Curved Display Cover Layer with Gap-Overlapping Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with displays often have bulky and unattractive designs, particularly when they feature curved surfaces, making them difficult to use and maintain a desired appearance.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a display cover layer with curved transparent sidewall portions and a flexible display layer, including light sources and diffusing structures, to accommodate and hide gaps between display panels, creating a seamless and aesthetically pleasing appearance by overlapping internal components and blending edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a display with curved surfaces is used, then the appearance is enhanced and viewing angles are improved, but the device becomes bulky and difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the display surface to enhance appearance and viewing angles. The display layer is configured with curved surfaces that wrap around the device edges, creating an aesthetically pleasing form factor while maintaining a compact profile through careful integration with the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The display layer is nested within the housing structure, with curved portions extending into the device volume. This nesting approach allows the display to achieve curved surfaces without proportionally increasing the external dimensions of the device.
2Area of stationary object
If display panels are arranged to cover more surface area, then the display coverage is improved, but gaps between panels become visible and compromise appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and addresses the gap issue by using separate gap-overlapping structures positioned between display panels. These structures are specifically designed to fill and conceal the gaps, allowing the display panels to be arranged for maximum coverage without compromising appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
Gap-overlapping structures serve as intermediary elements between display panels. These structures mediate the visual discontinuity caused by gaps, blending the appearance of adjoining portions and creating a seamless display surface.
3Device complexity
If internal components are exposed, then the structure is simplified, but the appearance is compromised and internal components are visible
Solution Approach 1:
Gap-overlapping structures and display cover layers act as intermediary elements that conceal internal components while maintaining structural efficiency. These layers are positioned to hide inactive border regions and internal structures, preserving a clean appearance without requiring complex additional components.
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 allows for a borderless display appearance, enhances viewing angles, and provides a more attractive and functional design by minimizing the visual impact of gaps and internal components, while maintaining the structural integrity and functionality of the device.
Implementation Method 1
The gap-overlapping structures may include light sources such as crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diodes
Implementation Method 2
The diodes may emit light through light diffusing structures
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may have a display overlapped by a cover layer. Portions of the surface of the display and cover layer may have curved profiles. The display may include a flexible substrate and may have bent edge portions protruding from a central region. Gaps may be formed between regions of pixels on a common substrate or between separate display panels. Gap-overlapping structures may overlap the gaps to hide internal components from view or to blend the appearance of gaps with the appearance of adjoining portions of a display layer. The gap-overlapping structures may include light sources such as crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diodes. The diodes may emit light through light diffusing structures. Protruding display layer fingers and other structures may be used to accommodate display cover layer surfaces with curved profiles such as corner surfaces of compound curvature.