Flexible Substrate Crack Detection Circuit for Display Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Defects such as cracks in display panels of electronic devices, particularly in the bezel area, are difficult to detect due to the narrow space, which can lead to malfunction or damage, and existing solutions struggle to effectively implement sensing circuits in these areas.
Innovation Solution
A portable communication device with a flexible substrate that includes a display driver integrated circuit and a sensing circuit positioned to transmit signals to pixels, allowing for crack detection by varying the brightness of sub-pixels when cracks are present, thereby reducing bezel width and enabling crack location identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensing circuit is implemented in the bezel area to detect cracks, then crack detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases and the narrow bezel space makes implementation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing circuit is merged with the display driver integrated circuit (DDI) by sharing signal lines. The sensing circuit uses the same data lines and gate lines that the DDI uses to drive pixels, eliminating the need for separate dedicated sensing signal lines and reducing overall circuit complexity while maintaining crack detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The data lines and gate lines are designed to serve dual purposes: driving pixels during normal display operation and transmitting sensing signals for crack detection. This multi-functionality allows the sensing circuit to operate within the existing display circuit infrastructure without requiring additional dedicated signal paths
2Area of stationary object
If the sensing circuit is positioned in the corner of the bezel area to maximize space utilization, then the available space is optimized, but the difficulty of implementing the circuit increases due to the narrower corner space
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate is bent to extend below the rear surface of the display panel, creating a three-dimensional arrangement that moves the DDI and sensing circuit from the constrained two-dimensional bezel plane to an additional spatial dimension, effectively increasing the available area for circuit placement
3Area of stationary object
If the flexible substrate is bent to extend below the rear surface of the display panel to accommodate the DDI, then the available space for circuit placement is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate is bent and positioned such that the DDI is disposed below the rear surface of the display panel, nesting the circuit components within the existing device structure. This arrangement allows the substrate to fold back on itself, utilizing the internal volume of the device housing rather than requiring additional external space
4Reliability
If existing crack detection solutions are implemented, then crack detection is possible, but the user cannot identify the specific position of cracks
Solution Approach 1:
When a crack is detected in a specific region, the sensing circuit activates corresponding pixels to display a visual indication (such as a vertical line) at the same position on the display panel. This color/brightness change provides direct spatial information about the crack location, allowing users to identify the exact position of defects
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a portable communication device including a cover window, a display panel including an active area and an inactive area substantially surrounding the active area, the active area including a plurality of pixels and the inactive area including no pixels, a flexible substrate including a first portion connected with the display panel, and a second portion extended from the first portion and bent below a rear surface of the display panel; a display driver integrated circuit (DDI) disposed in the second portion of the flexible substrate, a sensing circuit disposed in the flexible substrate not to be overlapped with the DDI, a plurality of signal lines each electrically connected between the DDI and at least one pixel of the plurality of pixels, and configured to be used to transmit a signal from the DDI to the at least one pixel, and a sensing line disposed in the flexible substrate and the inactive area except the active area and including a first ending portion which is electrically connected with a power line, and a second ending portion which is electrically connected with at least one signal line of the plurality of signal lines via the sensing circuit.