Passive Matrix Micro-LED Display Layout for Smaller Inactive Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with liquid crystal displays face inefficiencies in backlight illumination and limited contrast ratios, while organic light-emitting diode displays consume excessive power and have reliability issues with desired lifetimes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an array of inorganic light-emitting diodes formed from separate crystalline semiconductor structures, with pixel control circuits to manage light emission, and the use of fanout signal lines and additional pixel control circuits to minimize inactive areas and ensure efficient light emission across the display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid crystal display with backlight illumination is used, then display coverage is achieved, but display efficiency is reduced due to inefficiencies in producing and transmitting backlight illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the backlight unit entirely from the display structure and replaces it with self-emissive micro-LEDs. Each pixel is formed by a micro-LED that generates its own light, eliminating the need for separate backlight illumination components and their associated energy losses.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pixel in the display is a self-emissive micro-LED that generates its own light without requiring external backlight illumination. The micro-LEDs are directly mounted on the display substrate and emit light when electrical signals are applied, making each pixel self-sufficient for light generation.
2Illumination intensity
If liquid crystal display structures are used, then display functionality is achieved, but contrast ratio is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the liquid crystal layer and associated optical components from the display structure. The display functionality is achieved entirely through the micro-LED array, which provides inherent high contrast through self-emissive pixels that can be completely turned off, achieving infinite contrast ratio.
3Illumination intensity
If organic light-emitting diode displays are used, then high contrast ratios are achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition of the light-emitting diodes from organic to inorganic semiconductors. The inorganic micro-LEDs exhibit higher electroluminescence efficiency and lower power consumption compared to organic LEDs, while maintaining the high contrast ratio capability of self-emissive displays.
4Duration of action of moving object
If organic light-emitting diodes are used, then display functionality is achieved, but lifetime is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the semiconductor material from organic to inorganic, which fundamentally improves the operational lifetime and reliability. Inorganic micro-LEDs have demonstrated operational lifetimes exceeding 100,000 hours with stable performance, compared to the limited lifetime of organic LEDs due to material degradation.
5Area of stationary object
If pixel control circuits are added to control partial pixel cells, then display coverage is improved, but inactive area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pixel control circuit functionality directly with the micro-LED structure. The control circuits are integrated onto the same substrate as the micro-LEDs, and in some configurations, control functions are merged into the display driver IC, reducing the need for separate dedicated control circuits for each pixel cell.
Solution Approach 2:
The display driver IC performs multiple functions including signal generation, pixel control, and compensation for display non-uniformities. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for additional dedicated control circuits and minimizes the inactive area required for separate control components.
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 configuration enhances display efficiency, reduces power consumption, and extends the lifetime of light-emitting diodes, improving contrast ratios and overall display performance.
Implementation Method 1
An array of inorganic light-emitting diodes may be mounted to a surface of the display substrate. The light-emitting diodes may be inorganic light-emitting diodes formed from separate crystalline semiconductor structures.
Implementation Method 2
Each pixel control circuit may be used to supply drive signals to a respective set of the light-emitting diodes arranged in a passive matrix.
Data Source
AI summary
A display may be formed by an array of light-emitting diodes mounted to the surface of a display substrate. The light-emitting diodes may be inorganic light-emitting diodes formed from separate crystalline semiconductor structures. An array of pixel control circuits may be used to control light emission from the light-emitting diodes. Each pixel control circuit may be configured to control one or more respective passive matrices. To control partial pixel cells in the display, a donor pixel control circuit in a partial pixel cell may control the pixels in a receptor partial pixel cell without a pixel control circuit. To mitigate the size of an inactive area of the display, fanout signal lines for the display may be formed in the light-emitting active area of the display. The fanout signal lines may be formed between a row of pixel control circuits and a bottom edge of the light-emitting active area.