Flat-Panel Display Edge Design Reducing Light Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices face challenges in minimizing thickness, achieving a good exterior appearance, and preventing light leakage due to structural limitations, particularly with exposed substrates and incomplete coverage by panel protection members.

Innovation Solution

A display panel design that omits the chamfer process for inclination faces, using a larger upper polarizing film and panel protection member to fully cover the side faces of substrates, preventing light leakage and external exposure, and incorporating a 3-dimensional image optical member for enhanced image display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the upper case is removed to minimize thickness and improve appearance, then the display device achieves a slimmer profile and better aesthetics, but the substrate becomes directly exposed to the external environment and light leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethicknessVSAvoidsubstrate exposure to external environment
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the protective coverage from a 2D plane to a 3D configuration by having the optical film extend beyond the substrate edges and wrap around the side faces, creating multi-dimensional coverage that protects exposed surfaces while maintaining thin profile

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

2Shape

If the optical film is positioned at a distance from the inclination face to maintain appearance, then the film structure remains simple, but light leakage occurs through the exposed portion between the film and inclination face

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveappearanceVSAvoidlight leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The optical film is configured to extend beyond the substrate edges in the lateral direction and wrap around the side faces, creating a 3D protective barrier that blocks light leakage paths while maintaining aesthetic appearance from the front view

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

3Length of moving object

If the panel protection member is made thinner to minimize overall thickness, then the device achieves better slimness, but the protection member cannot fully cover the inclination faces and light leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall thicknessVSAvoidcoverage completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protection mechanism transitions from relying solely on vertical thickness to utilizing lateral extension and angular wrapping, where the optical film extends beyond substrate edges and covers side faces at angles to block light leakage while maintaining thin overall profile

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

Data Source

PatentEP2759866B1Flat-panel display exhibiting reduced light-leakage and improved protection at the panel edge
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP2759866B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2759866B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2759866B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An edge design of a flat-panel display (e.g. LCD / OLED / plasma) for reduced light-leakage and better protection is disclosed. After cutting out the panel, its edges are ground to produce vertical surfaces (figs.3,5A) having a reduced burr rather than the chamfered, burred edges (CF) of prior art devices (fig.1). Thus total internal reflection at chamfers is reduced, which caused light-leakage (SRL) at the top surface of the panel through a gap between an optical film (16) (e.g. a polariser) and a protection-member (20). The optical film is arranged to extend over the panel edge and the protection-member is moulded to cover the substrate edges and to mate up with the optical film, eliminating the gap. Moreover, the edge is better protected from damage and environmental exposure. Due to its increased uniformity, the protection-member has a more aesthetic appearance.