Modular Display Panel Gap Compensation via Dynamic Brightness Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gaps between panels in modular display devices cause uneven luminous element spacing, leading to distracting irregularities in image brightness due to component tolerances, aging, thermal expansion, and environmental factors, which are difficult to maintain consistently.

Innovation Solution

A display device that uses a psycho-optical effect to dynamically adjust the brightness of lighting elements based on measured gap widths, increasing brightness near gaps that are too large and reducing brightness near gaps that are too small, using a driver to scale the image signal accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the gap width between panels is reduced to minimize visibility, then image quality improves, but component tolerances and thermal expansion cause the gap to vary, leading to brightness irregularities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage brightness uniformityVSAvoidgap width consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically changes the brightness parameter of lighting elements based on the measured gap width. When gaps are larger than average, nearby lighting elements are brightened; when gaps are smaller, nearby elements are dimmed. This parameter adjustment compensates for gap variations and maintains uniform image brightness perception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sensors continuously measure the actual gap width between panels, and this measurement is used to adjust the brightness of lighting elements. The system monitors gap variations caused by thermal expansion, component aging, or assembly tolerances and automatically compensates by modifying lighting element output, creating a closed-loop control system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the gap width is increased to accommodate component tolerances and thermal expansion, then reliability improves, but the gap becomes more visible and image quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel alignment stabilityVSAvoidimage brightness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of visible gaps into a benefit by using the gap width information to adjust lighting element brightness. The larger gaps that would normally create dark lines are compensated by brightening nearby elements, while smaller gaps that create bright lines are compensated by dimming nearby elements. This transforms the problem of gap visibility into an opportunity for dynamic brightness optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Illumination intensity

If brightness compensation is applied to lighting elements near gaps, then gap visibility is reduced, but the lighting elements may be overdriven and damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegap compensation brightnessVSAvoidlighting element durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial compensation by adjusting the brightness of only those lighting elements that are adjacent to gaps, rather than uniformly adjusting all elements. The brightness adjustment is proportional to the gap width deviation, applying just enough compensation to reduce visibility without excessive brightening that would cause overdriving or damage to the lighting elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Reduces the visibility of gaps between panels by dynamically controlling lighting element brightness, ensuring consistent image quality despite variations in gap width due to component tolerances and environmental factors.

Implementation Method 1

The measuring device (6) has at least one sensor (7) for measuring the gap width (di) between the two panels (P i , P i+1 )

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical sensing:

Implementation Method 2

The sensor (7) is an optical sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor or an ultrasonic sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing:

Implementation Method 3

the driver (9) controls the lighting elements (2) depending on the signal (V) and on the gap width (di), in particular if the determined gap width (di) is greater than an average spacing (a) of the lighting elements (2) in this row (Rm), the driver (9) increases the brightness of at least one lighting element (2) closer to the gap (Si) relative to the brightness of at least one lighting element (2) farther away from the gap (Si) in each row (Rm)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage-controlled brightness adjustment:

Data Source

PatentEP3933569B1Display device, panel and control method for same
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 KAMARA WERBE & KOMMUNIKATIONS GMBH
  • EP3933569B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3933569B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3933569B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a display device (1) with at least a first and a second panel (Pi, Pi+1), each having illuminating elements (2) arranged in rows (Rm) and columns (Cn) and which can be aligned with each other to form a gap (Si) parallel to the columns (Cn), at least one connecting element (4) for holding the panels (Pi) in their aligned position, a measuring device (6) which determines a width (di,m) of the gap (Si) for a row (Rm) of the first panel (Pi), and a driver (9, 12) which controls this illuminating element (2) depending on both the signal (V) and the gap width (di,m) determined for this row (Rm). The invention further relates to a panel (Pi) and a control method for this display device (1).