WO2022194057A1

WO2022194057A1 - Optical assembly and electronic device

Info

Publication number: WO2022194057A1
Application number: PCT/CN2022/080419
Authority: WO
Inventors: 杨文强; 吴俊纬
Original assignee: 维沃移动通信有限公司
Priority date: 2021-03-18
Filing date: 2022-03-11
Publication date: 2022-09-22
Also published as: CN112835239A; CN112835239B

Abstract

An optical assembly and an electronic device. The optical assembly comprises: a substrate (10), wherein the substrate (10) has a light-transmitting region; an electrochromic layer (20), which is arranged on one side of the substrate (10), wherein the orthographic projection of a light-transmitting region on the electrochromic layer (20) is located within the electrochromic layer (20); and an electrode (30), which is light-transmitting, wherein the electrode (30) is arranged on at least one side of the electrochromic layer (20), and the light transmittance area and/or the shape of a light-transmitting pattern of the electrochromic layer (20) can be changed by means of the electrode (30) when a voltage is applied to the electrochromic layer (20).

Description

Optical Components and Electronics

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202110291134.3 filed in China on Mar. 18, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

technical field

The present application belongs to the field of optical technology, and specifically relates to an optical component and an electronic device.

Background technique

The current smartphone cameras all use a fixed aperture, the size of the aperture cannot be adjusted, and the mobile phone camera without an adjustable aperture has a single use mode and a single imaging effect, which is difficult to meet the needs of users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide an optical assembly and an electronic device to solve the problem that the size of the aperture of the imaging device cannot be adjusted, and the imaging effect is single.

In order to solve the above technical problems, this application is implemented as follows:

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an optical component, including:

a substrate having a light-transmitting area on the substrate;

an electrochromic layer, the electrochromic layer is disposed on one side of the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the light-transmitting area on the electrochromic layer is located in the area of the electrochromic layer;

an electrode, the electrode is a light-transmitting electrode, at least one side of the electrochromic layer is provided with the electrode, and the electrode can change the electrochromic layer when a voltage is applied to the electrochromic layer The light-transmitting area and/or the shape of the light-transmitting pattern.

Wherein, there are multiple electrodes, and there is no electrical connection between two adjacent electrodes.

Wherein, the electrode includes a first electrode and at least one second electrode, the first electrode is circular, the second electrode is annular, the first electrode is located inside the second electrode, and the The center of the first electrode is coincident with the center of the second electrode.

Wherein, it also includes: a control module, the control module is electrically connected with the electrodes, and is used for applying a voltage to the electrodes.

Wherein, it also includes: a color filter substrate, the color filter substrate is arranged on one side of the substrate, and the electrochromic layer is located between the color filter substrate and the substrate, and the color filter substrate is connected to the color filter substrate. The corresponding area of the electrochromic layer is a light-transmitting area.

Wherein, it also includes: a first polarizer, the first polarizer is located on the side of the color filter substrate away from the substrate, and the region corresponding to the electrochromic layer on the first polarizer is light-transmitting area.

Wherein, it also includes: a second polarizer, the second polarizer is located on the side of the substrate away from the color filter substrate, and the region corresponding to the electrochromic layer on the second polarizer is light-transmitting area.

Wherein, it also includes: a backlight module, the backlight module is arranged on the side of the substrate away from the electrochromic layer, and the area corresponding to the electrochromic layer on the backlight module is light-transmitting area.

In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a display panel including the optical assembly described in the above embodiments.

Wherein, the display panel further includes:

A driving circuit, the driving circuit is electrically connected to the electrode, and the driving circuit controls the voltage applied by the electrode on the electrochromic layer.

In a third aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide an electronic device, including the display panel described in the above embodiments; or including the optical assembly and the camera module described in the above embodiments, the camera module and the electronic device The photochromic layer is set accordingly.

