公开(公告)号：US11105677B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-31

申请号：US16141183

申请日：2018-09-25

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Junhwan Lim ,  Zhibing Ge ,  Christopher L. Boitnott ,  Shih-Wei Chang ,  Sang Un Choi ,  Sudirukkuge T. Jinasundera

IPC: G01J1/04 ,  G01J1/42 ,  G02F1/133 ,  G06F3/03 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G09G3/34 ,  G02F1/1339 ,  G02F1/1334 ,  G09G3/20 ,  G02F1/137 ,  G02F1/1333

Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display. An optical component window may be formed in the inactive area of the display. The optical component window may transmit infrared light from an infrared light source. The infrared light source may include a diffuser to allow the light source to operate in a flood illumination mode and a structured light mode. The diffuser may include liquid crystal material between first and second substrates. A sealant may surround the liquid crystal layer, and one or more spacer walls may be located between the sealant and the liquid crystal layer. An additional spacer wall may be used outside of the sealant to prevent metal from creating an electrical short between electrodes in the diffuser. Conductive material in the sealant may be used to couple a top electrode to a metal pad on a bottom substrate.

公开(公告)号：US20170293174A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-12

申请号：US15260082

申请日：2016-09-08

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Chia Hsuan Tai ,  Cheng Chen ,  Da Yu ,  Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov ,  Sang Un Choi ,  Shih-Chyuan Fan Jiang ,  Tae Woon Cha ,  Yeon Sik Ham ,  Yuan Chen ,  Zhibing Ge ,  Hossein Nemati

IPC: G02F1/1339 ,  G02F1/1337 ,  G02F1/1343 ,  G02F1/1335 ,  G02F1/1368

Abstract: A liquid crystal display may have main column spacers and subspacer column spacers. The column spacers may have cross shapes formed from overlapping perpendicular rectangular column spacer portions respectively located on a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. The column spacers may have a hybrid configuration in which some of the rectangular portions on the thin-film transistor layer extend vertically and some extend horizontally. Column spacers may be formed from planarization layer material, may be formed from locally thickened portions of a planarization layer, and may have circular shapes.

公开(公告)号：US20150198844A1

公开(公告)日：2015-07-16

申请号：US14473342

申请日：2014-08-29

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Sang Un Choi ,  Zhibing Ge ,  Shang-Chih Lin ,  Hiroshi Osawa ,  Ton-Yong Wang ,  Ming Xu

IPC: G02F1/1335 ,  G02B5/20 ,  G02F1/1368 ,  G02F1/1333 ,  G02F1/1339

CPC classification number: G02F1/133514 ,  G02B5/201 ,  G02F1/133512 ,  G02F1/133516 ,  G02F1/13394 ,  G02F2001/133519 ,  G02F2001/13398

Abstract: A display may have a layer of liquid crystal material between a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. Column spacer structures may be formed between the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor layer to maintain a desired separation between the color filter and thin-film transistor layers. Column spacers may be deposited in column spacer regions of the color filter layer. The color filter layer may include rows of red, green, and blue color filter elements. Blue color filter material that forms blue color filter elements in the color filter layer may also be used to form a planar surface over red and green color filter elements in the column spacer regions. Using the blue color filter material to planarize the surface on which column spacers are formed ensures that the column spacers provide sufficient support for the display without requiring an additional planarization layer.

Abstract translation: 显示器可以在滤色器层和薄膜晶体管层之间具有液晶材料层。 可以在滤色器层和薄膜晶体管层之间形成柱间隔结构，以保持滤色器和薄膜晶体管层之间期望的间隔。 柱间隔物可以沉积在滤色器层的柱间隔区域中。 滤色器层可以包括红色，绿色和蓝色滤色器元件的行。 在滤色器层中形成蓝色滤色器元件的蓝色滤色器材料也可以用于在柱间隔区域中的红色和绿色滤色器元件上形成平面。 使用蓝色滤色器材料来平坦化其上形成有柱间隔物的表面确保柱间隔物为显示器提供足够的支撑，而不需要额外的平坦化层。

公开(公告)号：US10690970B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-23

申请号：US15260082

申请日：2016-09-08

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Chia Hsuan Tai ,  Cheng Chen ,  Da Yu ,  Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov ,  Sang Un Choi ,  Shih-Chyuan Fan Jiang ,  Tae Woon Cha ,  Yeon Sik Ham ,  Yuan Chen ,  Zhibing Ge ,  Hossein Nemati

