Frameless Button Lens for Invisible Display

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display devices with frames are limited in miniaturization, suffer from image distortion when viewed from different angles, and cannot completely remove the frame, especially in narrow-framed and bendable display configurations.

Innovation Solution

A frameless-display device with a lens featuring a curved surface, depression, and inclined surface on the periphery, where blast processing is applied to eliminate glare and make the frame invisible, allowing for a miniature switch that operates by displaying images on the entire button surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a frame is made narrow (1 mm or less in width), then the display area is increased, but the frame cannot be removed completely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidframe visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is completely extracted and removed from the button structure. The display device is mounted directly on the button top surface without any frame, achieving complete frame removal rather than just narrowing it. This allows the display area to extend to the entire button surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The display surface is extended from a traditional framed rectangular area to the entire three-dimensional button surface, utilizing the button's top surface fully without frame constraints. This dimensional expansion allows images to be displayed across the complete button area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If a lens is mounted on top of a display panel to enlarge the image, then the display area is increased, but image distortion occurs depending on viewing angle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidimage distortion
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The button top surface is designed with a curved surface rather than a flat plane. This curvature is optimized to reduce image distortion when viewed from different angles, providing a more consistent display quality across various viewing positions while maintaining full-button display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a film-like bendable display member is used, then the display can be flexible, but miniaturization cannot be achieved because a certain size is required to make the display member bendable

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidminiaturization
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical bendable display member is replaced with a rigid display panel mounted on a curved button surface. The flexibility and curvature adaptation are achieved through the button's own curved structure rather than through a flexible display membrane, enabling miniaturization while maintaining adaptability to the button's three-dimensional form.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Area of stationary object

If the display covers the entire button surface, then the frame is removed, but glare may occur on the curved surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidglare
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The curved surface that could potentially cause glare is treated with blast processing to create a matte finish. This converts the potential harmful reflection into a beneficial diffuse scattering effect, eliminating glare while maintaining the full-button curved display surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively removes the visible frame, preventing image distortion and enabling miniaturization by displaying images on the entire button surface without visible frames, even when viewed from different angles, and improves display quality by eliminating glare.

Implementation Method 1

a lens (9) and a button cover (8A), wherein the lens (9) is disposed on top of the button (8)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

a curved surface formed on the periphery of the top surface of the lens

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

an inclined surface formed at the step and inclined towards the center of the lens

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 4

the blast processing is performed on the curved surface formed on the periphery of the top surface of the lens

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface treatment to reduce reflectivity: Anti-Reflective Coating

Data Source

PatentEP2894649B1Frameless display device
Publication Date: 2017.12.20 NKK SWITCHES
  • EP2894649B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2894649B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4(b)
  • EP2894649B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

There is provided a frameless display device in which a frame on the periphery of a display portion is made invisible. The frameless display device makes the frame on the top surface of a button 8 invisible to display an image on the entire surface of the button 8, wherein the button 8 has a lens 9 and a button cover 8A, wherein a display device 6 is provided below the lens 9, and wherein the lens 9 disposed on top of the button 8 includes a curved surface 9A formed on the periphery of the top surface of the lens 9, a depression formed on the bottom surface of the lens, a step formed at the periphery of the lens, and an inclined surface formed at the step and inclined towards the center of the lens 9.