Active-Matrix Substrate Gate Driver Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active-matrix substrates face challenges in reducing the size of the picture-frame region and enhancing design flexibility due to the routing requirements of gate drivers and other components, which restrict the outer shape of displays.
Innovation Solution
The active-matrix substrate design includes gate lines with lengths shorter than the display region's width, allowing for a non-rectangular display shape or divided rectangular regions, with terminals and gate line driving units positioned to reduce the picture-frame region size and improve design freedom.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If gate drivers are disposed in the picture-frame region portion adjacent a side of the TFT substrate different from the side along which the source drivers are disposed, then the display can have an atypically-shaped hexagonal display region, but the lines and other components connecting the scan lines with the gate drivers must be routed along the picture-frame region, making it difficult to reduce the size of the picture-frame region
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by moving the gate line driving units from the picture-frame region into the display region itself. Specifically, gate line driving units are provided inside the display region at positions adjacent to gate lines, allowing scan lines to be driven without requiring routing through the picture-frame region. This spatial reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by enabling atypical display shapes while minimizing the picture-frame region size.
2Area of stationary object
If gate lines are made with length smaller than the maximum width of the display region, then the picture-frame region size can be reduced and design freedom improved, but the gate lines must be divided into separate portions or the display region must have a non-rectangular shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the gate lines into multiple portions when the display region has a non-rectangular shape. Specifically, when corners are cut off to create an atypical display region, the gate lines are segmented into first gate line portions and second gate line portions, with different lengths corresponding to different display region widths. This segmentation allows the gate lines to adapt to the non-rectangular geometry while maintaining electrical connectivity and reducing the picture-frame region size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making gate lines have different lengths in different regions of the display. Specifically, gate lines in regions closer to the side with gate drivers have shorter lengths, while gate lines in regions farther away have longer lengths. This local variation in gate line length optimizes the use of the display region space and minimizes the picture-frame region size while maintaining uniform display quality across the entire display area.
Data Source
AI summary
An objective is to provide a technique for reducing the size of the picture-frame region of the active-matrix substrate and improve the freedom of design, such as the freedom in designing the active-matrix substrate. An active-matrix substrate includes a group of gate lines and a group of source lines crossing the gate lines. At least some of the gate lines have a length that is smaller than the maximum value of the width of the active-matrix substrate as measured in the direction in which the gate lines extend. The active-matrix substrate further includes pixel electrodes connected with the gate lines and source lines, and gate line driving units (11) provided in the display region for switching the gate lines to the selected or non-selected state in response to a supplied control signal. First terminals (12s) for providing data signals from the source driver and second terminals (12g) for providing control signals from the display control circuit are provided in the portion of the picture-frame region that is adjacent a side of the display region.