., metal lines and/or structures formed from transparent conductive materials such as indium tin oxide) and may include transistors that are fabricated on the thin-film transistor substrate layer ofdisplay 14. The thin-film transistors may be, for example, polysilicon thin-film transistors or amorphous silicon transistors. -
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an illustrative display pixel inpixel array 34. Pixels such aspixel 40 ofFIG. 6 may be located at the intersection of eachgate line 44 anddata line 42 inarray 34. - A data signal D may be supplied to terminal 50 from one of data lines 42 (
FIG. 5 ). Thin-film transistor 52 (e.g., a thin-film polysilicon transistor or an amorphous silicon transistor) may have a gate terminal such asgate 54 that receives gate line signal G from gate driver circuitry 46 (FIG. 5 ). When signal G is asserted, transistor 52 will be turned on and signal D will be passed tonode 56 as voltage Vp. Data fordisplay 14 may be displayed in frames. Following assertion of signal G in one frame, signal G may be deasserted. Signal G may then be asserted to turn on transistor 52 and capture a new value of Vp in a subsequent display frame. -
Pixel 40 may have a signal storage element such as capacitor Cst or other charge storage element. Storage capacitor Cst may be used to store signal Vp between frames (i.e., in the period of time between the assertion of successive signals G). -
Display 14 may have a common electrode coupled tonode 58. The common electrode (which is sometimes referred to as the Vcom electrode) may be used to distribute a common electrode voltage such as common electrode voltage Vcom to nodes such asnode 58 in eachpixel 40 ofarray 24. Capacitor Cst may be coupled betweennodes nodes pixel 40 that are used in controlling the electric field through the liquid crystal material of the pixel (liquid crystal material 60). As shown inFIG. 6 ,electrode structures 62 may be coupled tonode 56. Capacitance Clc is associated with the capacitance betweenelectrode structures 62 and common electrode Vcom atnode 58. During operation,electrode structures 62 may be used to apply a controlled electric field (i.e., a field having a magnitude proportional to Vp-Vcom) across a pixel-sized portion ofliquid crystal material 60 inpixel 40. Due to the presence of storage capacitor Cst, the value of Vp (and therefore the associated electric field across liquid crystal material 60) may be maintained acrossnodes - The electric field that is produced across
liquid crystal material 60 causes a change in the orientations of the liquid crystals inliquid crystal material 60. This changes the polarization of light passing throughliquid crystal material 60. The change in polarization may be used in controlling the amount of light that is transmitted through eachpixel 40 inarray 34. - A portion of
display 14 illustrating how changes in the light polarization produced byliquid crystal material 60 can be used to affect the amount of light that is transmitted throughdisplay 14 is shown inFIG. 7 . As shown inFIG. 7 ,backlight structures 64 may be used to producebacklight 66 that travels upwards (outwards) in dimension Z through display layers 81 ofdisplay 14. Display layers 81 may include an upper polarizer layer such aslayer 68 and alower polarizer layer 74.Upper polarizer layer 68 may be attached to one or more substrate layers such aslayer 70.Lower polarizer layer 74 may be attached to one or more substrate layers such aslayer 72.Layers 70 and/or 72 may be formed from transparent layers such as layers of glass, plastic, or other sheets of material.Layers 70 and/or 72 and other layers ofdisplay 81 may include thin-film transistor layers, color filter layers, layers that include thin-film transistor structures and color filter elements, planarization layers, opaque masking patterns, clear layers, or other suitable display layers. - As light 66 passes through
lower polarizer 74,lower polarizer 74 polarizeslight 66. As polarized light 66 passes throughliquid crystal material 60,liquid crystal material 60 may rotate the polarization oflight 66 by an amount that is proportional to the electric field throughliquid crystal material 60. If the polarization oflight 66 is aligned in parallel with the polarization ofpolarizer 68, the transmission of light 66 throughlayer 68 will be maximized. If the polarization oflight 66 is aligned so as to run perpendicular to the polarization ofpolarizer 68, the transmission of light 66 throughlayer 68 will be minimized (i.e., light 66 will be blocked). The display circuitry ofFIG. 5 may be used in adjusting the voltages Vp across theelectrodes 62 ofdisplay pixels 40 indisplay pixel array 34, thereby selectively lightening and darkeningpixels 40 inpixel array 34 and presenting an image to a user ofdevice 10 such asviewer 76,viewing display 14 indirection 78. - Displays such as
