Display Device Signal Routing to Reduce Non-Display Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
In display devices, the increased number of image signal lines to improve display area resolution leads to a larger non-display area, resulting in an overall size increase of the display panel and device, as the signal lines need to be routed in a fan-like form without crossing each other.
Innovation Solution
The display device configuration includes panel-side output terminals connected to a panel driver, with image signal lines and control signal lines routed in a manner that crosses the driver's edges, allowing the second control signal lines to have a wider width without expanding the non-display area, reducing wire resistance and maintaining a smaller size for the non-display area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of image signal lines is increased to improve the definition of the display area, then the resolution is improved, but the distance between the panel-side output terminals and the display area needs to be increased for routing the image signal lines and the control signal lines so as not to cross each other, which increases a size of the non-display area and thus overall sizes of the display panel and the display device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by routing control signal lines through a third dimension - specifically, causing them to cross over the driver circuit in the vertical direction rather than routing them horizontally along with image signal lines. This is achieved by forming control signal lines to cross a long edge of the driver, allowing them to traverse above or below the driver structure, thereby resolving the planar routing conflict without increasing the non-display area footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the signal line routing into two distinct paths: image signal lines that extend horizontally from panel-side output terminals without crossing the driver, and control signal lines that are routed separately to cross the driver's long edge. This segmentation allows each type of signal line to follow an optimized route, preventing crossing conflicts while maintaining compact non-display area dimensions.
2Measurement precision
If the number of image signal lines is increased to improve the definition of the display area, then the resolution is improved, but the overall sizes of the display panel and the display device increase
Solution Approach 1:
By routing control signal lines to cross the driver's long edge in the vertical dimension rather than extending them horizontally in the planar dimension, the patent enables higher resolution (more image signal lines) without proportionally increasing the overall display panel area. This dimensional routing strategy decouples the relationship between signal line count and panel footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation of image signal line routing (horizontal path) from control signal line routing (vertical crossing path) enables independent optimization of each routing type, allowing the panel to accommodate more image signal lines for higher resolution while keeping the overall panel dimensions controlled through efficient control signal line placement.
3Ease of operation
If the frame area is increased to accommodate more signal lines, then the signal lines can be routed without crossing, but the overall device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for increased frame area by transitioning control signal line routing from a two-dimensional planar path to a three-dimensional path that crosses over the driver. This dimensional change allows control signal lines to reach their destinations without requiring additional horizontal space, thereby maintaining a compact frame area while achieving easy signal line routing.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the routing paths so that image signal lines extend horizontally and control signal lines cross vertically over the driver, the patent achieves clear separation of signal line routes without expanding the frame area. This segmented approach provides easy routing operation within the existing compact frame dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a display panel, a panel driver, panel-side output terminals, image signal lines, and control signal lines. The terminals are disposed in a non-display area of the display device and connected to the panel driver. The image signal lines are routed in the non-display area from the terminals to cross a long edge of the panel driver and spread in a fan-like form toward the display area. The control signal lines including first lines and second lines are routed in the non-display area from the terminals toward a display area of the display device. The first lines are routed from the terminals to cross the long edge and along the image signal lines toward the display area. The second lines each including portions having a width larger than the first lines are routed from the terminals to cross a short edge of the panel driver.