TWI859937B - Privacy protection unit - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention provides a privacy protection unit having a first region and a second region. A first electrode is disposed in the first region on a first substrate, and the first electrode is not in the second region. A second electrode is disposed in the first region on a second substrate, and the second electrode is not in the second region. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first and second substrates. A control circuit is electrically connected to the first and second electrodes to control the voltage between the first and second electrodes, and to make a viewing angle of the first region in a first mode different from a viewing angle in a second mode.

Description

Anti-peeping element

The present disclosure relates to an anti-peeping element, and in particular to an anti-peeping element having an anti-peeping function in a specific area.

Monitors are one of the most common electronic devices in modern life, and are used in various scenarios and situations. Monitors can be equipped with an additional anti-peeping element, which is connected to a power source and a controller. When the anti-peeping function is enabled, the anti-peeping element will limit the viewing angle of the monitor to a certain range. In some scenarios, one area on the monitor needs an anti-peeping function, while another area does not. For example, the area without the anti-peeping function can display videos for all users, while the area with the anti-peeping function can display private messages. How to design such an anti-peeping element is a topic of concern to technicians in this field.

To solve the above problems, the embodiments disclosed herein provide an anti-peeping element having a first area and a second area. The anti-peeping element includes the following elements. A first electrode is disposed in the first area on a first substrate, and the first electrode is not disposed in the second area. A second electrode is disposed in the first area on a second substrate, and the second electrode is not disposed in the second area. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A control circuit is electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode to control the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, so that the viewing angle of the first area in the first viewing angle mode is different from the viewing angle in the second viewing angle mode.

In some embodiments, the anti-observation element further includes a first redundant electrode disposed in the second region on the first substrate. The first redundant electrode and the first electrode are produced by etching the same deposition layer, and the first redundant electrode is electrically insulated from the first electrode.

In some embodiments, the anti-penetration element further includes a plurality of spacers disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first redundant electrode is disposed between the spacers and the first substrate.

In some embodiments, the number of the first redundant electrodes is greater than 1, the first redundant electrodes respectively correspond to a plurality of spacers, and the first redundant electrodes are not connected to each other.

In some embodiments, the anti-penetration element further includes a second redundant electrode disposed in a second region on the second substrate. The second redundant electrode and the second electrode are produced by etching the same deposition layer. The second redundant electrode and the second electrode are electrically insulated.

In some embodiments, a spacer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a second redundant electrode is disposed between the spacer and the second substrate.

In some embodiments, the number of the second redundant electrodes is greater than 1, the second redundant electrodes respectively correspond to a plurality of spacers, and the second redundant electrodes are not connected to each other.

In some embodiments, the spacers are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the distribution density of the spacers in the second region is greater than the distribution density of the spacers in the first region.

In some embodiments, the distribution density of the spacers in the second region is greater than or equal to 1.2 times the distribution density of the spacers in the first region.

In some embodiments, the anti-penetration element further includes a first polarizer and a second polarizer. The first polarizer is disposed on the other side of the first substrate relative to the first electrode, wherein the first polarizer is entirely attached to the first substrate in the first region and the second region. The second polarizer is disposed on the other side of the second substrate relative to the second electrode, wherein the second polarizer is entirely attached to the second substrate in the first region and the second region.

In the above-mentioned anti-penetration element, the anti-penetration area can be flexibly designed. In order to make the above-mentioned features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the following is a specific embodiment and is described in detail with the attached drawings.

The terms “first,” “second,” etc. used herein do not particularly refer to order or sequence, but are only used to distinguish elements or operations described with the same technical term.

In this disclosure, an anti-peeping element is disposed on a display to provide an anti-peeping function within a specific viewing angle range, such as 30 to 45 degrees, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the anti-peeping function of the anti-peeping element limits the viewing angle range of the display. In particular, the anti-peeping element of the disclosure is divided into at least two areas, the first area has an anti-peeping function, and the second area does not have an anti-peeping function. When the anti-peeping element is in normal mode (or first viewing angle mode), the user can see the image content of the display in the first area and the second area at a frontal viewing angle or a side viewing angle (for example, 30 to 45 degrees). When the anti-peeping element is in anti-peeping mode (or second viewing angle mode), the user cannot see the image content of the display in the first area at a side viewing angle, but can see the image content of the display in the second area.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are schematic diagrams showing the use of an anti-peeping element according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, the anti-peeping element 100 is installed on a display in a car. The anti-peeping element 100 has a first area 110 and a second area 120. The display in the first area 110 displays, for example, navigation information, and the display in the second area 120 displays, for example, dashboard information, etc. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the anti-peeping element 100 may also be installed on a computer screen, a laptop screen, or any other screen. The present disclosure does not limit the image content displayed by the display in the first area 110 and the second area 120. In the examples of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the anti-peeping element 100 is in an anti-peeping mode, and the anti-peeping element 100 limits the viewing angle of the display in the first area 110. In the scenario of FIG. 1 , the user 130 is located in front of the anti-peeping element 100, that is, the user 130 is within the viewing angle range limited by the first area 110 with the anti-peeping function, so the user 130 can clearly see the image content of the display in the first area 110 and the second area 120. In the scenario of FIG. 2 , the user 140 is located at the side of the anti-peeping element 100, that is, the user 140 is outside the viewing angle range limited by the first area 110 with the anti-peeping function, so the user 140 cannot clearly see the image content of the display in the first area 110. The second area 120 does not have the anti-peeping function, so the user 140 can still clearly see the image content of the display in the second area 120.