display 14 may be mounted on one or more surfaces ofdevice 10. For example, displays such asdisplay 14 may be mounted on a front face ofhousing 12, on a rear face ofhousing 12, or on other portions ofdevice 10. - As shown in
FIG. 8 ,display 14 may be mounted inhousing 12 so that some or all of the edges ofdisplay 14 overlaphousing sidewalls 14′. Internal electrical components 82 (e.g., input-output components 30,control circuitry 32, etc.) may be mounted on one or more substrates such assubstrate 80 withinhousing 12.Substrate 80 may be formed from one or more printed circuits. For example,substrate 80 may include a rigid printed circuit board (e.g., a printed circuit board formed from a material such as fiberglass-filled epoxy) and/or a flexible printed circuit (“flex circuit”) such as a printed circuit formed from patterned conductive traces on a sheet of polyimide or other flexible polymer. - If desired, some or all of the outermost surface of
display 14 may be covered with a display cover layer such asdisplay cover layer 84 ofFIG. 9 .Display cover layer 84 may be formed from a layer of glass, a layer of plastic, a layer of ceramic, or other suitable transparent materials. One or more additional display layers may also be included indisplay 14 if desired (e.g., antireflection films, scratch-resistance coating layers, fingerprint-reducing layers, layers that perform multiple functions such as reducing reflection, reducing scratches, and reducing fingerprints, etc.). -
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view ofdevice 10 in a configuration in which display 14 has been mounted betweenrespective housing sidewalls 12′ (i.e., without overlappingupper edges 12″ ofsidewalls 12′).FIG. 11 shows howdisplay cover layer 84 may be used to coverdisplay 14 in a configuration in which display 14 is mounted betweenhousing sidewalls 12′. - The illustrative mounting arrangements of
FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11 are merely illustrative examples of ways in which display 14 may be mounted inhousing 12 ofdevice 10. Other mounting configurations may be used if desired. -
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view ofdisplay 14 showing howbacklight structures 86 may be used in producingbacklight 66 fordisplay 14. As shown inFIG. 12 , a light source such as light source 92 may produce light 94. Light source 92 may include, for example, one or more light-emitting diodes.Backlight structures 86 may include a light guide plate and other layers 88 (e.g., a diffuser and other optical films). A reflective layer such asreflector 90 may be placed on the rear surface of the light guide plate. As light 94 travels through the light guide plate, some of light 94 scatters upwards in direction Z towardsviewer 76 and serves asbacklight 66 fordisplay 14. Light that scatters downwards may be reflected upwards byreflector 90 to serve asadditional backlight 66. - Display layers 81 may include thin-film transistors such as transistor 52 of
FIG. 6 and conductive structures (e.g., electrodes such aselectrode 62, gate lines, data lines, and other lines and conductive structures formed from metal and/or indium tin oxide or other transparent conductive materials). Display layers 81 may also include color filter structures for imparting colors such as red, blue, and green colors topixels 40 inpixel array 34. The color filter structures may be formed in an array (e.g., an array of alternating red, green, and blue color filter elements) and are therefore sometimes referred to as a color filter array or color filter array structures. - Color filter array structures may be formed using colored substances such as dye or pigment (e.g., colored red, blue, and green ink or materials of other suitable colors). Color filter structures may be formed by ink-jet printing, screen printing, pad printing, photolithographic patterning, or other suitable deposition and patterning techniques. Color filter structures may be formed on the same substrate as the thin-film transistors and conductive structures of
display pixels 40 or may be formed separately (e.g., on a color filter layer that is separated from a thin-film transistor substrate layer). -
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative configuration that may be used fordisplay 14 in which color filter elements for the color filter array indisplay 14 have been formed on the same substrate as the thin-film transistors and conductive structures ofdisplay pixels 40. As shown inFIG. 13 ,display 14 may be provided withbacklight 66 usingbacklight structures 86. During operation,backlight 66 may travel vertically upwards (outwards in dimension Z) through display layers 81 ofdisplay 14 to be viewed by a user such asviewer 76 looking atdisplay 14 indirection 78. - Display layers 81 may include a substrate such as
