# US 11,442,299 B2 · Display module, display device and viewing-angle switching method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,299 B2 - Document ID: US11442299B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/265,546 - Filed: 2020-05-13 - Published: 2021-09-23 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-17 - Assignees: Chongqing Boe Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.; Beijing BOE Technology Development Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Chongqing Boe Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.; Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Pan Yuan; Sijun Lei; Liang Gao; Xianyong Gao; Yansheng Sun; Yunsong Li; Zhicai Xu; Yong Long; Ying Zhang; Dengqian Li; Guojian Zhang; Fanjian Zeng; Shanbin Chen; Sen Tan; Hebing Ma; Chaojie Zhang; Song Liu; Xinzhi Shao; Yong Deng; Xiangchao Chen; Genchuan Yan; Ying Yang; Xinyu Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442299B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/1323: {Arrangements for providing a switchable viewing angle} - G02F 1/133305: {Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film} - G02F 1/1334: based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals - G02F 1/13362: {providing polarized light, e.g. by converting a polarisation component into another one} - G02F 1/1339: Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells - G02F 1/13439: {characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making} - G02F 1/13476: {in which at least one liquid crystal cell or layer assumes a scattering state} - 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 ## Abstract Disclosed are a display module, a display device and a viewing-angle switching method. The display module includes a backlight module, a display panel, a lower polarizer sheet, a viewing-angle switching element and a transparent cover plate; the viewing-angle switching element and the transparent cover plate are arranged between the display panel and the lower polarizer sheet, and the transparent cover plate is arranged on a side of the viewing-angle switching element that is close to the lower polarizer sheet; the backlight module is configured to supply light that meets a preset condition, the viewing-angle switching element is configured to switch viewing-angle modes of the display module; the viewing-angle modes include; a first viewing-angle mode and a second viewing-angle mode; and a viewing-angle range of the first viewing-angle mode is smaller than a viewing angle range of the second viewing-angle mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A display module, comprising: a backlight module, a display panel, a lower polarizer sheet, a viewing-angle switching element and a transparent cover plate, wherein the viewing-angle switching element and the transparent cover plate are arranged between the display panel and the lower polarizer sheet, and the transparent cover plate is arranged on a side of the viewing-angle switching element that is close to the lower polarizer sheet; the backlight module is configured to supply light that meets a preset condition, the viewing-angle switching element is configured to switch viewing-angle modes of the display module; the viewing-angle modes comprise: a first viewing-angle mode and a second viewing-angle mode; and a viewing-angle range of the first viewing-angle mode is smaller than a viewing-angle range of the second viewing-angle mode, the viewing-angle switching element comprises: a first transparent electrode, a second transparent electrode, and a viewing-angle switching layer; the viewing-angle switching layer is located between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode; the first transparent electrode is located on a side of the viewing-angle switching layer that is close to the display panel; and the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode are configured to apply an electric field to the viewing-angle switching layer to change a state of the viewing-angle switching element; wherein the display module further comprises: a flexible circuit board, a first conducting wire, a second conducting wire, a third conducting wire, and a fourth conducting wire; the first conducting wire and the second conducting wire are arranged on a side of the display panel that is close to the viewing-angle switching element, and are respectively connected with the flexible circuit board; the third conducting wire connects the first conducting wire and the first transparent electrode; and the fourth conducting wire connects the second conducting wire and the second transparent electrode, the first conducting wire and the second conducting wire are further respectively arranged on two side surfaces of the display panel which are opposite to each other, and the second conducting wire is electrically connected with the flexible circuit board by wiring in the display panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The display module according to claim 1, wherein the preset condition is that a light emergent angle is less than or equal to 45 degrees. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The display module according to claim 1, wherein a material for fabricating the viewing-angle switching layer comprises: a polymer dispersed liquid crystal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The display module according to claim 3, wherein states of the viewing-angle switching element comprise: a transparent state and a scattering state, when the viewing-angle switching element is in the transparent state, the viewing-angle switching element is configured to cause light incident thereon to emerge along an incident direction, and the viewing-angle mode of the display module is the first viewing-angle mode; when the viewing-angle switching element is in the scattering state, the viewing-angle switching element is configured to scatter incident light, and the viewing-angle mode of the display module is the second viewing-angle mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The display module according to claim 3, wherein each of the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode is provided with a transparent insulating layer on a side away from the viewing-angle switching layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The display module according to claim 3, wherein the viewing-angle switching element further comprises a switcher sealant; and the switcher sealant connects the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The display module according to claim 3, further comprising: a sealant, provided between the display panel and the transparent cover plate, and encapsulating the viewing-angle switching element, wherein the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode are located on a side of the sealant that faces the viewing-angle switching layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The display module according to claim 3, further comprising: a sealant, provided between the display panel and the transparent cover plate, and encapsulating the viewing-angle switching element, wherein the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode overlap with the sealant in an arrangement direction of the display panel and the backlight module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The display module according to claim 1, further comprising a conductive first adhesive, wherein the first adhesive bonds the first conducting wire and the third conducting wire, and the first adhesive also bonds the second conducting wire and the fourth conducting wire. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The display module according to claim 1, further comprising a second adhesive, wherein the second adhesive bonds the viewing-angle switching element and the transparent cover plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The display module according to claim 1, further comprising a sealant, wherein the sealant is provided between the display panel and the transparent cover plate, and encapsulates the viewing-angle switching element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The display module according to claim 1, further comprising: an optical adhesive and a sealant, wherein the optical adhesive is located on a side of the viewing-angle switching element that is close to the transparent cover plate, and partially surrounds the viewing-angle switching element; the sealant is provided between the display panel and the transparent cover plate, and encapsulates the optical adhesive. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The display module according to claim 1, wherein the backlight module comprises: a light source, a light guide plate and a reversing prism; the light source is located on a light incident side of the light guide plate, and the reversing prism is located on a side of the light guide plate that is close to the display panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The display module according to claim 1, wherein the backlight module comprises: a light source configured to emit light that meets the preset condition; the light source comprises: sub-millimeter light-emitting diodes arranged in an array. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The display module according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the lower polarizer sheet and the backlight module is 0.03 mm to 0.07 mm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The display module according to claim 1, wherein the lower polarizer sheet is a multilayer reflective polarizer sheet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The display module according to claim 1, wherein the lower polarizer sheet is located between the backlight module and the display panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A display device, comprising: the display module according to claim 1. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A viewing-angle switching method, applied to the display module according to claim 1, the method comprising: controlling the viewing-angle switching element to switch the viewing-angle modes of the display module.