Tiled Display Overlapping Non-Display Areas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tiled displays with multiple connected display devices suffer from visible seams between the devices, disrupting the immersive viewing experience due to non-display areas or bezel areas.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves arranging display devices in a manner that the non-display areas between adjacent devices overlap in the thickness direction, ensuring that the seams are not recognized by the viewer, and achieving this by using coupling members or adhesive members to connect the devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple display devices are connected to form a tiled display, then the screen size is increased, but visible seams appear between the devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen sizeVSAvoidvisible seams
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by extending the non-display areas in the thickness direction (z-axis) to create overlapping regions between adjacent display devices. This three-dimensional arrangement allows the non-display areas to overlap vertically, making the seams invisible from the front viewing angle while maintaining the tiled configuration for expanded screen area.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements nesting by placing non-display areas of adjacent display devices within each other in the thickness direction. The non-display area of one display device is positioned to overlap and be nested within the non-display area of the adjacent display device, creating a layered structure that hides the boundaries between devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If non-display areas are made larger to hide seams, then the display area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseam visibilityVSAvoiddisplay area
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by utilizing the thickness direction (z-axis) to accommodate the non-display areas. Instead of expanding non-display areas in the planar dimensions (which would reduce display area), the patent extends them vertically to create overlapping regions that hide seams without compromising the front-facing display area.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by making the non-display areas have different spatial characteristics in different regions. The non-display areas are designed to extend in the thickness direction specifically at the boundary regions between display devices, while the central display regions maintain their full visibility and functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If display devices are arranged closely to reduce seams, then manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseam visibilityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces alignment precision requirements by implementing a nested configuration where non-display areas overlap in the thickness direction. This overlapping arrangement provides a tolerance buffer that accommodates manufacturing variations and alignment errors, as the vertical nesting structure is more forgiving of positional deviations compared to edge-to-edge planar alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The non-display areas serve as intermediary elements that mediate the connection between adjacent display devices. By extending these intermediary regions in the thickness direction to create overlapping zones, the patent provides a buffer that absorbs alignment tolerances and reduces the stringency of precision requirements for connecting the display devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 approach effectively eliminates visible seams between display devices, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in images without being distracted by unsightly boundaries, thereby enhancing the overall display experience.

Implementation Method 1

an adhesive film attaching a lower surface of the first support layer of the second display device to an upper surface of the second support layer of the first display device in the seam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3985739B1Tiled display
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3985739B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3985739B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3985739B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tiled display includes: first and second display devices disposed adjacent to each other, the first and second display devices including display areas each having light-emitting areas, and a seam between adjacent ones of the display areas. Each of the first and second display devices includes: a first base part in the display areas, a first support layer on the first base part in the display areas and the seam, a display layer on the first support layer in the display areas and the seam, a second support layer on the display layer in the display areas and the seam, and a second base part on the second support layer in the display areas. The first support layer of the second display device is disposed on the second support layer of the first display device in the seam.