Ring Light Guide for Circular Display Edge Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional display devices with rectangular form factors face challenges in maintaining a large display area and minimizing bezel size when transitioning to non-rectangular shapes like circular or rounded designs, as edge pixels are not continuous, affecting image display and increasing bezel size.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a circular display panel, a ring-shaped light guide member, and an encapsulation substrate, where the light guide member covers the edge pixels and adjacent pixels, maintaining a continuous image display while minimizing bezel size without deforming existing pixel shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a non-rectangular form factor (e.g., circular) is used for the display panel, then aesthetic appeal and design versatility are improved, but the display area is reduced and bezel size increases due to discontinuous edge pixels
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the discontinuous edge pixels and the viewer. This light guide member diffuses and redirects light from the stepped edge pixels, creating the visual effect of continuous illumination along the circular boundary. This mediator enables the display to achieve both the desired circular aesthetic and maintain effective use of the display area without requiring thick bezels.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a non-rectangular form factor (e.g., circular) is used for the display panel, then aesthetic appeal and design versatility are improved, but bezel size increases to accommodate discontinuous edge pixels
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide member serves as a mediator that eliminates the need for thick bezels. By optically coupling the discontinuous edge pixels and diffusing their light output, the light guide member creates the appearance of continuous illumination along the circular boundary, allowing thin bezels to be used while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide member utilizes optical properties to modify light transmission and diffusion. By controlling the optical characteristics of the light guide member, the display achieves uniform visual appearance along the circular edge, creating the effect of continuous illumination without requiring physical continuity of pixels or thick bezel structures.
3Ease of manufacture
If edge pixels are arranged in a stepped configuration for circular display, then manufacturing is simplified, but image display quality deteriorates due to discontinuous light emission
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide member acts as an optical intermediary that receives light from the stepped edge pixels and redistributes it uniformly along the circular boundary. This mediation process transforms the discontinuous light emission from stepped pixels into continuous, uniform illumination, maintaining image display quality while preserving the manufacturing simplicity of stepped pixel arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide member provides different optical functions at different locations. At the stepped edge regions, it collects and diffuses light from individual pixels, while in the intermediate regions, it creates continuous uniform illumination. This local differentiation of optical properties allows the system to maintain both manufacturing simplicity and image quality.
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
The solution maintains a wide display area and minimizes bezel size while ensuring continuous image display and aesthetic appeal by using a light guide member to diffuse light from edge pixels, enhancing luminance and eliminating the need for thick bezels.
Implementation Method 1
the light guide member may have a ring shape to correspond to the plurality of edge pixels... the light guide member covering a light emitting surface of the plurality of edge pixels
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a circular display panel, an encapsulation substrate on the circular display panel, and an optical element interposed between the circular display panel and the encapsulation substrate, the optical element including a light guide member having a ring shape to correspond to a boundary of the circular display panel, the light guide member configuring a boundary of the optical element.