FIG3 is a cross-sectional view of an anti-peeping element according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG3 , the anti-peeping element 100 is disposed on the light-emitting side 311 of the display panel 310 and has a first area 110 and a second area 120. The display panel 310 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, and a backlight module (not shown) is also disposed on the light-incoming side 312 of the display panel 310. Alternatively, the display panel 310 may be an active light-emitting display panel, such as an organic light-emitting diode panel, etc. In such an example, a backlight module is not required. The anti-peeping element 100 includes a first polarizer P1, a first substrate S1, a first electrode E1, a liquid crystal layer LC, a second electrode E2, a second substrate S2, a second polarizer P2, a spacer SOC1, a spacer SOC2, a first redundant electrode R1, and a control circuit 320. Specifically, the first substrate S1 has two opposite sides, the first electrode E1 is disposed on one side, and the first polarizer P1 is disposed on the other side of the first substrate S1 opposite to the first electrode E1. Similarly, the second substrate S2 has two opposite sides, the second electrode E2 is disposed on one side, and the second polarizer P2 is disposed on the other side of the second substrate S2 opposite to the second electrode E2. The first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2 are opposite to each other. The liquid crystal layer LC is disposed between the first substrate S1 and the second substrate S2. The spacer SOC1 is disposed in the first area 110 and is located between the first substrate S1 and the second substrate S2, and the spacer SOC2 is disposed in the second area 120 and is located between the first substrate S1 and the second substrate S2. Particularly, the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2 are disposed in the first region 110 , but the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2 are not disposed in the second region 120 .

The anti-penetration element 100 also includes a control circuit 320, and the control circuit 320 is electrically connected to the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2. In some embodiments, the control circuit 320 can be bonded to the circuit of the first substrate S1 or the second substrate S2 in the non-display area, and is electrically connected to the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2 through components such as the circuit, conductive glue, etc. Alternatively, the control circuit 320 can also be disposed on a flexible circuit board, such as a tape carrier package (TCP) or a chip on film (COF), and the flexible circuit board is electrically connected to the circuit on the first substrate S1 or the second substrate S2. The control circuit 320 can control the voltage difference between the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2, so that the viewing angle of the first area 110 in the first viewing angle mode is different from the viewing angle in the second viewing angle mode. For example, the first viewing angle mode is a normal mode, and the control circuit 320 can set the voltage between the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2 to a first voltage. The second viewing angle mode is an anti-peeping mode, and the control circuit 320 can set the voltage between the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2 to a second voltage. The above-mentioned first voltage is different from the second voltage, so that the viewing angle of the first area 110 in the normal mode is greater than the viewing angle in the anti-peeping mode. In this embodiment, the liquid crystal layer LC is a twisted nematic (TN) type, and the transmission axes of the first polarizer P1 and the second polarizer P2 are perpendicular to each other. The above-mentioned first voltage can be 0 volts, and the second voltage can be 1.5~5 volts, but this is only an example. A person with ordinary knowledge in this field can understand the twisted nematic liquid crystal. The present disclosure does not limit the angular relationship between the transmission axes of the first polarizer P1 and the second polarizer P2, nor does it limit the values of the first voltage and the second voltage.

