Abstract:
An array display may be formed of panels that include a resilient material positioned around their edges. The resilient material may be black to promote a seamless appearance. Because the material is resilient, it may facilitate the interconnection of panels to form the array, preventing damage during assembly or thereafter.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to displays made up of a plurality of tiles or panels that are abutted together, each panel forming a part of an overall displayed image so that the array display may show a composite image made up of the images contributed by each of the panels.  
           [0002]    An array display may be formed from display panels. The display may be emissive displays including those using organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Each panel in turn may comprise an array of display modules comprising an emissive front part and a back part which is in electrical contact with rows and columns of the front part and may also comprise integrated circuits that are part of the array display drive circuitry.  
           [0003]    Each module may include an array of pixels with row and column address lines. Each panel may further comprise an optical integrator plate in some cases to which the emissive side of the front part is attached.  
           [0004]    The modules may be attached to a frame by way of heat spreaders, for example. The heat spreaders may be attached to the back member and integrated circuits by thermal attachment material such as thermal grease or epoxy with good thermal conductivity.  
           [0005]    It is desirable that the seams between panels and modules be as unnoticeable as possible. To the extent that the seams between panels and modules are noticeable, the creation of a visually integrated, composite image made up of the contributions of all of the panels and modules is diminished. Thus, it is desirable, to the greatest possible extent, to create an array display that has a seamless appearance so that the user is not distracted by the fact that the overall display&#39;s image is made up of the contributions of a plurality of smaller units.  
           [0006]    A black matrix of strips may be defined over a given module to obscure the boundaries between pixels. However, the black matrix on a module may be ineffective to obscure the boundaries between arrays of modules and arrays of panels.  
           [0007]    Thus, there is a need for ways to improve the seamless appearance of array displays. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an array display in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines  2 - 2  in FIG. 1 during assembly;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged, cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 after assembly;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line  2 - 2  in FIG. 1 during assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, after assembly. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]    Referring to FIG. 1, an array display  10  may include a plurality of panels  12  that abut along gaps  14 . Each panel  12 , such as the panel  12 C, may be made up of a plurality of modules  15 . Each module  15  generates a portion of the overall image displayed by a panel  12  and each panel  12  creates a portion of the overall image displayed by the array display  10 . Thus, the resulting composite image of the display  10  may be made up of the contributions to that image from the panels  12  and modules  15 .  
         [0014]    In many applications, it may be advantageous to build larger displays from smaller modules and panels. For example, in one embodiment, building unitary larger displays may involve more complex manufacturing processes. In other cases, building unitary larger displays may result in greater losses because, if any portion of the larger display is defective, the whole display may be ruined. Array displays on the order of one thousand pixels are envisioned, with relatively large pixels, on the order of one millimeter or greater.  
         [0015]    Referring to FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the array display  10  includes an optical integrator plate  16 , placed over the emissive side of each panel  12 . Each plate  16  may have a black matrix (not shown in FIG. 2) formed on the rear side  18  of the plate  16  to obscure seams and gaps between adjacent pixels. In such case, a gap  14  exists between adjacent plates  16  (such as the plates  16   a  and  16   b ) and between underlying adjacent panels  12  (such as the panels  12   a  and  12   b ). Each module  15  may include front and back sections  18  and  20  respectively.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIG. 3, a series of black matrix lines  22  may be formed on the underside of each optical integrator plate  16 . In some embodiments, the black matrix lines  22  may be formed in transverse rows and columns spaced apart by the width of each pixel. Thus, the black matrix lines  22  frame each pixel and serve to reduce the ability to perceive specific pixels while increasing contrast between pixels in some embodiments.  
         [0017]    The spaces between adjacent plates  16 , such as plates  16   a  and  16   b , may be filled with a filler material  24 . The filler material  24  may be optically transparent and may have substantially the same index of refraction as the optical integrator plates  16  themselves. In some embodiments, that index of refraction is from about 1.3 to 1.5.  
         [0018]    The portion of the gap  14  between the optical integrator plates  16  and the underlying modules  15  may be filled by a black material  26  that may be a resilient material such as silicone or foam. The material  26  may be of a color and size to closely match the black matrix lines  22 . Also, the material  26  may be positioned to continue the regular pattern of spacing between block matrix lines  22 , in some embodiments. In addition, the shininess or light reflection characteristics of the material  26  may match those of the black matrix lines  22 . In general, the material  26  may substantially match the optical characteristics of the lines  22 .  
         [0019]    The material  26  may take on an appearance very similar to that of the black matrix lines  22 . Thus, the combination of the appearances of the portions  24  and  26  with the black matrix lines  22  is to create an overall seamless appearance both between pixels and modules.  
         [0020]    In addition, a separator  28  may be provided between adjacent modules  15 , such as the modules  15   a  and  15   e . In some embodiments, the separator  28  may be made of a resilient material that cushions any potential impacts or jostling between adjacent modules  15  either during assembly or during transportation. In one embodiment, the separator  28  may be formed of a resilient material such as a polymer such as silicone. If the separator  28  is applied in liquid form it may be applied with a syringe. Alternatively, expanding foam may be utilized as the separator  28 .  
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the separator  28  and material  26  may be made of the same material. In some embodiments, the material  26  and separator  28  may be integrated. In another embodiment, a temporary separator  28  may be applied to the modules  15  during transport.  
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the optical integrator plates  16  may not be utilized, as shown in FIG. 4. In such cases, the gap  14  may be filled with the separator  28  covered by the black material  26   a , as shown in FIG. 5. That is, the separator  28  may form the entire seam from front to back of the display  10 . In still another embodiment, the gap  14  may be filled by front and back portions, the front portion formed at least in part by the material  26   a  and the back portion formed at least in part by the separator  28 .  
         [0023]    As in the previous embodiment, the material  26   a  may be selected and configured to closely match the appearance of the black matrix lines  22 . Again, the optical characteristics, as well as the spacing between the material  26   a  and adjacent black matrix lines  22 , is such as to make the gap  14  not readily visible. Moreover, the size of the material  26   a  may be selected to substantially match that of adjacent black matrix lines  22 . Thus, a relatively seamless appearance can be achieved through the construction of the material placed in the gap  14 .  
         [0024]    Similarly, the material  28  beneath the material  26   a  may be a resilient material as described previously to prevent jostling between adjacent modules  15 , such as the modules  15   a  and  15   e.    
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the material  26   a  may be integrated with the material  28 . Thus, the same material may be used as the material  26   a  and the separator  28 .  
         [0026]    In some embodiments, a thermal attachment material (not shown) and heat spreader (not shown) may be attached to the rear of the panels  12 . In addition, a driver integrated circuit (not shown) may be attached between the panels  12  and the heat spreader. Electrical interconnects may be made by appropriate connectors or mounting frames in some embodiments.  
         [0027]    While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention.