Irregular Flat-Panel Display Pixels for Non-Rectangular Outlines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flat-panel displays with rectangular shapes face challenges in achieving free-form shapes, leading to empty spaces and artifacts like staircase patterns, blur, or moire patterns when trying to adopt irregular outlines, such as circular or elliptical forms.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an irregularly-shaped flat-panel display using irregularly-shaped unit pixels that conform to the outer boundary line, with a combination of regularly-shaped and irregularly-shaped subpixels, ensuring equal area ratios and no dead zones, allowing the display to take on various non-rectangular shapes without image quality degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If rectangular unit pixels are arranged in a matrix on a circular substrate, then the display can achieve a circular outline shape, but empty spaces and dead zones are created between the outermost pixels and the substrate outline
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display area into two distinct regions: a first area with regularly-shaped unit pixels arranged in a matrix, and a second area with irregularly-shaped unit pixels arranged along the curved outer boundary line. This segmentation allows each region to serve its specific function - the regular pixels provide stable image quality in the main display area, while the irregular pixels eliminate dead zones along the curved outline.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different pixel structures to different locations on the substrate. Regularly-shaped pixels are used in the first area where standard matrix arrangement is appropriate, while irregularly-shaped pixels are specifically used in the second area along the curved boundary to match the outline shape. This local differentiation optimizes both image quality and shape conformity.
2Area of stationary object
If the unit pixel size is reduced to decrease empty spaces along the curved outline, then the dead zone area is reduced, but manufacturing complexity and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reducing the size of all pixels throughout the display, the patent segments the pixel structure so that only the irregularly-shaped pixels along the curved boundary are smaller and more complex. The majority of pixels in the first area maintain their standard, easier-to-manufacture rectangular shape, thus reducing overall manufacturing complexity while still eliminating dead zones in the critical boundary region.
3Shape
If irregularly-shaped pixels are used along the curved outline, then dead zones are eliminated and shape conformity is improved, but image quality degradation such as staircase patterns and blur may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display into two areas with different pixel characteristics. The first area with regularly-shaped pixels provides high image quality and stable color representation, while the second area with irregularly-shaped pixels is specifically optimized for shape conformity along the curved boundary. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high image quality and excellent outline conformity without compromising one for the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality standards to different regions: the first area maintains high image quality through regular pixel arrangement, while the second area prioritizes shape conformity through irregular pixel shapes. The curved boundary line passes through both areas, allowing the system to achieve smooth curves without staircase patterns by combining the strengths of both pixel types in their respective locations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an irregularly-shaped display having irregularly-shaped pixels. The irregularly-shaped flat-panel display comprises a substrate, irregularly-shaped unit pixels, and regularly-shaped unit pixels. The substrate has an outer boundary line, at least one side of which is not a vertical or horizontal line. The irregularly-shaped unit pixels are arranged along the at least one side of the outer boundary line on the substrate. The regularly-shaped unit pixels are placed on the substrate, apart from the at least one side of the outer boundary line.