Display Panel Electrode Overlap for Power and Cost Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large-sized display panels for billboards and signage face challenges with high power consumption in LED displays and high manufacturing costs and complexity in TFT-LCD technology.

Innovation Solution

A display panel design featuring a first and second substrate with electrodes arranged in arrays, where the orthographic projection of second electrodes overlaps multiple first electrodes, allowing for simplified signal transmission and reduced manufacturing complexity through the elimination of gate lines, enabling a passive matrix display with a liquid crystal or organic electroluminescent layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If LED display technology is used for large-sized display panels, then display capability is achieved, but power consumption becomes excessively high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddisplay capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel is segmented into multiple first electrodes and second electrodes arranged in arrays, where each electrode can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows for selective activation of electrode groups, enabling localized display updates and reduced overall power consumption while maintaining display capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic scanning of electrode groups through the overlap projection design, where second electrodes sequentially interact with different sets of first electrodes. This periodic action enables time-multiplexed display updates, reducing the simultaneous power demand compared to LED displays that require continuous high-power operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Ease of manufacture

If TFT-LCD technology is used for large-sized display panels, then display capability is achieved, but manufacturing cost and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing cost and process complexityVSAvoiddisplay capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex gate line structure from conventional TFT-LCD designs. By using a passive matrix addressing scheme where second electrodes overlap multiple first electrodes in projection, the invention removes the need for extensive gate driving circuits and control logic, significantly simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs while maintaining display functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using the conventional approach where gate lines control row selection and source lines control column selection in TFT-LCDs, this patent inverts the control mechanism by using overlapping electrode projections to define pixel regions. This inversion simplifies the addressing scheme and reduces manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If conventional LED or TFT-LCD structures are used, then display functionality is achieved, but structure complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanel structureVSAvoiddisplay functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of pixel definition and electrode control into a unified structure where the overlap projections of first and second electrodes directly define pixel regions. This merging eliminates the need for separate pixel definition layers and control circuitry, simplifying the overall panel structure while ensuring proper display functionality through the electrode interaction mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design reduces power consumption, simplifies the panel structure, and lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining display accuracy and independence of pixel control, making it suitable for large-sized applications.

Implementation Method 1

the display panel further comprises a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquid crystal effect: Liquid Crystals

Implementation Method 2

the display panel further comprises an organic electroluminescent layer, the organic electroluminescent layer is located between the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentUS11444137B2Display panel with simplified structure and display device comprising the same

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 BEIJING BOE TECH DEV CO LTD

AI summary

A display panel and a display device including the display panel are provided. The display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate opposite to each other. The first substrate includes a first base, and the second substrate includes a second base. The first substrate further includes a plurality of first electrodes in an array on the first base, and the second substrate further includes a plurality of second electrodes in an array on the second base. An orthographic projection of each second electrode on the first base at least partially overlaps orthographic projections of n first electrodes on the first base, n is an integer greater than 1.