substrate 96.Substrate 96 may be formed from glass, plastic, ceramic, or other suitable transparent materials.Substrate 96 may have a rectangular outline or other suitable shape. The surfaces ofsubstrate 96 such as outer (upper)surface 106 and inner (lower)surface 104 may be planar (as shown inFIG. 13 ) or may be curved. - An opaque (e.g., black) masking material such as an inorganic opaque material (e.g., chrome) or an organic opaque material (e.g., black ink or black plastic) may be used to form
peripheral border mask 98 in peripheral border region 100 (e.g., a rectangular ring surrounding a central rectangular active area of display 14). Opaque masking material may also be used to form an opaque matrix (e.g., a black matrix) that separatesindividual pixels 40. As shown inFIG. 13 , maskingmaterial 98 may be formed oninterior surface 104 ofsubstrate 96 in peripheral border region 100 (as an example). - An optional planarization layer such as
layer 102 may be formed over the inner surface ofsubstrate 96 following formation of opaque masking material 98 (e.g.,layer 102 may be deposited so as to cover masking material 98).Planarization layer 102 may be formed from a layer of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, an organic material such as acrylic, other transparent planarizing materials, or a combination of two or more of these materials.Layer 102 may be deposited by screen printing, spin-on coating, spray coating, physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, or other suitable deposition techniques. If desired,layer 102 may be polished to helpplanarize layer 102. -
Layer 108 may be formed onplanarization layer 102.Layer 108, which may sometimes be referred to as a thin-film transistor layer, may include display pixel structures such asstructures 110 and conductive structures such as traces 112.Structures 110 may include thin-film transistors such as thin-film transistor 52 ofFIG. 6 and electrodes such aselectrode structures 62 ofFIG. 6 .Traces 112 may includegate lines 44, data lines 42, and other conductive lines.Structures - Solder connections such as solder bumps 114 may be used in connecting display driver integrated
circuit 36 or other external circuitry totraces 112 in thin-film transistor layer 108. Integratedcircuit 36 may be mounted onsubstrate 96 so thatintegrated circuit 36 is fully or partly covered by overlapping portions of masking material 98 (i.e., so thatintegrated circuit 36 is blocked from view byviewer 76 by overlapping masking layer 98). -
Color filter layer 116 may be formed onlayer 108.Color filter layer 116 may, for example, be deposited onlayer 108 using physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, ink-jet printing, spraying, pad printing, screen printing, spin-on coating, or other deposition techniques.Color filter layer 116 may include an array ofcolor filter elements 116′ each of which may be associated with a differentrespective display pixel 40 inpixel array 34. Threeelements 116′ (labeled as red R, green G, and blue B) are shown inFIG. 13 . In general, colorfilter array layer 116 may include any suitable number of pixels (e.g., hundreds or more, thousands or more, tens of thousands or more, etc.).Layers -
Liquid crystal layer 60 may be sandwiched between substrate 96 (and the structures formed onlower surface 104 ofsubstrate 96 such as thin-film transistor layer 108 and color filter layer 116) and inner display layers such asinner display layer 118.Layer 118 may be formed from a material such as glass, ceramic, plastic, or other substance that is sufficiently transparent to allowbacklight 66 to pass through the display pixels of display layers 81.Layer 118 may, for example, be formed from a rectangular sheet of clear glass or plastic (as an example). As described in connection withFIG. 7 , the upper surface ofdisplay 14 such assurface 106 ofsubstrate 96 may be covered with an upper polarizer layer such asupper polarizer 68 and may (as described in connection withFIGS. 9 and 11 ) be covered with an optional display cover layer such asdisplay cover layer 84 and/or coatings such as smudge-resistance coatings, scratch-resistance coatings, and antireflection coatings. The lower surface ofdisplay 14 inFIG. 13 (e.g.,lower surface 120 of layer 118) may be covered with a lower polarizer layer such aslayer 74. -
