Virtual Borderless Display Driver Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display configurations limit the size and shape of active display areas due to the presence of drivers and bonding areas, restricting the extension of active areas towards the edges of the display panel.

Innovation Solution

The driver is mounted on the backside or underside of the system, with multiple flexible connectors connecting the display panel to the driver, allowing for increased display active area by routing signals through a substrate or flexible printed circuit, and enabling a virtual borderless display configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the driver is mounted on the front side or integrated within the display panel, then the connection and signal routing is simplified, but the active display area is reduced due to the space occupied by the driver and bonding areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactive display areaVSAvoiddriver mounting configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The driver is relocated from the traditional planar position (front side or integrated within the display panel) to the backside/underside of the display system, utilizing the third dimension (depth/thickness) to resolve the spatial conflict. This allows the active display area to extend to the edges while the driver occupies a separate spatial zone, achieving a borderless display effect without complicating the signal routing architecture

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

Solution Approach 2:

Flexible connectors serve as intermediaries between the display panel and the driver mounted on the backside. These connectors route signals through the substrate or flexible printed circuit, enabling communication between the driver and display panel while accommodating the spatial separation. The flexible connectors act as a mediating element that bridges the gap between the relocated driver and the display panel, maintaining functional connectivity while enabling the borderless configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of moving object

If the driver is relocated to the backside with flexible connectors, then the active display area is increased, but the connection routing and signal propagation path becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactive display areaVSAvoidconnection routing
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Flexible connectors made from flexible printed circuits or thin film materials are used to route signals from the driver on the backside to the display panel. These flexible interconnect structures can bend and conform to the spatial arrangement, providing reliable electrical connections while accommodating the relocated driver position. The flexibility of these connectors allows them to navigate the three-dimensional space between the driver and display panel without adding significant structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible connectors serve multiple functions: they provide electrical signal routing, mechanical support for the driver mounting, and spatial adaptation between different components. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional element, the overall device complexity is managed despite the relocated driver configuration

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

Data Source

PatentEP3278326B1Virtual borderless display
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3278326B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3278326B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3278326B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D

AI summary

A display comprising a display panel, wherein the display panel comprises two or more bonding areas; a driver configured to drive the display panel; a layer that provides a medium via which signals can propagate to and from the driver, and wherein the driver is mounted to the layer; and two or more flexible connectors, wherein the two or more flexible connectors provide communication paths between the display panel and the driver, and wherein a first end of each of the two or more flexible connectors connects to the display panel at a corresponding one of the two or more bonding areas, and wherein a second end of each of the two or more flexible connectors connects to the driver via the layer.