Vibrating display panels for disguising seams in multi-panel displays

A multi-panel display includes at least one anchoring platform, a plurality of display panels, vibration mechanisms, and control logic. The anchoring platform(s) are to be secured to a fixed surface. The plurality of display panels is aligned to form the multi-panel display and the display panels are substantially rectangular. The vibration mechanisms are configured to vibrate the plurality of display panels along a vibration axis. The vibration mechanisms are coupled to the anchoring platform(s), and the vibration axis is common to each of the display panels in the plurality of display panels. The control logic is coupled to drive the vibration mechanisms and configured to drive the plurality of display panels to display images corresponding with positions along the vibration axis to disguise seams between the plurality of display panels.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to optics, and in particular but not exclusively, relates to display panels.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Large displays can be prohibitively expensive as the cost to manufacture display panels rises exponentially with display area. This exponential rise in cost arises from the increased complexity of large monolithic displays, the decrease in yields associated with large displays (a greater number of components must be defect free for large displays), and increased shipping, delivery, and setup costs. Tiling smaller display panels to form larger multi-panel displays can help reduce many of the costs associated with large monolithic displays.

FIGS. 1A and 1Billustrate how tiling multiple smaller, less expensive display panels100together can achieve a large multi-panel display105, which may be used as a large wall display. The individual images displayed by each display panel100may constitute a sub-portion of the larger overall-image collectively displayed by multi-panel display105. While multi-panel display105can reduce costs, visually it has a major drawback. Each display panel100includes a bezel110around its periphery. Bezel110is a mechanical structure that houses pixel region115in which the display pixels are disposed. In recent years, manufactures have reduced the thickness of bezel110considerably to less than 2 mm. However, even these thin bezel trims are still very noticeable to the naked eye, distract the viewer, and otherwise detract from the overall visual experience.

Various other approaches for obtaining seamless displays include display lensing, blended projection, stackable display cubes, and LED tiles. Display lensing places a single contiguous lens in front of each display panel100to present a fused borderless image in a particular “sweet spot.” However, the viewing angle is relative narrow and image distortion along continuous lines still occurs. Blended projection uses software stitching and mechanical mounting of traditional projection screens. Currently, blended projection uses relatively low cost hardware and is a good option for non-planar surfaces. However, there are significant physical constraints on usage and installation and requires regular maintenance and sophisticated calibration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 2A-2Dillustrate different vibration axes that may be used to disguise bezel seams between display panels in multi-panel displays, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 2Aincludes a multi-panel display201having two display panels200that are tiled side-by-side. Display panel200may be substantially rectangular. Each display panel200has a bezel210surrounding a pixel region215. Seam213is the portion of the bezels210that are between the pixel regions215of the display panels200. Pixel region215could be implemented a display panel of light-emitting-diodes (“LEDs”), an organic LED (“OLED”) panel, a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), a quantum dot array, a liquid crystal on silicon (“LCoS”) panel, or otherwise.

FIG. 2Billustrates a single axis tiled display202. In single axis tiled display202, the two display panels200can be vibrated or shifted back and forth along vibration axis233. By vibrating back and forth, pixel regions215can be positioned where the bezels210in seam213were previously positioned. The image light displayed from pixel region215(while pixel region215is positioned where the bezels210were previously positioned) can disguise or even conceal seam213as a viewer perceives the image light from pixel region215, rather than perceiving bezel seam213. To disguise bezel seam213, the lateral translation of the two display panels210may be the width of seam213, which may be twice the thickness of the bezels of the display panels. The vibration frequency of the display panels200along vibration axis233must be fast enough so that a viewer cannot easily see the portion of bezels210in seam213. The vibration frequency may have to meet a minimum frequency to prevent a viewer from perceiving bezel210. In one embodiment, the vibration frequency is 120 Hz.

FIG. 2Cillustrates a multi-axis tiled display203. In multi-axis tiled display203, four display panels200can be vibrated or shifted back and forth along dual vibration axis234, having two vibration axes. In the illustrated embodiment, the two vibration axes are each substantially parallel to edges or sides of display panels200. Display panels may be moved along both axes234at the same time. In other words, a display panel200may be moved up on one axis and to the left on another axis, as an example.

