Sharp's 'Free-Form Displays' with Ultra-Thin Bezels Make New Display Shapes Possible

Sharp today announced its upcoming "Free-Form Display" technology that will allow the company to nearly eliminate the traditional bezel that surrounds LCD displays. As a result, Sharp will be able to build LCD panels in nearly any shape to conform to the display area of the intended product.

sharp_free_form_display

Conventional displays are rectangular because they require a minimal width for the bezel in order to accommodate the drive circuit, called the gate driver, around the perimeter of the screen's display area. With the Free-Form Display, the gate driver's function is dispersed throughout the pixels on the display area. This allows the bezel to be shrunk considerably, and it gives the freedom to design the LCD to match whatever shape the display area of the screen needs to be.

As an example, Sharp demonstrates a prototype display for a vehicle dashboard, with the display conforming to the shape of the main instrument panel, but the company also address the possibility of using the technology for "wearable devices with elliptical displays".

The concept of non-rectangular LCD displays naturally ties in to Apple's rumored iWatch, which at least one analyst believes will include a round display, although most recent rumors have suggested the device will use an OLED display. Still, advancements in LCD technology that would allow for non-traditional display shapes open the door to many different possibilities for future devices, particularly as wearables appear set to become an increasingly significant focus for mobile device companies.

Reducing bezel thickness on traditionally shaped devices such as the iPhone and iPad has also been a goal for Apple, seeking to maximize display size relative to the overall device size. Sharp's technology could serve to push this effort even further, and issues with devices registering unintended touches from simply holding the device should be minimized as Apple has already developed software solutions for recognizing those touches as part of the development of the iPad mini and iPad Air.

Sharp has not announced when its Free-Form Display technology will be ready for use, noting only that will enter mass production "at the earliest possible date."

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Top Rated Comments

Peace Avatar
144 months ago
Now THIS is innovation .
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NOV Avatar
144 months ago
Judging from the image I thought Sharp introduced their first electronic pillory.

Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Davmeister Avatar
144 months ago
I fear these kinds of articles. I want this now! Anything less than this is rubbish!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
filmantopia Avatar
144 months ago
Looks like a cool technology. Can't wait until Apple invents it!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
144 months ago
I feel like this will somehow complicate coding graphics... the origin (0,0) on displays is always at the top or bottom left corner. Where should it be on an irregularly shaped display, particularly one without corners? In the exact center? Centered on a certain edge? Or would you just pretend that the display is still a rectangle and just have (0, 0) be off of the screen?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
eish2306 Avatar
144 months ago
How close to this are we ?



as this would be amazing, also I'm sure there could be design improvements over my simple attempt - even if there had to be a bevel around the element embedded in the screen it would be great - for older apps it could just go black or act like the backlighting feature on some tvs
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)