Abstract: A visual display screen (100) has a display area (30), for displaying an image, and which extends as far as an optically inactive region (33) towards the edge of the display screen (100). A cover arrangement (400) overlays the display screen (100) and comprises a generally planar portion and an edge portion, comprising a light-bending region. The light-bending region is arranged to bend rays of light near the edge of the display screen (100) by means of refraction, reflection or diffraction such that the display area (30), as viewed externally of the arrangement, appears to extend substantially as far as the edge of the cover arrangement (400). The light-bending region further provides graded magnification, adapted to minimize the rate of change of local magnification across the cover arrangement (400). This function may be optimised for viewing across junctions between adjacent display screens (100, 100?).

Abstract: A visual display screen (100?) such as an LCD screen is provided with a display area (30) for displaying an image. The display area (30) extends as far as an optically inactive region (60), containing device drivers, at the edge of the screen. A cover plate assembly (40) overlays the display area (30). The cover plate assembly is laminar and an upper translucent plastics layer (520) thereof is planar over the display area (30) but is curved at the edge to provide a lens there. Thus, the image in the display area viewed through the cover plate assembly (40) appears to be shifted to the edge of the screen (100?) so that the optically inactive region (60) becomes invisible. Two screens can be abutted adjacent each other with no visible join using this technique. Compression of the image at the edge compensates for edge distortion by the lens. Repeating of the image either side of the join between two screens increases the viewing angle beyond which the join appears.