Irregular Pixel Structure for High PPI Display Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display technologies face challenges in increasing visual resolution without complicating the manufacturing process of display panels, as higher pixel per inch (PPI) requirements lead to increased manufacturing difficulties.

Innovation Solution

The pixel structure features irregularly arranged four subpixels in each repeating unit, allowing all color components to be displayed at each subpixel position, with subpixels divided into groups with major axes in different directions, enabling improved display compensation and even color distribution without increasing manufacturing complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pixel per inch (PPI) is increased to improve visual resolution, then visual resolution is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual resolutionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by arranging subpixels in an irregular pattern rather than a regular grid. Each repeating unit contains four subpixels (three color subpixels and one white subpixel) positioned at irregular locations and orientations. This asymmetric arrangement allows the display to achieve higher visual resolution through compensation algorithms while maintaining a manageable physical pixel density that does not complicate manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a traditional two-dimensional regular grid arrangement to a multi-dimensional irregular arrangement where subpixels have different orientations (major axes in different directions). This dimensional change allows the system to encode more information per physical pixel location, enabling higher visual resolution without increasing physical pixel density, thereby avoiding manufacturing complexity.

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

2Measurement precision

If irregular subpixel arrangement is implemented to improve visual resolution, then visual resolution is improved, but display compensation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual resolutionVSAvoiddisplay compensation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the irregular subpixel arrangement pattern and their respective orientations within repeating units before display operation. The major axes of subpixels are predetermined to be in different directions (e.g., horizontal, vertical, diagonal), and compensation parameters are pre-calculated based on this fixed irregular pattern. This preliminary setup simplifies real-time display compensation by reducing the computational complexity during actual operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3217389B1Pixel structure and driving method therefor, and display apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3217389B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2A
  • EP3217389B1 patent drawingFigure 2B
  • EP3217389B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a pixel structure, its driving method and a display device. The pixel structure comprises a plurality of repeating units consisting of subpixels. Each repeating unit comprises four subpixels in different colors, which are divided into two groups. Each group of subpixels includes a subpixel with its major-axis direction as a first direction and a subpixel with its major-axis as a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.