IPC: G02F1/1339 ,  G02F1/1335 ,  G02F1/1337 ,  G02F1/1343 ,  G02F1/1368 ,  G02F1/1362 ,  G02F1/1333 ,  G02F1/137 ,  G06F3/041

Abstract: A liquid crystal display may have main column spacers and subspacer column spacers. The column spacers may have cross shapes formed from overlapping perpendicular rectangular column spacer portions respectively located on a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. The column spacers may have a hybrid configuration in which some of the rectangular portions on the thin-film transistor layer extend vertically and some extend horizontally. Column spacers may be formed from planarization layer material, may be formed from locally thickened portions of a planarization layer, and may have circular shapes.

公开(公告)号：US11693279B1

公开(公告)日：2023-07-04

申请号：US17683731

申请日：2022-03-01

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Yunseok Lee ,  Haiqing Xianyu ,  Junhwan Lim ,  Peter F Masschelein ,  Sang Un Choi ,  Xiaokai Li ,  Yuan Chen ,  Zhibing Ge

IPC: G02F1/1339 ,  B60J3/04 ,  G02F1/137 ,  G02F1/1343

CPC classification number: G02F1/1339 ,  B60J3/04 ,  G02F1/13725 ,  G02F1/134309

Abstract: A system may have windows. The window may have first and second window layers and a layer of material such as guest-host liquid crystal material between the first and second window layers. Electrodes on the window layers may be used to apply electric fields to the guest-host liquid crystal material to adjust the light transmission properties of the window. To ensure that a desired gap between the first and second window layers is maintained, spacers may be formed between the first and second window layers. The spacers may include key-and-lock spacers that have interlocking portions located, respectively, on the first and second window layers. Spacers such as photoresist posts can be attached using adhesive. Hybrid arrangements may also be used in which key-and-lock spacer structures are attached using adhesive bonds.

公开(公告)号：US20190137333A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-09

申请号：US16141183

申请日：2018-09-25

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Junhwan Lim ,  Zhibing Ge ,  Christopher L. Boitnott ,  Shih-Wei Chang ,  Sang Un Choi ,  Sudirukkuge T. Jinasundera

IPC: G01J1/04 ,  G01J1/42 ,  G06F3/03 ,  G02F1/133 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G09G3/34

Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display. An optical component window may be formed in the inactive area of the display. The optical component window may transmit infrared light from an infrared light source. The infrared light source may include a diffuser to allow the light source to operate in a flood illumination mode and a structured light mode. The diffuser may include liquid crystal material between first and second substrates. A sealant may surround the liquid crystal layer, and one or more spacer walls may be located between the sealant and the liquid crystal layer. An additional spacer wall may be used outside of the sealant to prevent metal from creating an electrical short between electrodes in the diffuser. Conductive material in the sealant may be used to couple a top electrode to a metal pad on a bottom substrate.

公开(公告)号：US09482905B2

公开(公告)日：2016-11-01

申请号：US14307841

申请日：2014-06-18

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Zhibing Ge ,  Yeon Sik Ham ,  Cheng Chen ,  Chia Hsuan Tai ,  Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov ,  Sang Un Choi ,  Shih-Chyuan Fan Jiang

IPC: G02F1/1333 ,  G02F1/1335 ,  G02F1/1368 ,  G02F1/1339 ,  G02F1/1362

CPC classification number: G02F1/13394 ,  G02F1/133512 ,  G02F1/133514 ,  G02F1/1368 ,  G02F2001/13396 ,  G02F2001/13398 ,  G02F2001/136222

Abstract: A display may have a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. A layer of liquid crystal material may be located between the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor layer. Column spacers may be formed on the color filter layer to maintain a desired gap between the color filter and thin-film transistor layers. Support pads may be used to support the column spacers. The column spacers and support pads may have comparable thicknesses. Different column spacers may be located at different portions of the support pads to allow the support pad size to be reduced while ensuring adequate support.

