According to two patent applications (1, 2) published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, both titled "Electronic device having display with curved edges," Apple was actively investigating non-rectangular device displays as recently as January of this year. More specifically, the documents' claims outline driver technology and other contingencies for powering a circular display.
Apple's proposed solution for circular display technology is fairly straightforward and borrows a general architecture from traditional rectangular displays. In some embodiments, the display sits in a housing surrounded by an inactive border region where driver circuitry, interconnect lines and other supporting hardware are hidden.
The length of gate driver circuitry, or gate lines, are likewise of staggered length depending on their placement within the display architecture. Unlike common displays, Apple proposes folding data lines back on themselves, causing them to pass through two or more pixel columns and in some cases overlap. This arrangement saves space and reduces crowding, while at the same time addressing all pixels in the active area.
The first of Apple's circular watch display patent applications was filed for in December 2015 and credits Chin-Wei Lin, Zhen Zhang, Shih Chang Chang and Sang Ha Kim as its inventors. A revised application filed in January 2016 credits Yu Cheng Chen, Tsung-Ting Tsai and Shih Chang Chang as inventors.
Editor - Liam McClelland | @Liamicy | Source: Apple Insider