Passive Display Border Reflector for Seamless Bezel Color

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manufacturing tolerances in display panel modules result in a visible gap region between the opaque border and active area, disrupting the immersive user experience when the opaque border is not black, as lighter images reveal the gap as a black frame.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a reflective display area in the inactive area that reflects ambient light in a desired color, matching or complementing the opaque border, using a color filter and reflector to adjust the perceived color of the gap region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the opaque border is made wide enough to cover the entire inactive area, then the border can effectively hide routing circuitry, but manufacturing tolerances create a visible gap region that disrupts the seamless bezel effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopaque border areaVSAvoidgap region visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color filtering to the gap region by placing a color filter layer in the inactive area that matches the color of the opaque border. This causes the gap region to reflect ambient light in the same color as the border, making the gap invisible to users and maintaining the seamless bezel effect despite manufacturing tolerances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the gap region by introducing a reflector and color filter that control how ambient light is reflected. By adjusting the reflectivity and color characteristics of the gap region to match the opaque border, the patent eliminates the visual discontinuity caused by manufacturing variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the opaque border is black to appear seamless, then the gap region is hidden, but the design flexibility for different border colors is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopaque border color optionsVSAvoidgap region visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables any opaque border color (not just black) by using a color filter layer in the gap region that matches the border color. This allows the device to offer various border colors while maintaining the seamless appearance, as the gap region will always reflect the same color as the border regardless of which color is selected

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal solution that works for any opaque border color by using adjustable color filters and reflectors. The same structural approach (color filter + reflector in the gap region) can be applied regardless of whether the border is black, white, blue, or any other color, providing design flexibility without compromising the seamless bezel effect

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

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

Provides a seamless bezel effect by matching the gap region's color with the opaque border, enhancing the immersive user experience regardless of the opaque border's color.

Implementation Method 1

a reflective display area and a bezel area. The reflective display area is disposed between the active area and the bezel area... The reflective display area includes a color filter that filters ambient light and a reflector that reflects filtered light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The reflective display area includes a color filter that filters ambient light and a reflector that reflects filtered light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical filtering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentEP4049085B1Displays with passive display areas
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP4049085B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4049085B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4049085B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

This document describes techniques and systems for displays with passive display areas. The displays include a display panel module (308) that defines an active area (AA) with an array of light-emitting pixels (312) configured to emit light (30) and an inactive area (IA), free of light-emitting pixels. The inactive area includes a reflective display area including at least one color filter (336) and at least one reflector (340). In aspects, the reflective display area includes at least one diffuser (442).