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view ofdisplay 14 in a configuration in whichcolor filter layer 116 has been implemented using a substrate layer that is separate from thin-filmtransistor substrate layer 96. In this configuration,liquid crystal material 60 may be interposed between thin-film transistor layer 108 and colorfilter array layer 116. As withdisplay 14 ofFIG. 13 ,display 14 ofFIG. 14 may be provided withbacklight 66 usingbacklight structures 86.Backlight 66 may travel vertically upwards (outwards) in dimension Z through display layers 81 ofdisplay 14 to be viewed by a user such asviewer 76 looking atdisplay 14 indirection 78. - Display layers 81 may include a substrate such as
substrate 96. As withsubstrate 96 ofFIG. 13 ,substrate 96 ofFIG. 14 may be formed from glass, plastic, ceramic, or other suitable transparent materials.Substrate 96 may have a rectangular outline or other suitable shape. The surfaces ofsubstrate 96 such as outer (upper)surface 106 and inner (lower)surface 104 may be planar (as shown inFIG. 14 ) or may be curved. - An opaque masking material such as an inorganic opaque material (e.g., chrome) or an organic opaque material (e.g., black ink or black plastic) may be used to form
peripheral border mask 98 inperipheral border region 100. Opaque masking material may also be used to form an opaque matrix that separatesindividual pixels 40. Black maskingmaterial 98 may be formed oninterior surface 104 of substrate 96 (as an example). - An optional planarization layer such as
layer 102 may be formed over the inner surface ofsubstrate 96 following formation ofopaque masking material 98.Planarization layer 102 may be formed from a layer of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, an organic material such as acrylic, other transparent planarizing materials, or a combination of two or more of these materials.Layer 102 may be deposited over maskingmaterial 98 and other features onsubstrate 96 using screen printing, spin-on coating, spray coating, physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, or other suitable deposition techniques. If desired,layer 102 may be polished to helpplanarize layer 102. -
Layer 108 may be formed onplanarization layer 102.Layer 108, which may sometimes be referred to as a thin-film transistor layer, may include display pixel structures such asstructures 110 and conductive structures such as traces 112.Structures 110 may include thin-film transistors such as thin-film transistor 52 ofFIG. 6 and electrodes such aselectrode structures 62 ofFIG. 6 .Traces 112 may includegate lines 44, data lines 42, and other conductive lines.Structures - Solder connections such as solder bumps 114 may be used in connecting display driver integrated
circuit 36 or other external circuitry totraces 112 in thin-film transistor layer 108. Display driver integratedcircuit 36 may be mounted under maskinglayer 98 so that maskinglayer 98 blocks integratedcircuit 36 from view byviewer 76. -
Color filter array 116 may be formed from a substrate that is separated fromlayer 108 by an interposed layer of liquid crystal material such asliquid crystal layer 60.Color filter array 116 may, for example, be formed from an array of color filter elements that are deposited on a substrate such as a layer of glass, plastic, ceramic, or other transparent sheet of material using physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, ink-jet printing, spraying, pad printing, screen printing, spin-on coating, or other deposition techniques. -
Color filter layer 116 ofFIG. 14 may include an array ofcolor filter elements 116′ each of which may be associated with a differentrespective display pixel 40 inpixel array 34.Illustrative elements 116′ (labeled as red R, green G, and blue B) are shown inFIG. 14 . In general, colorfilter array layer 116 may include any suitable number ofcolor filter elements 116′ corresponding to any suitable number of respective display pixels 40 (e.g., hundreds or more, thousands or more, tens of thousands or more, etc.). - As shown in
FIG. 14 ,liquid crystal layer 60 may be sandwiched between upper display layers such as substrate 96 (and the structures formed onlower surface 104 ofsubstrate 96 such as thin-film transistor layer 108) and lower display layers such ascolor filter array 116. A substrate layer incolor filter array 116 may be formed from a material such as glass, ceramic, plastic, or other substance that is sufficiently transparent to allowbacklight 66 to pass through the display pixels of display layers 81.Layer 116 may, for example, be formed from a rectangular sheet of clear glass or plastic (as an example). The upper surface ofdisplay 14 such assurface 106 of thin-film transistor substrate 96 may be covered with an upper polarizer layer such asupper polarizer 68 and may be covered with an optional display cover layer such asdisplay cover layer 84 and/or coatings such as smudge-resistance coatings, scratch-resistance coatings, and antireflection coatings. The lower surface ofdisplay 14 inFIG. 14 (e.g.,lower surface 122 of color filter array 116) may be covered with a lower polarizer layer such aslayer 74. -
