Curved-Corner Display Scan-Driver Circuits for Smaller Non-Display Areas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices with double curvature corners face challenges in reducing the size of non-display areas, which affect the aesthetic appeal due to visible corner non-display areas.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of dummy scan and emission stages along the curved corners, along with strategically arranged supply voltage lines, helps in minimizing the space between active components, thereby reducing the non-display areas at the corners.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If dummy scan and emission stages are added along curved corners, then the non-display area is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenon-display areaVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display device is segmented into multiple functional regions including front display area, side display areas, and corner display areas. Dummy scan and emission stages are specifically added to corner regions to segment the non-display area reduction task into manageable parts, allowing each corner to be optimized independently while maintaining overall device functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a traditional planar display structure to a three-dimensional curved display structure with double curvature corners. By adding dummy scan and emission stages along the curved corners, the solution utilizes the third dimension (curvature) to reduce the visible non-display area while maintaining proper component operation across the complex geometric surface.

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

2Length of moving object

If supply voltage lines are strategically arranged, then component spacing is minimized, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent spacingVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Supply voltage lines are strategically arranged in specific regions where they are most needed to minimize component spacing. The patent applies different routing strategies for different sections of the display device, optimizing local areas rather than using a uniform approach throughout, thereby reducing overall component spacing while managing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The supply voltage line arrangement is designed in advance during the layout phase, with predetermined routing paths that account for future manufacturing constraints. By planning the voltage line positions beforehand, the patent minimizes component spacing while establishing clear manufacturing guidelines that reduce precision requirements during actual fabrication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3896741B1Display device
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3896741B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3896741B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3896741B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display device includes: a display area including pixels for displaying an image; a non-display area adjacent to the display area; scan lines connected to the pixels; a first scan driver circuit disposed in the non-display area, where the first scan driver circuit is connected to first scan lines among the scan lines, and outputs first scan signals to the first scan lines; and a second scan driver circuit disposed in the non-display area, where the second scan driver circuit is connected to second scan lines among the scan lines, and outputs second scan signals to the second scan lines. The second scan driver circuit is disposed farther away from the display area than the first scan driver circuit is.