An optical assembly according to an embodiment of the present application includes: a substrate with a light-transmitting area thereon; an electrochromic layer, the electrochromic layer is disposed on one side of the substrate, and the light-transmitting area is on the The orthographic projection on the electrochromic layer is located in the area of the electrochromic layer; the electrode, the electrode is a light-transmitting electrode, at least one side of the electrochromic layer is provided with the electrode, and the electrode is opposite to the electrode. Under the condition of applying a voltage to the electrochromic layer, the light-transmitting area and/or the shape of the light-transmitting pattern of the electrochromic layer can be changed. In the optical assembly of the present application, the electrochromic layer is disposed on one side of the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the light-transmitting area on the electrochromic layer is located in the area of the electrochromic layer, When a voltage is applied to the electrochromic layer through the electrode, the light-transmitting area and/or the shape of the light-transmitting pattern of the electrochromic layer can be changed, thereby changing the amount or pattern of light passing through the electrochromic layer , the optical component is equivalent to an aperture with an adjustable size. For example, when taking an image, the optical component of the present application can be used to adjust the light-transmitting area of the electrochromic layer and/or the shape of the light-transmitting pattern in different photographing scenes as required, The amount of light transmission of the electrochromic layer can be changed, and different photo-taking experiences can be obtained by using different light-transmitting areas and/or shapes of light-transmitting patterns, which is beneficial to improve user experience.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical assembly in an embodiment of the application;

2 is a schematic diagram of the cooperation of an optical assembly and a camera module in an embodiment of the present application;

3 is a schematic diagram of an arrangement of electrodes in an optical assembly in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an optical component used in a camera to adjust the light transmission area of the electrochromic layer.

Detailed ways

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work fall within the protection scope of the present application.

The terms "first", "second" and the like in the description and claims of the present application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not used to describe a specific order or sequence. It is to be understood that data so used may be interchanged under appropriate circumstances so that embodiments of the application can be practiced in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein. In addition, "and/or" in the description and claims indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character "/" generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

The optical assemblies provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 through specific embodiments and application scenarios thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , the optical assembly of the embodiments of the present application includes a substrate 10 , an electrochromic layer 20 and an electrode 30 , wherein the substrate 10 has a light-transmitting area. For example, the substrate 10 may be a transparent substrate, and the substrate 10 can be a backplane array substrate, the electrochromic layer 20 is arranged on one side of the substrate 10, and the electrochromic layer 20 can change the transmittance of light under the condition of applying voltage, for example, in the case where no voltage is applied. The electrochromic layer 20 is non-transmitting under the circumstance, and the electrochromic layer 20 is light-transmitting under the condition of applying a voltage, and the transmittance of the applied portion can be changed by applying a voltage to at least part of the electrochromic layer 20 . The orthographic projection of the light-transmitting area on the substrate 10 on the electrochromic layer 20 is located in the area of the electrochromic layer 20, the electrode 30 is a light-transmitting electrode, and the electrode 30 can be made of indium tin oxide (Indium Tin Oxide, ITO), To prevent the electrode 30 from blocking light, at least one side of the electrochromic layer 20 is provided with the electrode 30. For example, the electrode 30 can be located between the electrochromic layer 20 and the substrate 10, and a voltage can be applied to the electrochromic layer 20 through the electrode 30, The electrode 30 can change the light-transmitting area and/or the shape of the light-transmitting pattern of the electrochromic layer 20 when a voltage is applied to the electrochromic layer 20 .

During the application process, voltage can be applied to different regions of the electrochromic layer 20 to change the light transmittance of the regions where the voltage is applied on the electrochromic layer 20 , for example, voltage can be applied to all regions of the electrochromic layer 20 to change the electrical The light transmittance of the photochromic layer 20 . The electrochromic layer 20 may be defined to define a plurality of concentric annular regions, for example, the electrochromic layer 20 may be defined to define two concentric annular regions, and the central region is circular and serves as the first region, close to the first region. The annular area of the area is the second area, the annular area outside the second area is the third area, the edge between the first area and the second area can be contacted and connected, and the edge between the second area and the third area Contact connections are possible. A voltage can be applied to at least one of the first area, the second area, and the third area. The first area, the second area, and the third area are non-transparent when no voltage is applied. Apply a voltage to the area. For example, you can apply a voltage to the first area to make the first area transparent. If you need a larger transparent area, you can apply voltage to the first area and the second area at the same time. The first area and the second area To become light-transmitting, if it is necessary to continue to increase the light-transmitting area, a voltage can be applied to the first area, the second area and the third area at the same time, so that the first area, the second area and the third area become light-transmitting.