Since the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2 are not provided in the second area 120 to apply an electric field, the second area 120 does not have an anti-peeping function. At the same time, the thickness of the second area 120 is slightly smaller than the thickness of the first area 110, resulting in an uneven surface of the anti-peeping element 100. Therefore, in this embodiment, a first redundant electrode R1 is provided on the first substrate S1 in the second area 120 and between the spacer SOC2 and the first substrate S1. The first redundant electrode R1 can be used to compensate for the thickness difference between the first area 110 and the second area 120. In this embodiment, the first redundant electrode R1 directly contacts the first substrate S1 but does not contact the spacer SOC2. However, in other embodiments, the first redundant electrode R1 can also directly contact the spacer SOC2. The first redundant electrode R1 and the first electrode E1 are produced by the same deposition layer through etching process. In other words, the first redundant electrode R1 and the first electrode E1 belong to the same deposition layer, but the deposition layer is etched and cut off at the junction of the first area 110 and the second area 120, so that the first redundant electrode R1 and the first electrode E1 are electrically isolated. In the present disclosure, the first redundant electrode R1 is floating.

It is worth noting that the first polarizer P1 and the second polarizer P2 are still formed in the second area 120. In other words, the first polarizer P1 is entirely attached to the first substrate S1 in the first area 110 and the second area 120, and the second polarizer P2 is entirely attached to the second substrate S2 in the first area 110 and the second area 120. Since the polarizer itself also has color and transmittance, this approach not only avoids the formation of a thickness difference between the first area 110 and the second area 120, but also allows the color and transmittance of the first area 110 and the second area 120 to remain consistent.

4 to 8 are cross-sectional views of the anti-penetration element according to different embodiments. For the sake of simplicity, the first polarizer P1, the second polarizer P2 and the display panel 310 are not shown in FIG. 4 to 8.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 , the second redundant electrode R2 is disposed on the second substrate S2 in the second area 120 and is located between the second substrate S2 and the spacer SOC2. In this embodiment, the second redundant electrode R2 is in direct contact with the second substrate S2 and the spacer SOC2. The second redundant electrode R2 and the second electrode E2 are produced by the same deposition layer through an etching process, but the second redundant electrode R2 and the second electrode E2 are electrically insulated. In the present disclosure, the second redundant electrode R2 is all floating.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5 , the first redundant electrode R1 and the second redundant electrode R2 are not disposed in the second region 120, and the spacer SOC2 is in direct contact with the second substrate S2.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6 , first redundant electrodes R1 are disposed on the first substrate S1 in the second region 120, but the number of the first redundant electrodes R1 is greater than one. These first redundant electrodes R1 correspond to the spacers SOC2 respectively and are not connected to each other. For example, the projection of each first redundant electrode R1 on the first substrate S1 at least partially overlaps the projection of the corresponding spacer SOC2 on the first substrate S1. In this embodiment, each first redundant electrode R1 directly contacts the first substrate S1 but does not contact the corresponding spacer SOC2, but in other embodiments, the first redundant electrode R1 may also directly contact the corresponding spacer SOC2. Compared to the embodiment of FIG. 3 , the first redundant electrode R1 in FIG. 6 is cut into multiple pieces, thereby improving the light transmittance of the second region 120 and solving the problem of a large thickness difference between the first region 110 and the second region 120 .

In the embodiment of FIG. 7 , second redundant electrodes R2 are disposed on the second substrate S2 in the second area 120, but the number of the second redundant electrodes R2 is greater than one. These second redundant electrodes R2 correspond to the spacers SOC2 respectively and are not connected to each other. For example, the projection of each second redundant electrode R2 on the second substrate S2 at least partially overlaps the projection of the corresponding spacer SOC2 on the second substrate S2. In this embodiment, each second redundant electrode R2 directly contacts the second substrate S2 and the corresponding spacer SOC2.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8 , a plurality of first redundant electrodes R1 are disposed on the first substrate S1 in the second area 120, and a plurality of second redundant electrodes R2 are disposed on the second substrate S2 in the second area 120. The first redundant electrodes R1 correspond to the second redundant electrodes R2 respectively and are disposed on the upper and lower sides of the corresponding spacer SOC2. For example, the projection of each first redundant electrode R1 on the first substrate S1 at least partially overlaps the projection of the corresponding spacer SOC2 on the first substrate S1, and also at least partially overlaps the projection of the corresponding second redundant electrode R2 on the first substrate S1. In this embodiment, each spacer SOC2 is directly in contact with the corresponding first redundant electrode R1 and the second redundant electrode R2, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the density of spacers according to an embodiment. FIG9 shows a top view of the anti-seeing element 100. A plurality of spacers SOC1 are disposed in the first area 110, and a plurality of spacers SOC2 are disposed in the second area 120. In this embodiment, the distribution density of the spacers SOC2 in the second area 120 is greater than the distribution density of the spacers SOC1 in the first area 110. For example, the distribution density of the spacers SOC2 in the second area 120 is greater than or equal to 1.2 times the distribution density of the spacers SOC1 in the first area 110. It should be noted that, as shown in FIG9 , the distribution density of the spacers SOC2 in the second area 120 is the sum of the areas of all the spacers SOC2 divided by the total area of the second area 120. The distribution density of the spacers SOC1 in the first area 110 is the sum of the areas of all the spacers SOC1 divided by the total area of the first area 110, so the number and size of the spacers are related to the distribution density. The number, size and shape of the spacers SOC1 and SOC2 in FIG. 9 are only for illustration, and the present disclosure does not limit the number, size, shape and arrangement of the spacers SOC1 and SOC2. The embodiment of FIG. 9 can be combined with any one of the above-mentioned FIG. 3 to FIG. 7. Since in the embodiments of the above-mentioned FIG. 3 to FIG. 7, the thickness of the second area 120 is slightly smaller than the thickness of the first area 110, causing the second area 120 to have a slight depression, the larger distribution density of the spacers SOC2 in the second area 120 can provide better support to prevent the second area 120 from being depressed and causing the surface of the anti-seeing element 100 to be uneven.

