# US 2024/0201528 A1 · Light path control member, and display device including same

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- Number: US 2024/0201528 A1
- Document ID: US20240201528A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/242,022
- Filed: 2023-09-05
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2022-12-15
- Assignees: LG Display Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: LG Display Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hyunseung KIM; Youngmin OH; Minhyung KIM
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201528A1

## CPC

- G02F 1/1323: {Arrangements for providing a switchable viewing angle}
- G02B 5/3033: {in the form of a thin sheet or foil, e.g. Polaroid}
- 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
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A light path control member according to an aspect includes a first substrate; a first electrode disposed on the first substrate; a light path control unit disposed on the first electrode; a second electrode disposed on the light path conversion unit; and a second substrate disposed on the second electrode, wherein the light path control unit includes a light transmission part and a light path conversion part around the light transmission part, the light transmission part includes first alignment materials, the light path conversion part includes second alignment materials, an alignment direction of the second alignment materials change according to a voltage applied to at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A light path control member comprising:
a first substrate;
a first electrode disposed on the first substrate;
a light path control unit disposed on the first electrode;
a second electrode disposed on the light path control unit; and
a second substrate disposed on the second electrode,
wherein the light path control unit includes a light transmission part and a light path conversion part around the light transmission part,
wherein the light transmission part includes first alignment materials,
wherein the light path conversion part includes second alignment materials, and
wherein an alignment direction of the second alignment materials change according to a voltage applied to at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The light path control member of claim 1, wherein the light path conversion part changes a path of light provided according to the alignment direction of the second alignment materials.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The light path control member of claim 2, wherein the second alignment materials are aligned in a thickness direction in a first mode in which the voltage is applied.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The light path control member of claim 3, wherein in the first mode, the light is emitted in a front direction and a horizontal direction, and the light is blocked in a vertical direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The light path control member of claim 4, wherein the second alignment materials are aligned in a first direction on a plane in a second mode in which the voltage is applied.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The light path control member of claim 5, wherein the first direction corresponds to a lengthwise axis of the light path conversion part.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The light path control member of claim 5, wherein in the second mode, the light is blocked in each of the front direction, the horizontal direction, and the vertical direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The light path control member of claim 7, wherein, in the first mode and the second mode, the first alignment materials are aligned in the thickness direction, respectively.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The light path control member of claim 8, wherein the first alignment materials are cured.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The light path control member of claim 1, wherein the first alignment materials and the second alignment materials include the same material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The light path control member of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises a plurality of second electrodes, the light path conversion part comprises a plurality of light path conversion parts, and each of the plurality of second electrodes overlaps a corresponding light path conversion part, and
wherein the first electrode comprises a plurality of first electrodes, the light path conversion part comprises a plurality of light path conversion parts, and each of the plurality of first electrodes overlaps a corresponding light path conversion part.

### Claim 12

A light path control member comprising:
a first substrate;
a first electrode disposed on the first substrate;
a light path control unit disposed on the first electrode;
a second electrode disposed on the light path control unit; and
a second substrate disposed on the second electrode,
wherein the light path control unit includes a first area and a second area around the first area,
wherein the first area includes a light transmission part,
wherein the second area includes the light transmission part and a light path conversion part around the light transmission part,
wherein the light transmission part includes first alignment materials,
wherein the light path conversion part includes second alignment materials, and
wherein the second alignment materials change an alignment direction according to a voltage applied to at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The light path control member of claim 12, wherein the second alignment materials are aligned in a thickness direction in a first mode when the voltage is not applied, and the second alignment materials are aligned in a vertical direction on a plane in a second mode when the voltage is applied, and
wherein, in the first mode and the second mode, the first alignment materials are aligned in the thickness direction, respectively.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The light path control member of claim 13, wherein the first alignment materials are cured.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The light path control member of claim 12, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode do not overlap the first area, respectively.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The light path control member of claim 15, wherein a curing degree of the second alignment materials in the second area is greater than a curing degree of the first alignment materials in the first area.

### Claim 17

A display device, comprising:
a light path control member;
a first polarization film on the light path control member; and
a display panel on the first polarization film,
wherein the light path control member comprises:
a first substrate,
a first electrode disposed on the first substrate,
a light path control unit disposed on the first electrode,
a second electrode disposed on the light path control unit, and
a second substrate disposed on the second electrode,
wherein the light path control unit includes a light transmission part and a light path conversion part around the light transmission part,
wherein the light transmission part includes first alignment materials,
wherein the light path conversion part includes second alignment materials, and
wherein an alignment direction of the second alignment materials change according to a voltage applied to at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The display device of claim 17, wherein the light path conversion part changes a path of light provided according to the alignment direction of the second alignment materials.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The display device of claim 18, wherein the second alignment materials are aligned in a thickness direction in a first mode when the voltage is not applied, and the second alignment materials are aligned in a first direction on a plane in a second mode when the voltage is applied.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The display device of claim 19, wherein the first direction corresponds to a lengthwise axis of the light path conversion part, and an absorption axis of the first polarization film extends along a second direction crossing the first direction.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The display device of claim 1, wherein the light path conversion part is configured to block more light in a first direction and pass more light in second direction that is opposite of the first direction based on the alignment direction of the second alignment materials.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The display device of claim 21, wherein the light path conversion part includes comprises a shape having a first interface region that receives light in the first direction and a second interface region that receives light in the second direction, wherein the second interface region has a larger surface area than the first interface region, wherein the first interface region and the second interface region each contact one of the first electrode and the second electrode.
