Transparent display apparatus

Abstract

A transparent display apparatus including a backlight module, a display panel, and a switching panel is provided. The backlight module includes a light source and a light guide plate (LGP). The display panel is located on a light emitting surface of the LGP. The switching panel and the backlight module are located at the same side of the display panel. The switching panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposite to the first substrate, a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer located between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first electrode layer located between the first substrate and the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer, and a second electrode layer located between the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer and the second substrate. The first electrode layer is divided into first electrode patterns that are separated from and electrically independent from one another. Another transparent display apparatus is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transparent display apparatus located on a transmission path of a background beam, the transparent display apparatus comprising:
 a backlight module comprising:
 at least one light source configured to provide an illumination beam; and 
 a light guide plate having a light emitting surface, a bottom surface opposite to the light emitting surface, and a light incident surface connecting the light emitting surface and the bottom surface, the at least one light source being located beside the light incident surface of the light guide plate, the illumination beam entering the light guide plate through the light incident surface and leaving the light guide plate through the light emitting surface; 
   a display panel located on the light emitting surface of the light guide plate; and   a switching panel, the switching panel and the backlight module being located at one side of the display panel, the switching panel comprising:
 a first substrate; 
 a second substrate opposite to the first substrate; 
 a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer located between the first substrate and the second substrate; 
 a first electrode layer located between the first substrate and the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer and divided into a plurality of first electrode patterns, wherein the first electrode patterns are separated from and electrically independent from one another; and 
 a second electrode layer located between the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer and the second substrate, wherein when the transparent display apparatus is in a partially-transparent-and-partially-opaque display mode, a potential difference exists between the second electrode layer and at least one of the first electrode patterns, such that one portion of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer overlapping with the at least one of the first electrode patterns is in a transparent state, one portion of the background beam passes through the one portion of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer n the transparent state, the light guide plate, and the display panel to generate a background image beam, no potential difference exists between the second electrode layer and another one of the first electrode patterns, such that another portion of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer overlapping with the other one of the first electrode patterns is in a scattering state, the another portion of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer in the scattering state blocks another portion of the background beam from being transmitted to the display panel, and the illumination beam passes through the display panel and is converted into a display image beam. 
   
     
     
         2 . The transparent display apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein when the transparent display apparatus is in a full screen display mode, no potential difference exists between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer is in the scattering state and blocks one portion of the background beam from being transmitted to the display panel, and the illumination beam passes through the display panel and is converted into a display image beam. 
     
     
         3 . The transparent display apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein when the transparent display apparatus is in a fully transparent display mode, a potential difference exists between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, such that the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer is in the transparent state, the background beam passes through the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer in the transparent state, the light guide plate, and the display panel to generate a background image beam, and the illumination beam passes through the display panel and is converted into a display image beam. 
     
     
         4 . The transparent display apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the light guide plate is located between the switching panel and the display panel. 
     
     
         5 . The transparent display apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the switching panel is located between the light guide plate and the display panel. 
     
     
         6 . The transparent display apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second electrode layer is divided into a plurality of second electrode patterns, and the second electrode patterns and the first electrode patterns are aligned. 
     
     
         7 . The transparent display apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second electrode layer entirely covers the second substrate and the first electrode patterns. 
     
     
         8 . The transparent display apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a touch sensing device, the display panel being located between the touch sensing device and the light guide plate.