Non-rectangular Display Panel Shielding Layer Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional display panels with rectangular shapes cannot accommodate non-rectangular display regions, leading to manufacturing difficulties, color unbalance, and brightness unevenness when attempting to create circular or other non-rectangular shapes, such as in wearable devices or vehicle dashboards, due to the overlap of shielding layers with pixel edges.
Innovation Solution
A display panel design featuring a shielding layer with a serrated edge contour parallel to the signal lines, allowing for the creation of non-rectangular display regions by using a first portion on the peripheral region and a second portion on the display region, ensuring that the inner contour of the shielding layer aligns with the edges of the pixel units, thus maintaining uniform aperture ratios and avoiding color unbalance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a conventional shielding layer with circular arc contour is used for a non-rectangular display region, then the display region can achieve a non-rectangular shape, but the aperture ratios of pixel units at the edge are greatly decreased causing color unbalance and brightness unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding layer is divided into multiple segments corresponding to different pixel units. Each segment is independently configured to match the shape and size of its corresponding pixel unit, ensuring uniform aperture ratios across all pixel units while maintaining the non-rectangular display region shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding layer adopts different configurations for different local regions. Specifically, each shielding layer segment is customized to match the local pixel unit characteristics, rather than using a uniform circular arc contour, thereby achieving consistent aperture ratios across the entire non-rectangular display region.
2Shape
If a shielding layer with circular arc contour is used, then non-rectangular display region is achieved, but manufacturing difficulty is increased and exposure and development processes must be strictly controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding layer is segmented into multiple independent parts, each corresponding to a pixel unit or group of pixel units. This segmentation simplifies the fabrication process by allowing each segment to be formed using standard photolithography patterns, avoiding the need for complex circular arc exposure processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding layer segments are formed by copying the pixel unit patterns through standard photolithography processes. The shielding layer material is deposited and patterned to replicate the pixel unit geometry, eliminating the need for specialized circular arc contour fabrication.
3Shape
If the shielding layer contour overlaps with pixel unit edges, then non-rectangular display region is formed, but aperture ratios of edge pixel units are greatly decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding layer is segmented so that each segment is precisely positioned and sized to match its corresponding pixel unit. This prevents the shielding layer from overlapping into the pixel unit area, thereby maintaining uniform aperture ratios across all pixel units including those at the edges of the non-rectangular display region.
Solution Approach 2:
Each shielding layer segment is locally optimized to match the specific geometry of its corresponding pixel unit. This local matching ensures that the shielding layer defines the pixel unit boundaries without encroaching on the active pixel area, maintaining consistent aperture ratios throughout the display region.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a designer redesigns the shielding layer for each non-rectangular display region shape, then the display panel can accommodate different shapes, but product development time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding layer fabrication process is designed to be universal and compatible with standard photolithography techniques. By segmenting the shielding layer to follow pixel unit patterns, the same fabrication process can be used for various non-rectangular display region shapes without requiring custom redesign, thereby reducing product development time while maintaining shape adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel including a first substrate, a plurality of pixel units disposed on the first substrate and a shielding layer is provided. Each pixel unit includes a thin-film transistor, a first signal line and a second signal line electrically connected to the thin-film transistor. The shielding layer includes a first portion located on a peripheral region and a second portion located on a non-rectangular display region. An inner contour of an orthogonal projection of the first portion of the shielding layer on the first substrate includes a plurality of first line segments and a plurality of second line segments. The first line segments are parallel to orthogonal projections of the first signal lines on the first substrate. The second line segments are respectively parallel to orthogonal projections of the second signal lines on the first substrate.