The materials of the first substrate S1 and the second substrate S2 may include glass, polymer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyether sulfone (PES), triacetyl cellulose (TAC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene, cycloolefin polymer (COP), polyimide (PI), and a composite material composed of polycarbonate (PC) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), etc., but the present invention is not limited thereto. The materials of the first electrode E1, the first redundant electrode R1, the second electrode E2, and the second redundant electrode R2 may include indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), fluorine tin oxide (FTO), or other conductive and transparent materials, such as nanometal wires (nanosilver wires, nanocopper wires).

In the above-mentioned anti-peeping element, a flexible design can be achieved in which a certain area has an anti-peeping function while other areas do not have an anti-peeping function, and it can be applied to displays in cars or any other suitable displays.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as above by the embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be defined by the scope of the attached patent application.

100: Anti-penetration element 110: First zone 120: Second zone 130,140: User 310: Display panel 311: Light-exiting side 312: Light-entering side 320: Control circuit P1: First polarizer S1: First substrate E1: First electrode LC: Liquid crystal layer E2: Second electrode S2: Second substrate P2: Second polarizer SOC1,SOC2: Spacer R1: First redundant electrode R2: Second redundant electrode

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are schematic diagrams showing the use scenario of the anti-peeping element according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram showing the anti-peeping element according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 to FIG. 8 are cross-sectional diagrams showing the anti-peeping element according to different embodiments. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the density of the spacer according to an embodiment.

100: Anti-penetration element 110: First zone 120: Second zone 140: User

Claims (7)

An anti-peeping element has a first area and a second area, and includes: a first substrate; a first electrode disposed in the first area on the first substrate, wherein the first electrode is not present in the second area; a second substrate; a second electrode disposed in the first area on the second substrate, wherein the second electrode is not present in the second area; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a control circuit electrically connected to the first electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are used to control the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, so that the viewing angle of the first area in the first viewing angle mode is different from the viewing angle in the second viewing angle mode; and at least one first redundant electrode is arranged in the second area on the first substrate, wherein the at least one first redundant electrode and the first electrode are generated by the same deposition layer through an etching process, and the at least one first redundant electrode is electrically insulated from the first electrode. The anti-penetration element as described in claim 1 further includes: a plurality of spacers disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the at least one first redundant electrode is disposed between the spacers and the first substrate. The anti-penetration element as described in claim 2, wherein the number of the at least one first redundant electrode is greater than 1, the first redundant electrodes respectively correspond to the spacers, and the first redundant electrodes are not connected to each other. The anti-observation element as described in claim 1 further includes: at least one second redundant electrode disposed in the second region on the second substrate, wherein the at least one second redundant electrode and the second electrode are produced by the same deposition layer through an etching process, and the at least one second redundant electrode and the second electrode are electrically insulated. The anti-penetration element as described in claim 4 further includes: a plurality of spacers disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the at least one second redundant electrode is disposed between the spacers and the second substrate. The anti-penetration element as described in claim 5, wherein the number of the at least one second redundant electrode is greater than 1, the second redundant electrodes respectively correspond to the spacers, and the second redundant electrodes are not connected to each other. The anti-seepage element as described in claim 1 further comprises: a first polarizer disposed on the other side of the first substrate relative to the first electrode, wherein the first polarizer is entirely attached to the first substrate in the first region and the second region; and a second polarizer disposed on the other side of the second substrate relative to the second electrode, wherein the second polarizer is entirely attached to the second substrate in the first region and the second region.

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