Color filter elements 116′ incolor filter array 116 may be separated by lines of opaque material (sometimes referred to as black matrix material or opaque masking material). The black matrix may be used to block metal lines and other structures from view by the user ofdevice 10 and may help reduce light leakage between adjacent pixels. The black matrix may be formed from opaque organic or inorganic materials such as chrome and black ink (as examples). The top view ofcolor filter array 116 inFIG. 15 shows howblack matrix 124 may form a grid of opaque masking lines laterally interposed between respectivecolor filter elements 116′. The width of the masking lines (shown as width W inFIG. 15 ) may be less than 50 microns, less than 30 microns, less than 20 microns, less than 15 microns, less than 10 microns, less than 7 microns, less than 3 microns, or any other suitable width. The lateral dimensions ofcolor filter elements 116′ may be 500 microns or less, 100 microns or less, 50 microns or less, or 25 microns or less (as examples). For example, rectangularcolor filter elements 116′ inarray 116 may be provided with pixel dimensions of 25 microns by 75 microns (as an example). - It may be desirable to reduce the magnitude of black matrix line width W relative to the lateral dimensions D of
color filter elements 116′ to improve display brightness (i.e., brightness efficiency). Using arrangements of the type shown inFIG. 13 in which a layer ofcolor filter elements 116′ has been deposited on thin-film transistor layer 108, colorfilter array layer 116 may be formed in close proximity to the thin-film transistors, electrodes, and other structures of thin-film transistor layer 108. This may facilitate accurate alignment between the black matrix in the color filter array and underlying structures inlayer 108, thereby allowing the magnitude of black matrix line width W to be minimized. - As shown in
FIG. 16 , thin-film transistor layer 108 may be formed onsubstrate 96. Each electrode 62 (i.e., each set of three common electrode finger structures in the example ofFIG. 16 ) may be configured to overlap with a correspondingcolor filter element 116′.Color filter elements 116′ may be used to impart colors to backlight 66 beforebacklight 66 passes through the pixels of thin-film transistor layer 108 and is viewed indirection 78 byviewer 76. Lines ofblack matrix material 124 may be configured to overlap structures in thin-film transistor layer 108 such as structures 126 (e.g.,gate lines 44, data lines 42, etc.) and thereby blockstructures 126 from view. The thickness T of thin-film transistor layer 108 and therefore the vertical separation in dimension Z betweencolor filter layer 116 and the thin-film structures onsurface 104 ofsubstrate 96 may be relatively small (e.g., less than 25 microns, less than 5 microns, less than 2 microns, etc.). The small thickness T and the ability to formcolor filter layer 116 onlayer 108 allowsblack matrix lines 124 to be accurately aligned with respect tostructures 126. This accurate alignment allows the size W ofblack matrix lines 124 to be minimized (e.g., so be less than 50 microns, less than 30 microns, less than 20 microns, less than 15 microns, less than 10 microns, less than 7 microns, less than 3 microns, or other suitable width). By minimizing W relative to the lateral dimensions (e.g., dimension D) ofcolor filter elements 116′, display brightness (e.g., the efficiency with which display 14 transmits a given amount of backlight 66) may be enhanced. - Configuring
display 14 so thatviewer 76 views displaypixels 40 through thin-film transistor substrate 96 andelectrodes 62 rather thancolor filter 116 may reduce light leakage effects between adjacent pixels. Consider, as an example, display 14 ofFIG. 17 . As shown inFIG. 17 ,viewer 76 may viewdisplay 14 throughsubstrate 96 and thin-film transistor layer 108 by viewing in directions such asdirection FIG. 17 for clarity).Backlight 66 passes throughliquid crystal material 60.Electrodes 62 are located in thin-film transistor layer 108 onsubstrate 96, so the electric field that is produced inliquid crystal material 60 is strongest nearlayer 108 and is weakest nearlayer 118.Color filter array 116 andcolor filter elements 116′ may be deposited on thin-film transistor layer 108.Layer 118 may be formed from clear glass, clear plastic, or other transparent material. - The gradual weakening of the electric field strength in