In the optical assembly of the present application, the electrochromic layer 20 is disposed on one side of the substrate 10 , the orthographic projection of the light-transmitting area on the electrochromic layer 20 is located in the area of the electrochromic layer 20 , and the electrochromic Under the condition of applying voltage to the color-changing layer 20, the light-transmitting area and/or the shape of the light-transmitting pattern of the electrochromic layer 20 can be changed, thereby changing the amount of light or light pattern passing through the electrochromic layer 20, and the optical component is equivalent to an adjustable size For example, when taking an image, the optical components of the present application can be used to adjust the light-transmitting area and/or the shape of the light-transmitting pattern of the electrochromic layer 20 in different photographing scenes as required, and the electrochromic layer 20 can be changed. Different light-transmitting areas and/or shapes of light-transmitting graphics can be used to obtain different photographing experiences, which is beneficial to improve user experience. The optical assembly in the present application can be applied to a camera, and can function as an aperture, and the optical assembly in the present application has a simple structure, does not require a motor or the like to drive, has a small volume, and occupies a small space.

In some embodiments, there are a plurality of electrodes 30, two adjacent electrodes 30 are not electrically connected, and each electrode 30 corresponds to a different area of the electrochromic layer 20, and when it is necessary to change different areas of the electrochromic layer 20 When the light transmittance of the desired area is changed, a voltage can be applied to the area through the electrode 30 corresponding to the area that needs to be changed, so that the light transmittance of the area where the voltage is applied is changed to achieve the required transmittance, so as to meet the requirements of electrochromic The light transmission of layer 20 is required.

In practical applications, the electrode 30 can be an In-Plane Switching (IPS) electrode, and the electric field is controlled by controlling the charge and discharge voltage of the IPS electrode, so that the corresponding regions on the electrochromic layer 20 can achieve transparent and non-transparent effects , and then realize the function of light passing and blocking light (ie light valve function), and applying the optical component to the camera module can make the light finally reaching the camera module controllable and have the function of aperture.

In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , the electrode 30 includes a first electrode 31 and at least one second electrode 32 , and the number of the second electrodes 32 may be multiple, such as three, the first electrode 31 is circular, the second electrode 32 is annular, the first electrode 31 is located inside the second electrode 32 , and the center of the circle of the first electrode 31 coincides with the center of the second electrode 32 . For example, the electrode 30 includes a first electrode 31 and two second electrodes 32, the electrochromic layer 20 defines a circular area and two concentric annular areas, the central circular area is the first area, close to the first area The annular area of one area is the second area, the annular area outside the second area is the third area, the center of the first area coincides with the annular center of the second area, and the first electrode 31 may correspond to the electrochromic layer 20 On the first area on the electrochromic layer 20, a voltage can be applied to the first area on the electrochromic layer 20 to change the light transmittance of the first area, and a second electrode 32 can correspond to the first area on the electrochromic layer 20. Two regions, another second electrode 32 can correspond to the third region on the electrochromic layer 20, and a voltage can be applied to the second region and the third region on the electrochromic layer 20 through the second electrode 32 to change the second region The light transmittance of the area and the third area.

A voltage can be applied to at least one of the first region, the second region and the third region through the corresponding electrodes. In the case of no voltage application, the first region, the second region and the third region are non-transparent, which can be determined according to the Voltage needs to be applied to different areas, for example, voltage can be applied to the first area through the first electrode 31 to make the first area transparent; if a larger transparent area is required, the first area and the second area can be applied simultaneously Voltage, the first area and the second area become transparent; if you need to continue to increase the transparent area, you can apply voltage to the first area, the second area and the third area at the same time, so that the first area, the second area and the third area When the area becomes light-transmitting, the light-transmitting area and/or the shape of the light-transmitting pattern of the electrochromic layer 20 can be adjusted, so that the light-transmitting amount of the electrochromic layer 20 can be changed.

In practical applications, each electrode can be independently controlled, for example, the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32 can be independently controlled, so that each electrode can be independently charged and discharged, and the light transmission area of the electrochromic layer 20 and/or the light transmission area can be realized. Or the adjustment of the light transmission pattern, through different combination controls, you can also achieve a ring aperture, or change the shape of the aperture to achieve certain filter effects. The above-mentioned optical components are applied to the camera module, as shown in FIG. 4 , through the adjustment of the light-transmitting area and/or the light-transmitting pattern of the electrochromic layer 20, the function of the aperture is realized, and multiple frames of images can be obtained as the original image when taking pictures. Image data, due to the change of focal length corresponding to different aperture values, can obtain different details of the same picture (adjust the depth of field). After digital image processing technology, images with clear edges and bright colors can be obtained.

The electrode can be the same as the common electrode of a liquid crystal display (LCD), and an indium tin oxide (ITO) film can be used. As shown in FIG. 3, the driving lines of the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32 can pass through M2 (M2 is the same layer of the LCD data drive line) is connected to the display driver chip (Display Driver IC, DDIC) 11, and the corresponding drive level is output by the DDIC. Of course, it is not limited to other layers of metal traces. For example, go to the frame area first, and then connect to the DDIC along the frame area, which can be selected according to the actual situation.