FIG. 2Dillustrates diagonal dual vibration axis235. In diagonal multi-axis tiled display204, four display panels200can be vibrated or shifted back and forth along diagonal dual vibration axis235, having two vibration axes. In the illustrated embodiment, the two vibration axes span diagonally across each display panel200. A first vibration axis may spans diagonally from a first corner of each of the display panels to a second corner of each of the display panels. A second vibration axis spans diagonally from a third corner of each of the display panels to a fourth corner of each of the display panels. AlthoughFIGS. 2C and 2Dshow each display panel200having its own vibration axes (e.g. axis234and235), in one embodiment, each of the display panels200are fixed (i.e. locked) together and are moved/vibrated together as one unit. It is appreciated thatFIG. 2B-2Dare simply examples and that more display panels200than are illustrated could be added to the multi-panel displays to create a larger overall display area.

In order to display clear images while multi-panel displays202,203,204are shifting/vibrating, it may be necessary to coordinate the display of the image with a position on a given vibration axis. The images may be counter-shifted (horizontally and/or vertically) to different portions of pixel regions215so each image pixel of the image is maintained in terms of absolute space. In one example, when the display panel200(including pixel region215) is shifted to the right 1 mm, the image displayed by the display panel is shifted to the left 1 mm to compensate and preserve the spatial positions of the image pixels. It is understood that if the display panel is shifted to the right 1 mm and the displayed image is counter-shifted to the left 1 mm, pixels near the right border of pixel region215may display new (border) image pixels to complete the outer boundaries of the displayed image for that point in space. Since the bezel widths may be relatively small (e.g. less than 5 mm), majority portions of the images may be displayed (although counter-shifted to different pixels) throughout one vibration cycle, even if the boundaries of the images change. Without coordinating the displayed image with the shifting/vibration of the display panels, a viewer may see an unacceptably blurred image.

FIGS. 3A and 3Billustrate example multi-panel displays with display panels coupled to vibration mechanisms driven by control logic that also drives the display panels to display images corresponding with positions of the vibration mechanisms, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 3Ashows a cross-sectional top view of display panels301,302, and303arranged side-by-side. Display panels301,302, and303have a pixel region215surrounded by bezel210. Displays301,302, and303may be substantially rectangular.

FIG. 3Aincludes an anchoring platform320that may be configured to be secured to a fixed surface. Anchoring platform320may be a metal plate with holes for screws or bolts to secure it to a wall of a room. Anchoring platform320may include more than one piece. For example, anchoring platform320may be broken up into multiple plates. In the illustrated embodiment, vibration mechanisms315are coupled to anchoring platform320and configured to vibrate display panels301,302, and303along at least one vibration axis. Vibration mechanisms315may include piezoelectric crystal actuators, micro-electro-mechanical-system (“MEMS”) actuators, magnetic actuators, voice coil actuators, or otherwise.

FIG. 3Bincludes display panels301,302, and303and the vibration mechanisms315coupled to the display panels. In the illustrated embodiment, control logic355is coupled to drive the vibration mechanisms and configured to drive the display panels to display images corresponding with positioned along the vibration axis to disguise seams between the display panels. Vibration mechanisms315may be coupled to shift the display panels along more than one vibration axis, as illustrated inFIGS. 2C and 2D. Control logic355may be coupled to the display panels and the vibration mechanisms via bus353. Control logic355may include an image engine365to generate images or video to drive the display panels to display images corresponding with positions along the vibration axis. Vibration driver375may be configured to drive vibration mechanisms315to vibrate along a vibration axis. Vibration driver375and image engine365may be communicatively coupled to coordinate the images displayed by the display panels with the vibration position of the display panels. Control logic355may include a processor, a Field Programmable Gate Array (“FPGA”), and other logic for driving images to the display panels. Control logic355may include memory for storing images and/or instructions.