Abstract translation: 显示器可以具有滤色器层和薄膜晶体管层。 液晶材料层可以位于滤色器层和薄膜晶体管层之间。 柱状间隔物可以形成在滤色器层上，以保持滤色器和薄膜晶体管层之间的期望的间隙。 支撑垫可用于支撑柱间隔物。 柱间隔件和支撑垫可具有可比较的厚度。 不同的柱间隔件可以位于支撑垫的不同部分，以允许在确保足够支撑的同时减小支撑垫尺寸。

公开(公告)号：US12090821B1

公开(公告)日：2024-09-17

申请号：US17364209

申请日：2021-06-30

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Yuan Chen ,  Falu Yang ,  Haiqing Xianyu ,  Peter F. Masschelein ,  Sang Un Choi ,  Xiaokai Li ,  Yunseok Lee ,  Zhibing Ge

IPC: G02F1/1334 ,  B60J3/04 ,  E06B9/24 ,  G02F1/1337

CPC classification number: B60J3/04 ,  E06B9/24 ,  G02F1/1334 ,  G02F1/133711 ,  E06B2009/2464

Abstract: A system such as a vehicle, building, or electronic device system may have a support structure with one or more windows. The support structure and window may separate an interior region within the system from a surrounding exterior region. Control circuitry may receive input such as user input and may adjust an adjustable layer in the window based on the input. The adjustable layer may be an adjustable light transmission layer. The adjustable light transmission layer may have a polymer matrix layer with embedded guest-host liquid crystal cells. Each cell may have liquid crystal material and dichroic dye. The adjustable light transmission layer may be operated in a dark state to prevent light from passing through the window, a clear state in which the window passes light, and intermediate states that exhibit intermediate light transmission levels.

公开(公告)号：US09612470B2

公开(公告)日：2017-04-04

申请号：US14473342

申请日：2014-08-29

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Sang Un Choi ,  Zhibing Ge ,  Shang-Chih Lin ,  Hiroshi Osawa ,  Ton-Yong Wang ,  Ming Xu

IPC: G02F1/13 ,  G02F1/1335 ,  G02F1/1339 ,  G02B5/20

CPC classification number: G02F1/133514 ,  G02B5/201 ,  G02F1/133512 ,  G02F1/133516 ,  G02F1/13394 ,  G02F2001/133519 ,  G02F2001/13398

Abstract: A display may have a layer of liquid crystal material between a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. Column spacer structures may be formed between the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor layer to maintain a desired separation between the color filter and thin-film transistor layers. Column spacers may be deposited in column spacer regions of the color filter layer. The color filter layer may include rows of red, green, and blue color filter elements. Blue color filter material that forms blue color filter elements in the color filter layer may also be used to form a planar surface over red and green color filter elements in the column spacer regions. Using the blue color filter material to planarize the surface on which column spacers are formed ensures that the column spacers provide sufficient support for the display without requiring an additional planarization layer.

公开(公告)号：US20150370115A1

公开(公告)日：2015-12-24

申请号：US14307841

申请日：2014-06-18

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Zhibing Ge ,  Yeon Sik Ham ,  Cheng Chen ,  Chia Hsuan Tai ,  Enkhamgalan Dorjgotov ,  Sang Un Choi ,  Shih-Chyuan Fan Jiang

IPC: G02F1/1339 ,  G02F1/1368 ,  G02F1/1335

CPC classification number: G02F1/13394 ,  G02F1/133512 ,  G02F1/133514 ,  G02F1/1368 ,  G02F2001/13396 ,  G02F2001/13398 ,  G02F2001/136222

Abstract: A display may have a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. A layer of liquid crystal material may be located between the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor layer. Column spacers may be formed on the color filter layer to maintain a desired gap between the color filter and thin-film transistor layers. Support pads may be used to support the column spacers. The column spacers and support pads may have comparable thicknesses. Different column spacers may be located at different portions of the support pads to allow the support pad size to be reduced while ensuring adequate support.

Abstract translation: 显示器可以具有滤色器层和薄膜晶体管层。 液晶材料层可以位于滤色器层和薄膜晶体管层之间。 柱状间隔物可以形成在滤色器层上，以保持滤色器和薄膜晶体管层之间的期望的间隙。 支撑垫可用于支撑柱间隔物。 柱间隔件和支撑垫可具有可比较的厚度。 不同的柱间隔件可以位于支撑垫的不同部分，以允许在确保足够支撑的同时减小支撑垫尺寸。