COF Cover Design for Minimized Display Bezel Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional display apparatuses have a wider bezel due to the need to cover one end of the chips-on-film (COF) connections, which limits the minimization of the bezel width.
Innovation Solution
A panel module design where a COF cover is used to hide and protect one end of the COFs connected to the display panel, allowing the bezel to be minimized by eliminating the need for additional coverage, and utilizing a COF cover formed from a metal material like stainless steel to ensure structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bezel is designed to cover the COF connections, then the structural integrity and protection of COFs is improved, but the bezel width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the COF cover function from the bezel structure, creating a separate component that protects the COF connections independently. This allows the bezel to be minimized in width while the dedicated COF cover provides the necessary protection for the COF connections, resolving the contradiction between bezel width and COF protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the protective function into a separate COF cover component distinct from the main bezel structure. This segmentation allows the bezel to focus on its primary function of minimizing width while the separate COF cover component handles the protection of COF connections, eliminating the need for the bezel to be wide enough to cover the COFs.
2Length of stationary object
If the bezel width is minimized, then the display apparatus becomes thinner and more compact, but the COF connections become exposed and vulnerable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protective function from the bezel and places it in a dedicated COF cover component. This extraction allows the bezel to be minimized in width for a thinner display apparatus while the separate COF cover provides the necessary protection for exposed COF connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a COF cover as an intermediary component between the COF connections and the external environment. This intermediary component provides protection for the COF connections without requiring the bezel to be wide, allowing the display apparatus to have a minimized bezel width while maintaining COF connection reliability.
3Length of stationary object
If a separate COF cover component is added, then the COF connections are protected and bezel width is minimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the COF cover with the lower bezel assembly, where the COF cover is positioned to extend from the lower bezel and cover the COF connections. This merging approach allows the COF cover to be integrated into the existing bezel structure rather than being a completely separate component, thereby reducing overall device complexity while still achieving minimized bezel width and COF protection.
Data Source
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AI summary
A panel module including a display panel, a chips-on-film (COF) having a first end connected to an end portion of the display panel, and a COF cover configured to extend past the first end of the COF to block the first end of the COF, the cover having a front surface formed to be coplanar with a front surface of the display panel.