Electronic Device Frame Reducing Dead Border
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with display modules often have a significant 'dead border' around the active display area due to inactive areas like the black matrix and mechanical components, which reduces the usable display space.
Innovation Solution
The design involves a frame with a side portion and an upper portion that surrounds the display module, where the upper portion extends over the inactive area, allowing only a minimal portion of it to be visible, thereby minimizing the dead border and maximizing the active display area. This frame configuration, combined with an optically clear resin for attaching the window, ensures that the inactive area is mostly hidden, and the active area is prominently displayed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the display module is surrounded by a frame with conventional margins, then the inactive area (dead border) is visible and reduces usable display space, but if the frame extends further to cover the inactive area, then the visible dead border is reduced but the frame complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is designed with an upper portion that extends in the vertical dimension (height direction) to cover the inactive area, rather than only extending horizontally. This vertical extension allows the frame to mask the inactive area effectively while maintaining a compact horizontal profile, thus resolving the contradiction between maximizing visible display area and controlling frame complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame has different extension characteristics at different locations: the upper portion extends further vertically to cover the inactive area, while the side portions maintain conventional horizontal margins. This localized differentiation allows the frame to selectively mask the inactive area where it is most visible, optimizing the balance between display area utilization and structural simplicity.
2Area of moving object
If screen printing is applied over the inactive area, then the inactive area is hidden, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and the window area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The function of hiding the inactive area is extracted from the screen printing process and transferred to the frame structure. By designing the upper portion of the frame to physically extend and cover the inactive area, the patent eliminates the need for screen printing in that region, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and maximizing the transparent window area.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame acts as an intermediary element that performs the function of masking the inactive area, replacing what would otherwise require screen printing. This intermediary structure provides a cleaner, more manufacturable solution by using a simple geometric extension rather than a complex printing process.
3Area of moving object
If the upper portion of the frame extends further to cover the inactive area, then the visible dead border is minimized, but the frame occupies more space and may interfere with the display module positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The frame utilizes the vertical dimension to cover the inactive area, extending the upper portion height rather than increasing the horizontal width. This dimensional approach allows the frame to mask the inactive area effectively while minimizing the overall footprint and avoiding interference with the display module's horizontal positioning and active area visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device having two or more opposing sides is disclosed. The electronic device comprises a display module, a window on the display module, and a frame at least partly surrounding the display module. The frame comprises, at two or more opposing sides of the electronic device, a side portion and an upper portion extending a determined distance from the side portion towards the opposing side of the electronic device and ending at an inner edge defining an opening having a width smaller than the width of the display module. The display module has an active area and an inactive area. The display module is disposed within the frame so that at least a part of the inactive area is disposed below and covered by the upper portion, at least a part of the active area being visible through the opening. The window is disposed in the opening.