US-12625083-B2 - Apparatus for detecting defects in a display module

Abstract

An apparatus includes: a display module configured to output first light; a detector configured to detect the first light; and a defect detector for detecting one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light, the one or more defects including defects formed at a time of manufacturing.

Inventors

• Marja Pauliina Salmimaa
• Miikka Tapani Vilermo
• Tero Simo Ilari Jokela

Assignees

• NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241219

Priority Date

20231221

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An apparatus, comprising: a display module configured to output a first light; a detector configured to detect the first light; and a defect detector for detecting one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light; wherein the defect detector is configured to classify the detected one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light; wherein the defect detector is configured to determine a transfer function wherein the first light is an input to the transfer function and the detected first light is an output from the transfer function, and wherein at least one of the detecting or classifying the one or more defects comprises comparing an expected transfer function with the determined transfer function.
2. 2 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the defect detector is configured to detect one or more defects which are present in a portion of, but not the whole, display module.
3. 3 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the display module comprises a plurality of planar layers, the planar layers comprising: a cover layer; a display; and the detector; wherein the display is positioned between the cover layer and the detector.
4. 4 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the display module further comprises an input layer configured to detect a user input, the user input comprising at least one of a touch input or a proximity input.
5. 5 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the defect detector comprises a trained machine learning model configured to classify the detected one or more defects, based at least in part on the detected first light.
6. 6 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein classifying a defect comprises determining at least one of: a defect type of the defect; or a defect location of the defect.
7. 7 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein a defect type of is one of: a cracked cover layer; a display defect; or a delamination of layers.
8. 8 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein a defect location is at least one of: a lateral position indicating a position of the defect within a plane parallel to a planar face of the display module; or a transverse position indicating one or more layers of the display module in which the defect is present.
9. 9 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of detecting or classifying one or more defects comprises comparing at least one of: an intensity, wavelength, or a spatial distribution of the detected first light with at least one of: an intensity, a wavelength, or a spatial distribution of the first light.
10. 10 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the defect detector is configured to adapt a function of the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light.
11. 11 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein adapting a function of the display module comprises at least one of: changing a display output of the display module; or changing a detection configuration of the input layer.
12. 12 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein changing a display output of the display module comprises changing at least one of: a position, a shape, a color, or a size of a visual object displayed on the display module.
13. 13 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the defect detector is configured to change at least one of: a position, a shape, or a size of a visual object on the display module in response to a determination that the visual object is co-located with a defect.
14. 14 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein changing a detection configuration of the input layer comprises: determining that a user input object is co-located with a defect; and changing at least one of: a position, a shape, a color, or a size of the user input object.
15. 15 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein changing a detection configuration of the input layer comprises: determining that a first input is not possible due to the presence of a defect; and enabling a second input.
16. 16 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a planar size and shape of the detector is substantially equal to a planar size and shape of the display, and the detector is positioned relative to the display such that a planar face of the display and a planar face of the detector overlap completely.
17. 17 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the display module is removeable and replaceable.
18. 18 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an angle determiner configured to determine at least one of a position or an orientation of the apparatus, wherein the display module is configured to output the first light in dependence upon a determination that the position of the apparatus is a first position.
19. 19 . An apparatus, comprising: a display module configured to output a first light; a detector configured to detect the first light; and a defect detector for detecting one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light; wherein the defect detector is configured to adapt a function of the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light; wherein adapting a function of the display module comprises at least one of: changing a display output of the display module, or changing a detection configuration of the input layer; wherein changing a display output of the display module comprises changing at least one of: a position, a shape, a color, or a size of a visual object displayed on the display module.
20. 20 . An apparatus, comprising: a display module configured to output a first light; a detector configured to detect the first light; and a defect detector for detecting one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light; wherein a planar size and shape of the detector is substantially equal to a planar size and shape of the display, and the detector is positioned relative to the display such that a planar face of the display and a planar face of the detector overlap completely.

Description

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD Examples of the disclosure relate to an apparatus. Some relate to an apparatus for detection of defects in a display module. BACKGROUND Display modules may have several sensing solutions integrated into a layered structure. A display module is susceptible to damage, for example, when a device comprising the display module drops or is impacted by a strong external force. BRIEF SUMMARY According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided an apparatus comprising: a display module configured to output first light; a detector configured to detect the first light; and processing means for detecting one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided an apparatus comprising means for: at a display module, outputting first light; at a detector, detecting the first light; and at a processing means, detecting one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided a method comprising: at a display module, outputting first light; at a detector, detecting the first light; and at a processing means, detecting one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: at a display module, output first light; at a detector, detect the first light; and at a processing means, detect one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided an apparatus comprising outputting means for outputting first light; detecting means for detecting the first light; and processing means for detecting one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: at a display module, outputting first light; at a detector, detecting the first light; and at a processing means, detecting one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided a computer program that, when run on a computer, performs: at a display module, outputting first light; at a detector, detecting the first light; and at a processing means, detecting one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light. According to various, but not necessarily all, examples there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: at a display module, outputting first light; at a detector, detecting the first light; and at a processing means, detecting one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light. The following portion of this ‘Brief Summary’ section, describes various features that may be features of any of the examples described in the foregoing portion of the ‘Brief Summary’ section. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function. In some, but not necessarily all examples, the processing means are configured to detect one or more defects which are present in a portion of, but not the whole, display module. In some, but not necessarily all examples, the display module comprises a plurality of planar layers, the layers comprising: a cover layer; a display; and the detector, wherein the display is positioned between the cover layer and the detector. In some, but not necessarily all examples, the display module further comprises an input layer configured to detect a user input, the user input comprising at least one of a touch input and a proximity input. In some, but not necessarily all examples, the processing means are configured to classify the detected one or more defects in the display module, based at least in part on the detected first light. In some, but not necessarily all examples, the processing means comprise a trained machine learning model configured to classify the detected one or more defects, based at least in part on the detected first light. In some, but not necessarily all examples, classifying a defect comprises determining at least one of: a defect type of the defect; or a defect positi