Zigzag Gate Lines for Single-Edge Driver Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic device displays are constrained by the presence of driver circuitry along their edges, limiting the minimum achievable border size and display layout, which can result in larger inactive borders than desired.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of non-straight and diagonal gate line portions that distribute control signals across multiple data lines, reducing capacitive coupling and allowing for the placement of display driver circuitry along a single edge, enabling displays to be formed in arbitrary shapes without the need for multiple edge circuitry locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If driver circuitry is placed along multiple edges of the display, then the display can be driven properly, but the border size increases and the display layout is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple driver circuitries into a single driver circuitry by using gate lines with non-horizontal portions that can distribute control signals to multiple rows. This consolidation eliminates the need for driver circuitries along multiple edges, reducing border size while maintaining full display control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate lines extend in non-horizontal directions (diagonal or vertical portions) to reach multiple rows from a single driver circuitry location. This dimensional extension allows one driver circuitry to control the entire display, removing the constraint of requiring drivers on all edges and enabling flexible display layouts with minimized borders.
2Area of stationary object
If driver circuitry is placed along a single edge, then border size is minimized, but signal distribution to all pixels becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gate lines are segmented into horizontal portions and non-horizontal portions (diagonal or vertical). Each segment serves a specific function: horizontal portions connect to pixels in the same row, while non-horizontal portions bridge between rows. This segmentation allows a single driver circuitry to efficiently distribute signals to all pixels through organized, modular signal paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-horizontal portions of gate lines act as intermediaries that transfer control signals from the single driver circuitry to multiple row groups. These diagonal or vertical gate line segments mediate the signal distribution, enabling one driver to control the entire display without requiring complex routing by introducing intermediate signal transmission paths.
3Device complexity
If gate lines have straight vertical portions, then signal distribution is simple, but capacitive coupling to individual data lines increases causing signal disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The gate lines use diagonal portions instead of straight vertical portions, creating angled paths that cross data lines at oblique angles rather than perpendicular intersections. This curvature/angulation reduces the overlap area between gate lines and data lines, thereby minimizing capacitive coupling and signal disruptions while maintaining efficient signal distribution.
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 arrangement minimizes border size, allows for flexible display shapes, and reduces signal disruptions, enhancing the display's aesthetic appeal and operational efficiency by spreading capacitive coupling evenly across data lines.
Implementation Method 1
The use of non-straight shapes and/or diagonal shapes for the non-horizontal portions may help spread total capacitive coupling across many overlapping data lines, reducing coupling to any individual data line.
Data Source
AI summary
A display may have an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns. Display driver circuitry may be provided along an edge of the display. Data lines that are associated with columns of the pixels may be used to distribute data from the display driver circuitry to the pixels. Gate lines in the display may each have a horizontal straight portion that extends along a respective row of the pixels and may each have one or more non-horizontal segments such as zigzag segments. The non-horizontal portion of each gate line may be connected to the horizontal straight portion of the gate line by a via. The non-horizontal portions may each have portions that are overlapped by portions of the data lines. Dummy gate line structures may be provided on the display that are not coupled to any of the pixels in the display.