Apple Patent | Display With Holographic Angle-of-View Adjustment Structures

Patent: Display With Holographic Angle-of-View Adjustment Structures

Publication Number: 20180321432

Publication Date: 2018-11-08

Applicants: Apple Inc.

Abstract

A display may have an array of pixels. Each pixel may have a light-emitting diode such as an organic light-emitting diode or may be formed from other pixel structures such as liquid crystal display pixel structures. The pixels may emit light such as red, green, and blue light. An angle-of-view adjustment layer may overlap the array of pixels. During operation, light from the pixels passes through the angle-of-view adjustment layer to a user. The viewing angle for the user is enhanced as the angular spread of the emitted light from the pixels is enhanced by the angle-of-view adjustment layer. The angle-of-view adjustment layer may be formed from holographic structures recorded by applying laser beams to a photosensitive layer or may be formed from a metasurface that is created by patterning nanostructures on the display using printing, photolithography, or other patterning techniques.

BACKGROUND 

This relates generally to electronic devices, and, more particularly, to electronic devices with displays.

Electronic devices often include displays. Displays have arrays of pixels for presenting images to a user if care is not taken, however, a display for an electronic device may not have desired properties. For example, color gamut may be low, images may not be visible over a sufficiently wide angle of view, cost may be too high, or display components may be difficult to manufacture.

SUMMARY 

A display may have an array of pixels. Each pixel may have a light-emitting diode such as an organic light-emitting diode or may be formed from other pixel structures such as liquid crystal display pixel structures.

The pixels in the pixel array may emit light such as red, green, and blue light. An angle-of-view adjustment layer may overlap the array of pixels. During operation, light from the pixels passes through the angle-of-view adjustment layer to a user. The viewing angle of the user is enhanced as image light from the pixel array passes through the angle-of-view adjustment layer. This is accomplished by increasing the angular spread of the emitted light from the pixels as the emitted light from the pixels passes through the angle-of-view adjustment layer.

The angle-of-view adjustment layer may be formed from holographic structures. The holographic structures may be created using photosensitive materials. For example, an angle-of-view adjustment layer may be formed from holographic structures recorded by applying laser beams to a photosensitive layer or a stack of photosensitive layers.

If desired, an angle-of-view adjustment layer may be formed from a metasurface that is created by patterning nanostructures on the display. The nanostructures can be formed using printing, photolithography, or other patterning techniques. Metal oxides such as titanium oxide and other materials may be used in forming the nanostructures.