Coherent Fiber Bundle Display with Curved Edge Overhang
Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with displays often have excessively large inactive border regions due to the need for driver components, making them bulky and aesthetically unappealing.
Innovation Solution
A coherent fiber bundle is integrated with the display pixels, featuring fibers that carry light from the pixels to a viewer, with curved edges that overlap inactive components, minimizing or eliminating the inactive border area by expanding the display along edges and creating an overhang to cover these components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If driver circuits and other components are placed in an inactive border region around the display, then the display can function properly, but the device becomes overly large and aesthetically unappealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the driver circuits from the planar inactive border region into the third dimension by placing them behind the display pixels. The circuits are positioned on a substrate that extends into the depth of the display structure, allowing electrical connections to be made through vertical conductive pathways rather than requiring lateral border space.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver circuits are nested within the display structure itself, specifically positioned behind the pixel array. The inactive border components are embedded in the display's depth rather than occupying external border space, creating a nested configuration where functional components are housed within the display volume.
2Area of stationary object
If the inactive border region is reduced to minimize device size, then aesthetics improve, but space for necessary components becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the space constraint by transitioning from two-dimensional planar arrangement to three-dimensional configuration. Driver circuits and other components are positioned in the depth dimension behind the pixels, and electrical connections are established through vertical conductive paths, effectively utilizing the third dimension to accommodate components without requiring lateral border space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible circuit substrates and thin film conductive layers that can be configured in three-dimensional arrangements. These flexible structures allow components to be positioned behind the pixel array while maintaining electrical connectivity through conformal conductive pathways that adapt to the curved or folded substrate geometry.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the size of the inactive border region to near zero, providing a borderless display that maintains image quality and aesthetics while accommodating necessary components.
Implementation Method 1
The coherent fiber bundle may contain fibers that carry light from the first surface to the second surface
Data Source
AI summary
A display may have an array of display pixels that generate an image. A coherent fiber bundle may be mounted on the display pixels. The coherent fiber bundle may have a first surface that is adjacent to the display pixels and a second surface that is visible to a viewer. The coherent fiber bundle may contain fibers that carry light from the first surface to the second surface. The second surface may be planar or may have a central planar region and curved edge regions that run along opposing sides of the central planar region. The fibers may have cross-sectional surface areas with a first aspect ratio on the first surface and a second aspect ratio that is greater than the first aspect ratio on the second surface.