layer 60 with increasing distance fromlayer 108 is illustrated for the green “G” pixel inFIG. 17 . In theFIG. 17 example, the red pixel “R” and the blue pixels “B” are not receiving signals on theirrespective electrodes 62, so theliquid crystals 60′ in the portions ofliquid crystal layer 60 that are associated with the R and B pixels has not been rotated, as illustrated inFIG. 17 . Theelectrode 62 that is associated with the green (“G”) pixel is, however, receiving a signal (in this example) and is therefore producing an electric field in an adjacent portion oflayer 60. As a result,liquid crystals 60′ aboveelectrode 62 in the green (“G”) pixel are rotated. Because the electric field strength in the green pixel decreases with increasing distance intolayer 60 away from thin-film layer 108 andelectrode 62, the amount of rotation ofliquid crystals 60′ in the green pixel decreases by a corresponding amount at increasing distances intolayer 60 away fromlayer 108, as shown inFIG. 17 . - When viewing the pixels of
display 40 “on axis” (i.e., along a direction that is parallel to the surface normal n for substrate 96),backlight 66 will generally not leak appreciably into adjacent pixels and the pixel colors will tend not to bleed into each other. When, however,viewer 76 views display 14 along an off-axis angle such as the angle associated withdirections FIG. 17 , there is a risk that the viewer will view part of the liquid crystal material associated with one pixel through the color filter of another pixel. If not well controlled, this effect can reduce display performance by reducing color accuracy. - With a display of the type show in
FIG. 17 , off-axis performance may be enhanced, because off-axis light rays that have the potential to cause interference have relatively low intensities. Whenviewer 76 views light 66 traveling along viewingaxis 78B,viewer 76 will observe light 66 that has traveled through strongly rotated (i.e., strongly “on”)liquid crystals 60′ and a corresponding portion of the green (“G”)color filter element 116′ incolor filter layer 116. The viewer observing the center of the green pixel alongaxis 78B will therefore correctly observe that the green pixel is emittinggreen backlight 66 and has a green color. Whenviewer 76 views light 66 traveling along viewingaxis 78A, however,viewer 76 will observe light 66 that has traveled through a weakly rotated (i.e., weakly “on”)liquid crystals 60′ and a corresponding portion of the red (“R”)color filter element 116′ incolor filter layer 116. The red pixel in theFIG. 17 example has been turned “off” (i.e., the red pixel'sliquid crystals 60′ have not been rotated), so the viewer should not be observing any red light through the redcolor filter element 116′. Thered light 66 that the viewer observes alongaxis 78A therefore represents a source of color error and tends to degrade display performance. Nevertheless, because theliquid crystals 60′ through which the red light traveling alongaxis 78A has passed are weakly rotated, the magnitude (intensity) of the erroneous red light that is observed byviewer 76 will tend to be small. The reduced tendency fordisplay 14 to exhibit color bleeding between adjacent pixels may be exploited to enhance color accuracy and/or to reduce the width ofblack matrix 124 and thereby improve display brightness efficiency. - In conventional displays, there is more potential for color interference between adjacent pixels. Consider, as an example, a situation in which
layer 118 ofFIG. 17 is used to implement a conventional color filter array andcolor filter layer 116 is omitted.Conventional backlight 66′ in this scenario would pass through strongly rotatedliquid crystals 60′ in the green pixel before passing through red colorfilter element portion 150 oflayer 118 alongaxis 78′. Off-axis viewer 76′ of the conventional display would therefore observe a significant erroneous red light component when the green pixel is turned on. - The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims (20)
1. A display having an active area and an inactive area, the display comprising:
a thin-film transistor layer;
a color filter layer;
a backlight;
liquid crystal material, wherein the liquid crystal material is interposed between the thin-film transistor layer and the color filter layer and wherein the color filter layer is interposed between the liquid crystal material and the backlight;
an opaque matrix formed on the color filter layer; and
a layer of opaque masking material on the thin-film transistor layer, wherein the layer of opaque masking material is formed in the inactive area of the display and does not extend into the active area of the display.
