Display Panel Side Connection Region Narrow Bezel Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional display panels face challenges in reducing bezel width due to the necessity of outer lead bonding (OLB) areas, which occupy significant space and hinder the achievement of a narrow-bezel design.
Innovation Solution
A display panel structure featuring a side connection region with an electrically conductive connection layer vertically stacked on substrates and a cover plate, allowing for vertical bonding of electrical functional assemblies without occupying horizontal space, thereby reducing bezel width and improving contact resistance in small-sized panels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If outer lead bonding (OLB) area is used to connect driver IC to panel body, then electrical connection is established, but bezel width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal bonding (OLB) to vertical bonding by extending the bonding pad to the lateral end portion of the substrate and forming an electrically conductive connection layer on the lateral surface. This dimensional change allows the electrical functional assembly to be bonded vertically from the side, eliminating the need for horizontal OLB area and enabling narrow bezel design while maintaining reliable electrical connection.
2Reliability
If bonding pad length is increased to ensure electrical connection, then connection reliability improves, but OLB area width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding pad is extended to the lateral end portion of the substrate, and the electrically conductive connection layer is formed on the lateral surface. This moves the bonding area from the horizontal plane to the vertical dimension, allowing the electrical functional assembly to be bonded from the side. The connection reliability is maintained through sufficient bonding area on the lateral surface without increasing the horizontal OLB area width.
3Reliability
If TFT substrate extends beyond color filter substrate to attach COF assembly, then electrical connection is established, but bezel width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for substrate extension by forming the electrically conductive connection layer on the lateral end surface of the substrate. The electrical functional assembly is bonded vertically to this lateral surface, establishing reliable electrical connection without requiring the TFT substrate to extend beyond the color filter substrate, thus enabling narrow bezel design.
4Length of stationary object
If OLB area width is reduced to decrease bezel width, then narrow bezel is achieved, but bonding area is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a lateral surface bonding area by forming the electrically conductive connection layer on the vertical lateral end surface of the substrate. This vertical bonding area is formed without increasing the horizontal bezel width, as the bonding occurs on the side surface rather than the top surface. The bonding area sufficient for reliable connection is achieved through the vertical dimension while maintaining narrow horizontal bezel width.
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a cover plate which are horizontally stacked on each other and together define a side connection region extending vertically on outer surfaces of lateral end portions of the first substrate, the second substrate, and the cover plate. An electrically conductive connection layer and an electrical functional assembly electrically connected to the same are placed on the side connection region. Insulating layers and conductive layers between them are on the first substrate, a lateral end portion of at least one of the conductive layers is provided with a bonding pad extended to the side connection region and electrically connected to the electrically conductive connection layer, so as to establish electrical connection between the electrical functional assembly and the conductive layers. The display panel can effectively shorten a width of its edge, and realize a “narrow bezel” design.