Angled Sub-Pixel Openings to Reduce Display Glare

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Solution Overview

Problem

External light is reflected at the boundary of the opening regions of pixels in display devices, interfering with the driver's view, particularly in vehicle dashboards.

Innovation Solution

The display device incorporates a design where the opening regions of adjacent sub-pixels overlap each other and are arranged such that they intersect the scan lines at angles other than right angles, with spacers between substrates to minimize external light reflection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the opening regions of pixels are enlarged to increase aperture ratio, then light emission efficiency is improved, but external light reflection at boundaries increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emission efficiencyVSAvoidexternal light reflection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The opening regions are designed with asymmetric shapes that are rotated at specific angles (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the scan lines. This asymmetric orientation prevents external light from reflecting directly toward the viewer's line of sight, while still maintaining large aperture ratios for efficient light emission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the display device are designed with different opening region orientations. Specifically, opening regions in different pixel rows or columns are rotated at different angles relative to the scan lines, creating localized variations in light reflection patterns that collectively reduce overall glare while maintaining high aperture ratios throughout the display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If opening regions are arranged parallel to scan lines for ease of manufacturing, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but external light reflection interferes with driver's view

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoiddriver's view interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of arranging opening regions parallel to scan lines, the patent rotates them at specific angles (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the scan lines. This asymmetric arrangement maintains manufacturing feasibility while effectively preventing external light reflection from entering the driver's line of sight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the orientation parameter of the opening regions from parallel (0 degrees) to angled (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the scan lines. This parameter modification maintains ease of manufacture through standardized angular orientations while solving the external light reflection problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If aperture ratio is increased to improve visibility, then image quality is enhanced, but boundary reflection of external light increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage visibilityVSAvoidboundary reflection
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The opening regions are designed with asymmetric shapes and orientations at specific angles (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the scan lines. This allows for enlarged aperture ratios that improve light emission and image visibility, while the angled orientation prevents reflected light from reaching the viewer's eyes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

Different local regions of the display have opening regions oriented at different angles relative to the scan lines. This creates varied reflection patterns across different areas of the display, ensuring that external light reflection does not consistently interfere with the driver's view while maintaining high overall aperture ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3859787B1Display device
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3859787B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3859787B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3859787B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display device includes scan lines (SL) disposed in a first direction; data lines disposed in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and unit pixel regions (UP11, UP12, ...,UP44) adjacent to the scan lines and the data lines, each unit pixel region including sub-pixels (OB, OR, OG). A portion of an opening region of at least one of the sub-pixels overlaps a unit pixel region adjacent to a unit pixel region corresponding to the at least one of the sub-pixels, and a side of the opening region of the at least one of the sub-pixels extends in a third direction inclined with respect to each of the first direction and the second direction.