Display Panel Data Line Routing for Non-Display Area Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display panels face challenges in efficiently utilizing a portion of the display area for various functions while minimizing the area occupied by non-display areas, which can affect image quality and panel design.

Innovation Solution

A display panel design that incorporates a first area for combining various functions within the display panel, utilizing a data distributor with switches to efficiently route data signals to data lines, and arranging data lines to overlap in the intermediate area, thereby minimizing the non-display area and optimizing image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If data lines are arranged in the intermediate area to minimize non-display area, then the area efficiency is improved, but the coupling capacitance between adjacent data lines increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenon-display areaVSAvoidcoupling capacitance
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by routing data lines through different spatial layers. Specifically, first data lines are arranged in the intermediate area while second data lines are arranged in the display area, utilizing the third dimension (vertical stacking) to separate signal paths. This reduces coupling capacitance between adjacent data lines while still minimizing the overall non-display area, as the lines occupy different z-heights rather than being tightly packed in the same plane.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If a first area is incorporated for various functions within the display panel, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional integrationVSAvoidpanel structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality by designing the first area to serve multiple purposes: it functions as both a non-display area for housing circuitry (data distributor, switches, data lines) and as a structural region that contributes to the overall panel architecture. The intermediate area contains the data distributor and switches that control multiple data lines, allowing a single region to perform routing, switching, and signal distribution functions simultaneously, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated areas for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3754718B1Display panel
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3754718B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3754718B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3754718B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display panel including a substrate having a first area (OA), a display area (DA), and an intermediate area (MA) between the first area and the display area; a plurality of data lines (DL) extending in a first direction in the display area; and a data distributor (150) including switches electrically connected to the plurality of data lines. The plurality of data lines include a first data line DL1 and a second data line DL3, and each of the first data line and the second data line bypasses an edge of the first area in the intermediate area, and a bypass portion of the first data line and a bypass portion of the second data line overlap each other in the intermediate area.