FIGS. 4A and 4Billustrate example multi-panel displays that include offset display panels coupled to vibration mechanisms, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 4Ashows a cross-sectional top view of display panels301,302, and303aligned to form a multi-panel display. A display surface436of display panel301and display panel303is offset behind display surface437of display panel302by Z offset451. In the illustrated embodiment, display surfaces436of display panels301and303are offset from display surface437of display panel302by at least a depth of display panel302. An offset of at least the depth of the display panel allows display panel302to move side to side or back and forth along a vibration axis without interfering with the shifting or vibration of display panels301and303. The offset display panel embodiment ofFIG. 4Amay have a potential advantage over the side-by-side embodiment ofFIG. 3Ain that it may not be necessary to synchronize or coordinate the vibration of each display panel with the other display panels to avoid mechanical interference—the display panels may shift/vibrate asynchronously from each other. This may reduce the size of vibration mechanisms315because it may take a more powerful vibration mechanism315to effect a coordinated vibration/shifting of every display panel in a multi-panel display, at the same time. InFIG. 4A, display panel302may be shifted along two vibration axes without regard for the position that display panels301and303are being driven to along the vibration axis or axes.

Vibration mechanisms415are illustrated as taller than vibration mechanisms315to show the offset of display panel302. Of course, vibration mechanisms415may be the same as vibration mechanisms315if Z offset451is accomplished by physically offsetting vibration mechanisms315from anchoring platform420or display panel302, or otherwise.

FIG. 4Billustrates an example offset or level pattern for a multi-panel display with nine display panels.FIG. 4Ashows that display panels301and303are on level 1 and display panel302is on level 2 in order to avoid interfering with each other's vibration shifts. When a multi-panel display has displays tiled in both rows and columns (in other words, at least a 2×2 array of display panels), the multi-panel display may need to have vibration mechanisms315vibrate along multiple vibration axes to disguise or conceal the seams between the display panels. Level pattern460shows an example level pattern for a nine panel multi-panel display that prevents display panels from interfering with one another when the display panels are vibrated (asynchronously) along multiple vibration axes. Sub-pattern461shows that in any given 2×2 display panel matrix in level pattern460, each display panel is offset at a different level (Level 1 “L1,” Level 2 “L2,” Level 3 “L3,” and Level 4 “L4”). Each display panel in a 2×2 matrix may be required to be at a different offset level to avoid mechanical interference, especially at the intersection of the four display panels in a given 2×2 matrix.

FIGS. 5A-5Cillustrate two displays being shifted on a vibration axis and displaying images associated with positions on the vibration axis to form a perceived image that disguises bezel seams of the two display, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 5Ashows a cross-sectional top view of two display panels500, each including pixel region515surrounded by bezel210. When the display panels are at center position531, pixel regions515emit image light in viewing regions543-545, and548-550. Center position531may be the position the display panels500are in when vibration mechanisms315or415are not actuated or not being driven, although display panels500may be in a different position (other than center position531) when the vibration mechanisms315or415are not being driven (turned off).

Display panels500A and500B may both be shifted to the left to a first shift position532at a first time. When display panel500A is at its first shift position532, pixel region515A may display a component image511. Component image511displays image light in viewing region542(as well as543and544), where bezel210was previously positioned. When display panel500B is at its first shift position532, pixel region515B may display a component image521. Component image521displays image light in viewing region547, where bezel210was previously positioned. Display panels500may both be shifted to the right to a second shift position533at a second time. When display panel500A is at its second shift position533, pixel region515A may display a component image512. Component image512displays image light in viewing region546, where bezel210was previously positioned. When display panel500B is at its second shift position533, pixel region515B may display a component image522. Component image522displays image light in viewing region551, where bezel210was previously positioned. To disguise interior bezels of display panels500A and500B, the lateral translation from first shift position532to second shift position533may be twice bezel width563.

Image light from component image511(viewing regions542-544) and component image512(viewing region544-546) may form compound image515(viewing region542-546). Image light from component image521(viewing regions547-549) and component image522(viewing regions549-551) may form compound image525. Compound images515and525form perceived image560. Perceived image560spans from viewing region542-551. Perceived image560may be an integral image that includes image light from component images511,512,521, and522. Because pixel regions515A and515B emit image light in viewing regions542-551, a viewer may not perceive a seam created by bezels210, if the display panels500A and500B are vibrated at a fast enough frequency. In one embodiment, the vibration frequency is 120 Hz. It is appreciated that each display panel in a multi-panel may have different vibration frequencies and the vibration frequencies may not be synchronized, in the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 4A and 4Bwhere the display panels are offset in the z dimension to prevent physical interference.

