Curved Electrophoretic Display for Thin Border Electronic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing electronic devices with thin, compact housings that enclose displays while minimizing the border around the edges is challenging, limiting the display area and user experience.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a thin border display technology using an optical assembly with a support frame and electrophoretic display structure, where the electrophoretic layer is curved around the edges of the support frame, allowing the display to extend closer to the device edges, and an electrode drives the margin region to create a borderless or thin border appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the display is mounted within a housing that encloses various components, then the device structure is protected and components are enclosed, but a substantial border is created around the display that reduces the display area
Solution Approach 1:
The electrophoretic display structure is curved around the edges of the support frame, transitioning from a flat two-dimensional display to a three-dimensional curved display that wraps around the device edges, thereby increasing the effective display area without requiring additional horizontal space
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible electrophoretic display structure is used that can be curved and bent around the edges of the support frame, allowing the display to extend to the very edges of the device housing and eliminate the traditional border area
2Area of stationary object
If the display area is increased by extending closer to the edges, then the display area increases by 10-25%, but the structural support and component enclosure become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The electrophoretic display structure is formed with a curved configuration that follows the edges of the support frame, allowing the display to wrap around corners and extend to the device edges while maintaining structural integrity and proper alignment through the curved 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
Increases the display area by 10-25% and enhances user experience by making content appear more like paper, improving the viewing experience similar to hardcopy materials.
Implementation Method 1
the electrophoretic layer is curved around the edges of the support frame
Implementation Method 2
an electrode drives the margin region to create a borderless or thin border appearance
Data Source
AI summary
A thin border display for an electronic device may comprise an optical assembly that includes a support frame and an electrophoretic display (EPD) structure attached to the support frame in a manner that allows for the display of the electronic device to exhibit a “thin border” or “borderless” look at a periphery of the electronic device. A portion of the EPD structure may at least partly curve around a curved portion of the support frame, the curved portion of the support frame being near the periphery of the support frame. In some embodiments, an electrode may be disposed at a periphery of the display to drive the margin of the display for achieving a thin border/borderless appearance. The EPD structure may include a backplane substrate that is either rigid or flexible.