Optical Fiber Layers for Edgeless Display Light Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic devices with displays, such as liquid crystal displays, often have aesthetics issues due to the placement of display layers and control circuitry, which can create an inactive area at the edge of the display, making the device appear less aesthetically pleasing and inefficient in space utilization.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple layers of bundled fiber optic light guide structures, where a first optical fiber layer with a smaller diameter and lower numerical aperture is interposed between the display layers and a second optical fiber layer with a larger diameter and higher numerical aperture, allowing display light to be emitted from the outer surface of the device, thereby minimizing or eliminating the inactive area at the edge and enhancing the appearance of the display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If display layers and control circuitry are positioned within the device with conventional arrangements, then space for additional device structures is provided, but the display image appears to be located at some distance within the device affecting aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical fiber layers that extend the display image from the display layers to the outer surface of the device. This adds a dimensional extension along the optical path, allowing the image to appear at the outer surface rather than being confined to the display layer depth, thereby improving aesthetics and eliminating the need for inactive edge areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Optical fiber layers serve as intermediary structures between the display layers and the outer surface of the device. These fibers transmit display light from the display layers to the outer surface, enabling the image to appear at the outer surface while maintaining the compact internal arrangement of display components.
2Ease of manufacture
If control circuitry is formed along an edge of the display, then space within the device is needed to accommodate the control circuitry, but this creates an unused portion of the front face of the display
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber layers extend the display functionality to the outer surface, allowing control circuitry to be positioned at the edges without creating inactive areas on the front face. The light transmission through fibers enables full utilization of the display area while maintaining ease of manufacture for control circuitry placement.
3Device complexity
If a single layer of optical fibers is used, then the structure is simpler, but display light cannot be effectively guided to the outer surface with minimal inactive area
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber system is segmented into multiple layers: a first optical fiber layer with larger diameter fibers for collecting display light, and a second optical fiber layer with smaller diameter fibers for guiding light to the outer surface. This segmentation enables effective light transmission and positioning of the display image at the outer surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the optical fiber system have different properties: the first optical fiber layer has larger diameter fibers with specific numerical aperture for light collection, while the second layer has smaller diameter fibers for precise light guidance to the outer surface. This local differentiation optimizes the display image positioning and eliminates inactive areas.
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 enables display images to appear generated at the outer surface of the device, reducing the inactive edge region and improving the aesthetic appeal while allowing space for control circuitry, resulting in a more streamlined and visually appealing electronic device design.
Implementation Method 1
Display light generated in the display layers may pass through the first fiber optic light guide structures and into the second fiber optic light guide structures. The display light may be emitted from an outer surface of the second optical fiber layer.
Implementation Method 2
A layer of liquid crystal material may be interposed between the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor layer. Display layers such as the color filter layer, the thin-film transistor layer, the liquid crystal layer, and other display layers may be covered by one or more substrate layers that contain optical fibers.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may have a display such as a liquid crystal display. The display may have multiple display layers for generating display light such as a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. The display may include first and second layers of optical fibers formed over the display layers. The first and second layers of optical fibers may guide display light generated in the display layers to an outer surface of the display. The first layer of optical fibers may include optical fibers having a first numerical aperture. The second layer of optical fibers may include optical fibers having a second numerical aperture. The first numerical aperture may be smaller than the second numerical aperture. The second layer of optical fibers may include vertical and angled optical fibers. The angled optical fibers may help reduce the size of an inactive region around the center of the display.