FIG. 5Bis a top view of display panels500A and500B andFIG. 5Cis a corresponding front view of display panels500A and500B, as a viewer would see. Referring back toFIG. 5A, pixel regions515A and515B display image light in viewing regions542,543,545-548,550, and551at either first shift position532and second shift position533. In contrast, pixel regions515A and515B display image light in viewing regions544and viewing regions549in both first shift position532and second shift position533, which may contribute to viewing regions544and549having brighter image light in perceived image560.

Pixel brightness of pixels in pixel regions515A and515B may be adjusted to compensate for uneven brightness in sections of compound images515and525. If viewing regions544and549have brighter image light, common image sections574and579of compound images515and525have brighter image light. Optionally, the light output of compound images515and525may be normalized so that image light brightness in the compound images is more even. If display panels500A and500B are organic light-emitting-diode (“OLED”) displays, OLED pixels in the display may be selectably driven to create the desired image brightness across compound images515and525.

To generate compound image515, component image511includes first end section572(corresponding to viewing regions542-543) and common image section574(corresponding to viewing region544). OLED pixels in pixel region515A that generate first end section572of component image511may be driven to be brighter than the pixels that generate common image section574of component image511, in order to even image brightness in compound image515. Similarly, component image512includes second end section576(corresponding to viewing regions545-546) and common image section574. And, OLED pixels in pixel region515A that generate second end section576of component image512may be driven to be brighter than the OLED pixels that generate common image section574of component image512, in order to even image brightness in compound image515.

To generate compound image525, component image521includes first end section577(corresponding to viewing regions547-548) and common image section579(corresponding to viewing region549). OLED pixels in pixel region515B that generate first end section577may be driven to be brighter than pixels that generate common image section579of component image521, in order to even image brightness in compound image525. Similarly, component image522includes second end section587(corresponding to viewing regions550-551) and common image section579. And, OLED pixels in pixel region515B that generate second end section5781of component image521may be driven to be brighter than the OLED pixels that generate common image section574of component image522, in order to even image brightness in compound image525.

As an alternative to brightening OLED pixels while they are generating image light for first and second end sections, the OLED pixels generating image light for common image sections574and579may be driven to emit less light to even out image brightness in compound images515and525. Of course, these techniques for evening image light in compound images that are described in connection withFIGS. 5A-5Ccould be applied to a multi-panel display with more than one vibration axis.

The embodiment shown inFIG. 5Ais only one example of creating a perceived image560that disguises or conceals bezel seams. In one embodiment, instead of displaying only two images (e.g. component image511and component image512) to generate a compound image (e.g. compound image515), more than two images are displayed to generate a compound image. In one example, four images are generated corresponding with four positions along a vibration axis (e.g. vibration axis233) to generate a compound image or images. The display panel may need to be capable of an increased refresh rate when more images are displayed corresponding with positions along a vibration axis. It is appreciated that any number of images could be generated corresponding with different positions of the display panel. It is also appreciated that images could be generated with corresponding images along vibration axes that would be perceived as motion-picture media.

In one embodiment, instead of displaying a specific image in end sections572,576,577, and581, a randomized pixel pattern is displayed in the end sections. Pixel randomization operates to reduce regular patterns (e.g. the straight edge of bezel210) which the eye tends to easily identify, with irregular patterns. Especially with smaller bezels, light from a randomized pixel pattern may be effective in disguising a bezel seam from a viewer when compared with viewing a stationary bezel.

FIGS. 6A-6Dillustrate an example display panel being shifted to disguise portions of different sides of a bezel, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.FIGS. 6A-6Bshow how an example display panel could be shifted to disguise or conceal display panel bezels from side to side. InFIG. 6A, pixel region215is shifted to the left (with the rest of display panel200) to display left component image626. Pixels in concealing portion616of pixel region215display image light to disguise or conceal where bezel210was previously positioned. InFIG. 6B, pixel region215is shifted to the right to display right component image627. Pixels in concealing portion617of pixel region215display image light to disguise or conceal where bezel210was previously positioned. Left component image626and right component image627may combine to form a compound image that is part of an overall perceived image(s).

