Array Substrate Notch Gate Drive Circuit Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile terminal designs with notches for front cameras compromise display area due to gate lines that need to avoid the notch, limiting the achievement of a narrow bezel and affecting visual appearance.

Innovation Solution

The array substrate design includes separate gate drive circuits for pixel units on either side of the notch, allowing them to share gate lines within their respective rows, eliminating the need for gate lines to avoid the notch, thus reducing the notch depth and enabling a narrower bezel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If gate lines are designed to avoid the notch, then the notch depth can be reduced, but the display area is occupied by gate lines affecting visual appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidvisual appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The gate drive circuit is divided into two separate circuits: a first gate drive circuit for driving pixel units on the first side of the notch, and a second gate drive circuit for driving pixel units on the second side of the notch. This segmentation allows each gate drive circuit to independently control its respective side without requiring gate lines to traverse the notch area, thereby eliminating the need for gate lines to avoid the notch and improving visual appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent places the first and second gate drive circuits in different spatial locations relative to the notch - the first gate drive circuit is positioned on the first side of the notch while the second gate drive circuit is positioned on the second side. This dimensional separation allows gate lines to be routed independently on each side without intersecting or avoiding the notch, thus eliminating the visual impact of gate lines on the display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If a single gate drive circuit is used for both sides of the notch, then device complexity is reduced, but gate lines must occupy display area to avoid the notch

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegate drive circuit structureVSAvoiddisplay area
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The gate drive circuit is divided into two separate circuits: a first gate drive circuit for driving pixel units on the first side of the notch, and a second gate drive circuit for driving pixel units on the second side of the notch. This segmentation allows each gate drive circuit to independently control its respective side without requiring gate lines to traverse the notch area, thereby eliminating the need for gate lines to avoid the notch and improving visual appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If gate lines share the same row across the notch, then the number of gate lines is reduced, but the notch depth increases affecting bezel width

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of gate linesVSAvoidnotch depth
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The gate drive circuit is divided into two separate circuits: a first gate drive circuit for driving pixel units on the first side of the notch, and a second gate drive circuit for driving pixel units on the second side of the notch. This segmentation allows each gate drive circuit to independently control its respective side without requiring gate lines to traverse the notch area, thereby eliminating the need for gate lines to avoid the notch and improving visual appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3422094B1Array substrate and mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3422094B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3422094B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3422094B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to an array substrate and a mobile terminal. The array substrate (200) includes: a base (201); a notch (202); a plurality of pixel units on the base (201) to form a display area, a first display area comprising pixel units within a first sub-edge (211), and a second display area comprising pixel units within a second sub-edge (201); first gate lines (204) shared by pixel units in a same row in the first display area; second gate lines (205) shared by pixel units in a same row in the second display area; a first gate drive circuit (207) at the first side of the notch (202) for driving pixel units in the first display area; and a second gate drive circuit (208) at the second side of the notch (202) for driving pixel units in the second display area.