2. The display defined in claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal material is interposed between the opaque matrix and the layer of opaque masking material.
3. The display defined in claim 1 , wherein the thin-film transistor layer comprises a substrate and a layer of thin-film transistors formed on the substrate.
4. The display defined in claim 3 , wherein layer of opaque masking material is interposed between layer of thin-film transistors and the substrate.
5. The display defined in claim 4 further comprising:
a planarization layer interposed between the layer of opaque masking material and the layer of thin-film transistors.
6. The display defined in claim 1 , wherein the color filter layer comprises a substrate and an array of color filter elements formed on the substrate.
7. The display defined in claim 6 , wherein the black matrix separates the color filter elements in the array.
8. The display defined in claim 1 further comprising:
a display driver integrated circuit mounted to the thin-film transistor layer in the inactive area, wherein the layer of opaque masking material overlaps the display driver integrated circuit to hide the display driver integrated circuit from view.
9. The display defined in claim 1 wherein the layer of opaque material forms a rectangular ring around the active area or the display.
10. A display having an active area and an inactive area, the display comprising:
a first substrate;
a layer of thin-film transistors on the first substrate;
opaque material in the inactive area that forms a ring-shaped border around the active area, wherein the opaque material does not block the active area from view;
a second substrate;
an array of color filter elements on the second substrate;
a black matrix on the second substrate that separates the color filter elements in the array; and
a liquid crystal layer interposed between the layer of thin-film transistors and the plurality of color filter elements.
11. The display defined in claim 10 further comprising:
backlight structures, wherein the array of color filter elements is interposed between the liquid crystal layer and the backlight structures.
12. The display defined in claim 10 wherein the opaque material is interposed between the layer of thin-film transistors and the first substrate.
13. The display defined in claim 10 wherein the liquid crystal material separates the opaque material and the black matrix.
14. The display defined in claim 10 further comprising:
a display driver integrated circuit that is electrically connected to the layer of thin-film transistors and that is mounted to the second substrate in the inactive area under the ring-shaped border.
15. The display defined in claim 10 further comprising:
a planarization layer interposed between the opaque material and the layer of thin-film transistors.
16. An electronic device comprising:
a housing; and
a display mounted in the housing, wherein the display comprises:
an array of pixels;
an upper display layer comprising thin-film transistors and an opaque border that surrounds the array of pixels without overlapping the array of pixels;
a lower display layer comprising a plurality of color filters and a black matrix that separates individual color filters in the plurality of color filters; and
a light guide plate, wherein the lower display layer is interposed between the upper display layer and the light guide plate.
17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 , wherein the display further comprises:
a layer of liquid crystal material interposed between the upper display layer and the lower display layer, wherein the thin-film transistors are formed in a thin-film transistor layer that is interposed between the layer of liquid crystal material and the opaque border.
18. The electronic device defined in claim 17 , wherein the upper display layer comprises a planarization layer interposed between the opaque border and the thin-film transistor layer.
19. The electronic device defined in claim 16 , wherein the array of pixels defines an active region of the display and wherein the opaque border defines an inactive region of the display.
20. The electronic device defined in claim 16 , wherein the display further comprises:
a display driver integrated circuit that is electrically connected to the thin-film transistors, wherein the opaque border overlaps the display driver integrated circuit to hide the display driver integrated circuit from view.
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US20130250202A1 (en) | 2013-09-26 |
CN104115059B (en) | 2018-06-15 |
GB2514518B (en) | 2019-07-24 |
CN104115059A (en) | 2014-10-22 |
US9395589B2 (en) | 2016-07-19 |
KR20140116962A (en) | 2014-10-06 |
WO2013142215A1 (en) | 2013-09-26 |
KR101697837B1 (en) | 2017-01-18 |
TW201341901A (en) | 2013-10-16 |
TWI529454B (en) | 2016-04-11 |
GB201416824D0 (en) | 2014-11-05 |
GB2514518A (en) | 2014-11-26 |
DE112013001588T5 (en) | 2014-12-31 |
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