FIGS. 6C-6Dshow how an example display panel would be shifted to disguise or conceal display panel bezels from top to bottom. InFIG. 6C, pixel region215is shifted up to display top component image628. Pixels in concealing portion618of pixel region215display image light to disguise or conceal where bezel210was previously positioned. InFIG. 6D, pixel region215is shifted down to display bottom component image629. Pixels in concealing portion619of pixel region215display image light to disguise or conceal where bezel210was previously positioned. Top component image628and bottom component image629may combine to form a compound image that is part of an overall perceived image(s).

When a multi-panel display includes at least a 2×2 matrix of display panels that are tiled together, the techniques ofFIGS. 6A-6D(even in combination) may not adequately disguise or conceal the corners of the bezels of the display panels where the display panels intersect in the middle of the 2×2 matrix. This is because pixel region215inFIGS. 6A-6Ddoes not shift to cover the far corners of the bezel210. Therefore, it may be advantageous to shift pixel region215to display image light where the corner of the bezel was previously positioned. Referring back toFIG. 2C, shifting pixel region215to the corners of the bezel could be achieved by shifting pixel region215on both of the axes in dual vibration axis234. This may require driving vibration mechanism315/415to shift the display panel on a first axis and also driving vibration mechanism315/415to shift the display panel on a second axis, in order to reach the corner of the bezel. Alternatively, vibration mechanism315/415may be configured as shown inFIG. 2D, where the two axes in diagonal dual vibration axis235run diagonally between the corners of the display panels. This may be advantageous in comparison toFIG. 2Cbecause vibration mechanism315/415may only need to be driven to shift a display panel on one axis so that pixel region215can reach the locations shown inFIG. 7A-7D.

FIGS. 7A-7Dillustrate an example display panel being shifted to four different positions on two axes to display images that disguise portions of a bezel, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. InFIG. 7A, pixel region215is shifted up and to the left (with the rest of display panel200) to display Northwest (“NW”) position image726. Pixels in concealing portion716of pixel region215display image light to disguise or conceal where portions of the top side and left side of bezel210were previously positioned. InFIG. 7B, pixel region215is shifted up and to the right to display Northeast (“NE”) position image727. Pixels in concealing portion717of pixel region215display image light to disguise or conceal where portions of the top side and right side of bezel210were previously positioned. InFIG. 7C, pixel region215is shifted down and to the left to display Southwest (“SW”) position image728. Pixels in concealing portion718of pixel region215display image light to disguise or conceal where portions of the bottom side and left side of bezel210were previously positioned. InFIG. 7D, pixel region215is shifted down and to the right to display Southeast (“SE”) position image729. Pixels in concealing portion719of pixel region215display image light to disguise or conceal where portions of the bottom side and right side of bezel210were previously positioned. NW position image726, NE position image727, SW position image728, and SE position image729may be component images that combine to form a compound image that is part of an overall perceived image(s).

FIG. 8illustrates a flow chart illustrating an example process800of disguising seams in multi-panel displays, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The order in which some or all of the process blocks appear in process800should not be deemed limiting. Rather, one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure will understand that some of the process blocks may be executed in a variety of orders not illustrated, or even in parallel.

In process block805, display panels are shifted in first directions (e.g. to the left along a vibration axis) to first positions (e.g. first shift position532), where first sides of bezels (e.g. FIG.6A's left side of bezel210or FIG.7A's left and top sides of bezel210) were previously positioned. Pixel regions of the display panels (e.g. pixel regions515A and515B) may then display first component-images (e.g. component-images511and521), in process block810. In process block815, the display panels are shifted in second directions (e.g. right along a vibration axis) to second positions (e.g. second shift position533), where second sides of bezels (e.g. FIG.6B's right side of bezel210or FIG.7B's right and bottom side of bezel210) were previously positioned. Pixel regions of the display panels may then display second component-images (e.g. component images512and522), in process block820. It is appreciated that all the display panels in a multi-panel display may not be shifted to their first position at the same time (synchronously) as the other display panels. In some embodiments, each display panel is shifted to its first position (via vibration mechanism315, for example) independently, or asynchronously, even if a vibration frequency of all the vibration mechanisms in the multi-panel display are vibrated at the same numerical frequency.