In some embodiments, the optical assembly may further include: a control module, the control module is electrically connected to the electrode 30 , a voltage can be applied to the electrode 30 through the control module, and then a voltage can be applied to the corresponding area of the electrochromic layer 20 through the electrode 30 The voltage can change the light transmittance of the region where the voltage is applied on the electrochromic layer 20 , and change the light transmittance area and/or the shape of the light transmittance pattern of the electrochromic layer 20 , thereby changing the light transmittance of the electrochromic layer 20 . For example, the control module is electrically connected to the first electrode 31 and the at least one second electrode 32, the control module can apply voltage to the first electrode 31 and the at least one second electrode 32, and the control module can apply voltage to the first electrode 31 A voltage can be applied to at least one of the at least one second electrode 32, and a voltage can be applied to one electrode independently to realize individual control of the electrodes.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the optical assembly may further include: a color filter substrate 40 , the color filter substrate 40 is disposed on one side of the substrate 10 , and the electrochromic layer 20 is located between the color filter substrate 40 and the color filter substrate 40 . Between the substrates 10, the area corresponding to the electrochromic layer 20 on the color filter substrate 40 is a light-transmitting area. The area corresponding to the electrochromic layer 20 on the 40 may not be provided with a color resistance, so that the area is in a transparent state, which facilitates the passage of light through the color filter substrate 40 and improves the light transmission rate. The electrochromic layer 20 can be embedded between the substrate 10 and the color filter substrate 40, and can simultaneously share the driving circuit of the liquid crystal panel to realize the control of the electrochromic layer 20, and is integrated with the LCM module (Liquid Crystal Display Module, LCD display module). , reduce costs, improve reliability and simplify assembly. In applications, a coating process can be used to coat the color filter substrate 40 or to coat the substrate 10 , for example, a backplane array layer coated on the substrate 10 , and the area is blocked by a barrier structure and a sealant , to avoid liquid crystal mixing.

In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the optical assembly may further include: a first polarizer 51 , the first polarizer 51 is located on the side of the color filter substrate 40 away from the substrate 10 , A polarizer 51 can pass the light vibrating in a desired direction, and the region corresponding to the electrochromic layer 20 on the first polarizer 51 is a light-transmitting region. For example, the first polarizer 51 corresponding to the electrochromic layer 20 The area is perforated or transparent to facilitate the passage of light and improve the light transmission rate.

In other embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the optical assembly may further include: a second polarizer 52 . The second polarizer 52 is located on the side of the substrate 10 away from the color filter substrate 40 . The second polarizer 52 can allow light vibrating in a desired direction to pass through, and the region corresponding to the electrochromic layer 20 on the second polarizer 52 is a light-transmitting region. For example, the second polarizer 52 corresponds to the electrochromic layer 20 The area of is open or transparent to facilitate the passage of light and improve the light transmission rate.

In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the optical assembly may further include: a backlight module 60 , the backlight module 60 is disposed on the side of the substrate 10 away from the electrochromic layer 20 , and the backlight module The area corresponding to the electrochromic layer 20 on the 60 is a light-transmitting area. For example, the area corresponding to the electrochromic layer 20 on the backlight module 60 is apertured or transparent, so as to facilitate the passage of light and improve the light transmission rate.

In the application process, the optical assembly in the present application can be applied to the front camera of the mobile phone, the optical assembly of the front camera of the mobile phone can be integrated in the LCM, and the electrochromic layer 20 in the optical assembly adopts the electrochromic principle, The amount of light passing can be adjusted by adjusting the transparent area of the corresponding area on the electrochromic layer 20 , with high reliability and realizing the adjustable aperture function that is not available in most mobile phones at present. In addition, different images can be obtained by adjusting the electrochromic layer 20, and the imaging effect of the front camera can be further improved after the digital image processing technology, so as to meet the needs of consumers in various usage scenarios. The patterned design of the electrodes and the electrochromic layer 20 can be adjusted, and different filter effects can be realized.

Embodiments of the present application provide a display panel including the optical components in the above embodiments. In the display panel with the optical components in the above embodiments, the light throughput or the light pattern can be changed through the electrochromic layer, and a certain filter effect or required light pattern can be realized as required.

