Display device having switchable viewing angle

A display device having a switchable viewing angle, the display device comprising:

• a display panel comprising a display area and a non-display area around the display area, the display area including a viewing angle control area in which the display device is operated to be switched between a viewing angle control mode and a share mode, a share area in which the display device is operated in the share mode, and a boundary area disposed between the viewing angle control area and the share area and in which the display device is operated to be switched between the viewing angle control mode and the share mode;
• and
• a viewing angle control panel disposed below the display panel and configured to selectively control an operating mode of the display device,
• wherein the viewing angle control panel comprises:
• a first polarizing plate;
• a viewing angle control layer disposed on the first polarizing plate;
• and
• a second polarizing plate disposed on the viewing angle control layer, and having a transmission axis perpendicular to a transmission axis of the first polarizing plate,
• wherein the viewing angle control layer comprises a plurality of upper electrodes, at least one lower electrode, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the plurality of upper electrodes and the at least one lower electrode, and
• wherein, in an area of the viewing angle control panel corresponding to the boundary area, a width of each of the plurality of upper electrodes in a direction from the viewing angle control area to the share area gradually decreases in a direction from the viewing angle control area to the share area.

A display device having a switchable viewing angle, the display device comprising:

• a display panel comprising a display area and a non-display area around the display area, the display area including a viewing angle control area in which the display device is operated to be switched between a viewing angle control mode and a share mode, a share area in which the display device is operated in the share mode, and a boundary area disposed between the viewing angle control area and the share area and in which the display device is operated to be switched between the viewing angle control mode and the share mode;
• and
• a viewing angle control panel disposed below the display panel and configured to selectively control an operating mode of the display device,
• wherein the viewing angle control panel comprises:
• a first polarizing plate;
• a viewing angle control layer disposed on the first polarizing plate;
• and
• a second polarizing plate disposed on the viewing angle control layer and having a transmission axis perpendicular to a transmission axis of the first polarizing plate,
• wherein the viewing angle control layer comprises a plurality of upper electrodes, at least one lower electrode and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the plurality of upper electrodes and the at least one lower electrode, and
• wherein, in an area of the viewing angle control panel corresponding to the boundary area, a voltage applied to the plurality of upper electrodes in the viewing angle control mode is applied in a manner that the voltage gradually decreases in a direction from the viewing angle control area to the share area.