Integrated Front Glass and Liquid Crystal Display Module for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing assembly process of liquid crystal display modules in mobile devices faces alignment issues due to manufacturing tolerance between the liquid crystal display module and the cover glass, which hinders the development of thinner, lighter, and narrower rim designs.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves replacing the cover glass with a front glass structure that is integrated into the liquid crystal display module, matching its dimensions with the middle-frame structure, thereby eliminating the need for adherence and reserved spaces, and enhancing the structural strength and optical properties through vacuum coating and silk printing processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate cover glass structure is used with the liquid crystal display module, then the display can be protected, but manufacturing tolerance causes alignment issues and requires reserved spaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay protectionVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the cover glass structure with the liquid crystal display module into a single integrated unit. The front glass of the LCM serves as the cover glass, eliminating the need for a separate cover glass assembly and the associated alignment tolerances. This merging resolves the contradiction by maintaining protection functionality while eliminating alignment issues caused by separate component manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The front glass structure performs multiple functions: it serves as both the protective cover glass and the front substrate of the liquid crystal display module. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate cover glass component, thereby removing the alignment tolerance problems that would arise from assembling two separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a separate cover glass structure is used with the liquid crystal display module, then the display can be protected, but the device thickness and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay protectionVSAvoiddevice thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the cover glass function with the front glass of the LCM, the patent eliminates the need for additional glass layers and adhesive structures that would increase device thickness. The integrated structure achieves protection without the extra thickness that would result from assembling separate cover glass and LCM components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If manufacturing tolerance is accommodated with reserved spaces, then alignment issues are resolved, but the device becomes larger and heavier

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment toleranceVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The integration of cover glass and LCM into a single unit eliminates the need for reserved spaces or tolerance compensations that would increase device dimensions and weight. The unified structure is manufactured as one component, removing the need for additional materials and space required for separate component assembly and tolerance accommodation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This approach simplifies the assembly process, reduces manufacturing tolerance, and enables the creation of thinner, lighter, and narrower rim mobile devices with improved optical properties and extended service life.

Implementation Method 1

enhancing the structural strength and optical properties through vacuum coating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum coating: Physical Vapour Deposition

Implementation Method 2

a layer of liquid crystal material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid crystal optical modulation: Liquid Crystals

Data Source

PatentEP3104217B1Mobile device comprising liquid crystal display module
Publication Date: 2023.01.04 XIAOMI INC
  • EP3104217B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3104217B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3104217B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to liquid crystal display module (2) and mobile device. The liquid crystal display module (2) comprises: a display function component (21), located in a receiving space of a middle-frame structure (3) of a mobile device after the liquid crystal display module (2) and the middle-frame structure (3) have been assembled; and a front glass structure (22), fixedly arranged above the display function component (21), wherein the dimensions of the front glass structure (22) are matched with the middle-frame structure (3) so that a cover glass structure of the mobile device is formed by the front glass structure (22) after the liquid crystal display module (2) and the middle-frame structure (3) of the mobile device have been assembled. According to the technical solutions in the present disclosure, the structure of the mobile device may be simplified and the assembly tolerance may be reduced.