In some embodiments, the display panel may further include: a driving circuit, the driving circuit is electrically connected to the electrodes, the driving circuit controls the voltage applied to the electrochromic layer by the electrodes, and the driving circuit may be a circuit for driving pixels in the display panel, namely Yes, the electrochromic layer 20 can share the pixel driving circuit of the display panel. The driving circuit controls the voltage applied to the electrochromic layer by the electrode, and the electrode 30 can apply a voltage to the corresponding area of the electrochromic layer 20, which can change the light transmittance of the area where the voltage is applied on the electrochromic layer 20, and change the electrochromic layer. The light-transmitting area of the color-changing layer 20 and/or the shape of the light-transmitting pattern can change the light-transmitting amount of the electrochromic layer 20 . Wherein, when the optical assembly has a control module, the control module may constitute a part of the driving circuit, or the control module may be a driving circuit, and a voltage may be applied to the electrodes 30 through the control module.

The embodiments of the present application provide a camera assembly, including the optical assembly in the above embodiments. The camera assembly may include a camera module 70. As shown in FIG. 2, the camera module 70 may correspond to the electrochromic layer 20, so as to adjust the light entering the camera module through the electrochromic layer, thereby realizing the aperture effect. In the camera assembly with the optical components in the above embodiments, the light throughput or the light pattern can be changed through the electrochromic layer, the light of the camera can be controlled, and the structure is simple, which is beneficial to the miniaturization of the camera assembly.

The embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, including the display panel in the above-mentioned embodiment, the amount of light throughput or the light pattern can be changed through the electrochromic layer 20, and a certain filter effect or required light pattern can be realized as required; Or the electronic device includes the optical assembly and the camera module 70 in the above-mentioned embodiment, the camera module 70 is arranged corresponding to the electrochromic layer 20, and the optical axis of the camera module 70 and the axis of the electrochromic layer 20 can be collinear, through The electrochromic layer 20 can change the light throughput or the light pattern, and can realize the controllable light of the camera module. The display panel or the camera assembly having the above-mentioned embodiments also has the above-mentioned corresponding technical effects, which will not be repeated here.

The embodiments of the present application have been described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned specific embodiments, which are merely illustrative rather than restrictive. Under the inspiration of this application, without departing from the scope of protection of the purpose of this application and the claims, many forms can be made, which all fall within the protection of this application.

Claims

An optical assembly comprising:

a substrate having a light-transmitting area on the substrate;

an electrochromic layer, the electrochromic layer is disposed on one side of the substrate, and the orthographic projection of the light-transmitting area on the electrochromic layer is located in the area of the electrochromic layer;

an electrode, the electrode is a light-transmitting electrode, at least one side of the electrochromic layer is provided with the electrode, and the electrode can change the electrochromic layer when a voltage is applied to the electrochromic layer The light-transmitting area and/or the shape of the light-transmitting pattern.
The optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes have a plurality of electrodes, and two adjacent electrodes are not electrically connected.
The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrodes comprise a first electrode and at least one second electrode, the first electrode is circular, the second electrode is annular, and the first electrode is located at Inside the second electrode, the circle center of the first electrode coincides with the ring center of the second electrode.
The optical assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

A control module, which is electrically connected to the electrodes and used for applying a voltage to the electrodes.
The optical assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

A color filter substrate, the color filter substrate is disposed on one side of the substrate, and the electrochromic layer is located between the color filter substrate and the substrate, and the color filter substrate corresponds to the electrochromic layer The area is the transparent area.
The optical assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

A first polarizer, the first polarizer is located on the side of the color filter substrate away from the substrate, and a region corresponding to the electrochromic layer on the first polarizer is a light-transmitting region.
The optical assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

A second polarizer, the second polarizer is located on the side of the substrate away from the color filter substrate, and a region corresponding to the electrochromic layer on the second polarizer is a light-transmitting region.
The optical assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

A backlight module, the backlight module is disposed on a side of the substrate away from the electrochromic layer, and a region corresponding to the electrochromic layer on the backlight module is a light-transmitting region.
A display panel comprising the optical assembly of any one of claims 1-8.
The display panel of claim 9, wherein the display panel further comprises:

A driving circuit, the driving circuit is electrically connected to the electrode, and the driving circuit controls the voltage applied by the electrode on the electrochromic layer.
An electronic device comprising a display panel as claimed in claim 9 or 10; or

It includes the optical assembly according to any one of claims 1-4 and a camera module, wherein the camera module is arranged corresponding to the electrochromic layer.