Borderless Display with Light-Bending Structures

Abstract

An electronic device may be provided with a display mounted in a housing. The display may have an array of display pixels that provide image light to a user. The array of display pixels may form an active display structure with a rectangular shape. The rectangular active display structure may be surrounded by an inactive border region. Optical structures such as a sheet of glass or another optical member may have portions that are configured to bend light from the display pixels along the periphery of the active display structure. The optical member may have an area that is larger than the area of the active display structure, so that the presence of the optical member may serve to enlarge the apparent size of the display. Solidified liquid polymer may be used to support the optical structures and may be interposed between the optical structures and the active display structures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display for displaying content with an apparent size to a user, the display comprising:
 active display structures having an area with lateral dimensions; and   an optical member having lateral dimensions greater than the lateral dimensions of the active display structures, wherein the optical member has curved surfaces that bend light from the active display structures to make the apparent size of the display larger than the area of the active display structures.   
     
     
         2 . The display defined in  claim 1  wherein the active display structures comprise an array of liquid crystal display pixels. 
     
     
         3 . The display defined in  claim 2  wherein the optical member comprises a sheet of material having opposing first and second surfaces and wherein the curved surfaces are formed on the first surface. 
     
     
         4 . The display defined in  claim 2  wherein the optical member comprises a sheet of material having opposing first and second surfaces and wherein the curved surfaces are formed on both the first and second surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The display defined in  claim 2  wherein the optical member comprises a layer of glass having a planar outer surface and an opposing inner surface that faces the active display structures and wherein the curved surfaces are formed on an edge portion of the inner surface. 
     
     
         6 . The display defined in  claim 2  wherein the optical member comprises a layer of glass having an outer surface and an opposing planar inner surface that faces the active display structures and wherein the curved surfaces are formed on an edge portion of the outer surface. 
     
     
         7 . The display defined in  claim 2  wherein the optical member comprises a layer of glass having an outer surface and an opposing planar inner surface that faces the active display structures and wherein the curved surfaces are formed on edge portions of both the first and second surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The display defined in  claim 2  wherein the array of liquid crystal display pixels includes rows and columns of display pixels with a rectangular periphery and wherein the curved surfaces bend light from display pixels in the array of liquid crystal display pixels that are located along the rectangular periphery. 
     
     
         9 . The display defined in  claim 8  further comprising a touch sensor on the optical member. 
     
     
         10 . The display defined in  claim 8  further comprising a display cover layer that overlaps the optical member. 
     
     
         11 . The display defined in  claim 8  further comprising:
 a display cover layer that overlaps the optical member; and 
 a touch sensor on the display cover layer. 
 
     
     
         12 . The display defined in  claim 8  wherein the optical member has a planar surface facing the active display structures and a convex upper surface. 
     
     
         13 . The display defined in  claim 1  further comprising solidified liquid polymer interposed between the optical structures and the active display structures to attach the optical member to the active display structures. 
     
     
         14 . The display defined in  claim 1  further comprising a coating on the optical member. 
     
     
         15 . The display defined in  claim 14  wherein the coating comprises an antireflection coating. 
     
     
         16 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing;   a liquid crystal display in the housing, wherein the liquid crystal display has active display structures that include an array of display pixels with a rectangular shape and a peripheral edge; and   optical structures that are configured to bend light from at least some of the display pixels along the peripheral edge to provide the liquid crystal display with an area that displays images that is larger than the rectangular shape.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device defined in  claim 16  wherein the optical structures have opposing first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface has a planar portion that faces the active display structures, and wherein the second surface has curved portions that bend the light. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device defined in  claim 16  wherein the optical structures have opposing first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface has a planar portion that faces the active display structures and has curved portions that bend the light. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device defined in  claim 16  further comprising solidified liquid polymer between the active display structures and the optical structures to support the optical structures. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device defined in  claim 16  wherein the optical structures have angled edge portions that are configured to bend the light. 
     
     
         21 . The electronic device defined in  claim 16  wherein the optical structures are configured to form an opening that overlaps a central portion of the active display structures. 
     
     
         22 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing;   a liquid crystal display in the housing, wherein the liquid crystal display has active display structures that include an array of display pixels with a rectangular shape and a peripheral edge; and   a glass sheet having curved edge surfaces that are configured to bend light from at least some of the display pixels along the peripheral edge to provide the liquid crystal display with an area that displays images that is larger than the rectangular shape.   
     
     
         23 . The electronic device defined in  claim 22  wherein the glass sheet has opposing upper and lower surfaces and wherein the curved edge surfaces are formed on the upper surface. 
     
     
         24 . The electronic device defined in  claim 22  wherein the glass sheet has opposing upper and lower surfaces, wherein the lower surface faces the active display structures, and wherein the curved edge surfaces are formed on the lower surface. 
     
     
         25 . The electronic device defined in  claim 22  further comprising a planar display cover layer that overlaps the glass sheet.