Under-Display Camera Pixel Layout to Reduce Light Diffraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing under-display camera (UDC) technology in electronic devices faces issues with light diffraction due to display pixels and wires, which deteriorates image quality.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device incorporates a display design with a first area overlapping the UDC, featuring clusters of sub-pixels tilted at specific angles and a reduced pixel density, along with a black mask to minimize diffraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If pixels and wires are arranged densely in the display area overlapping the UDC, then display resolution is improved, but light diffraction increases and image quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay resolutionVSAvoidlight diffraction
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different pixel arrangement strategies in different regions of the display. In the first area overlapping the UDC, pixels are arranged with reduced density and specific spacing to minimize diffraction. In the second area not overlapping the UDC, normal high-density pixel arrangement is maintained to ensure display resolution. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between display resolution and light diffraction reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The display area is segmented into two distinct regions: a first area overlapping the UDC where pixel density is reduced to minimize diffraction effects, and a second area not overlapping the UDC where full display resolution is maintained. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between the need for high resolution and the need to reduce diffraction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If pixel density is reduced in the UDC area, then light diffraction is reduced and image quality improves, but display area is decreased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight diffractionVSAvoiddisplay area
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces pixel density only in the first area overlapping the UDC while maintaining normal pixel density in the second area. This localized reduction minimizes the impact on overall display area while achieving the goal of reducing light diffraction in the critical UDC region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

By segmenting the display into two areas with different pixel densities, the patent confines the low-density region to only where necessary (overlapping the UDC), thereby preserving maximum display area in non-overlapping regions while still achieving diffraction reduction where it matters most.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Illumination intensity

If pixels and wires are removed from the UDC area, then light transmission is improved, but display functionality is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight transmissionVSAvoiddisplay functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes or reduces pixels and wires only in the first area overlapping the UDC to improve light transmission, while maintaining complete pixel and wire structures in the second area to preserve full display functionality. This localized modification resolves the contradiction between light transmission and display functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local 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

This design enhances image quality by reducing light diffraction in the UDC area, improving the capture of images through the camera.

Implementation Method 1

at least some light incident on the UDC may be affected by at least some layers constituting the display. For example, light diffraction due to display pixels and/or wires arranged to overlap the UDC may deteriorate the quality of images captured through the UDC.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffraction: Diffraction

Data Source

PatentEP4369891B1Electronic device including udc
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4369891B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4369891B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4369891B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an electronic device including a UDC, the electronic device including: a housing; a display viewed through a portion of the housing; and a camera which is arranged to overlap a portion of the display and acquires external light passing through the display, wherein the display includes a first area overlapping at least a portion of the camera, and a second area excluding the first area, wherein the first area includes a plurality of clusters and at least one wire which electrically connects the plurality of clusters to each other, and a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, and a third sub-pixel are arranged to be adjacent to each other to form one cluster, and a boundary line of each of the plurality of clusters is titled at a certain angle with respect to a designated reference axis, and the angle at which the boundary line of each of the plurality of clusters is tilted may be different from each other. The present disclosure may further include various other embodiments.