Surface mounted display

Abstract

A flexible electronic display 10 comprises a light emitting layer formed from a flexible substrate with a plurality of light emitting elements, e.g. LEDs or OLEDs, disposed on a surface of the substra

Description

The present invention relates to a flexible display that is configured to be mounted to a range of surfaces including the surfaces of buildings and vehicles, wherein a user can operate the display to provide a variety of patterns on the surface using the display. Background In many situations, there is a need for a person to display information on a large structure such as a building or vehicle. Such information can include ID information such as a vehicle ID, or a building address, and may also include further details about the structure such as the next destination on a vehicle’s journey or a list of what can be found on each floor of a building. The structure may also wish to display different livery over the structure to display which company owns or is using the structure. It is noted that in many cases this information would be painted or otherwise printed onto the surface of the structure. However, such printed information would wear over time requiring the user to reprint the information over time to maintain the appearance of the information. However, over time this information may need to be changed, for example, when a building or vehicle changes ownership. In these cases, the user would need to remove the current printed information and livery on the structure before replacing it with the new information and livery, a process that may cost a significant amount of money and require additional time and labour to complete. Lastly, there is also a problem that some structures may have surfaces that are not suitable to be painted, such as a building with glass walls or the sides of some vehicles. Therefore, there is a need to provide a means of displaying information on the surface of structures such as a vehicle or buildings which can be changed with minimal time and labour, and would preferably require less maintenance compared to painted-on information. It is also noted that in the case of aircraft or sufficiently tall buildings, this printed information is at risk of being damaged by ice, either by colliding with ice crystals in the atmosphere latching to the surface or due to the low temperatures at high altitudes causing ice to form on the surface of the structure. Therefore, there is also a need to provide a means of protecting the displayed information from such ice. The present invention The present invention in its various aspects is as set out in the appended claims. The present invention provides a flexible display configured to be mounted to the surface of a structure, wherein the structure may include a part of a building or vehicle, such that the display produces a desired pattern over the surface of the structure. Wherein the display comprises a flexible substrate layer configured to be mounted onto the desired surface. This flexible substrate would allow the display to bend or stretch to make the shape of the surface the display is to be mounted to. This can be especially useful when the display is mounted to a vehicle as the surface of the vehicle may include a curvature, for example, the fuselage, wings, or tail of an aircraft, the sides of a train carriage, or the sides of a boat. The display itself would comprise a flexible substrate, which would be configured to bend so as to match the curvature of the surface it is mounted onto. Then on the surface of the substrate, there would be a plurality of light-emitting elements, such as OLEDs or LCDs configured to provide different colour light so as to form a desired pattern on the substrate surface that would be visible to observers. It is noted that these light-emitting elements would preferably be configured to provide a variety of different colours, such that the displayed pattern can be varied by the user allowing a single display to produce a range of different patterns as required. It is noted that LCDs and OLEDs are both capable of producing the desired variable patterns, however, each option provides different benefits and drawbacks. LCDs generally provide a brighter image and have a longer lifespan compared to OLEDs which use organic materials that can degrade over time. It is also noted that LCDs tend to be cheaper than OLEDs in addition to needing to be replaced less often. However, the LCDs are larger and heavier than the OLEDs meaning there would need to be a larger substrate to house them, additionally, the bulkier size may cause more drag when the display is used on a vehicle. In contrast, the OLEDs provide a smaller and lighter light emitting element thereby reducing the overall size and weight of the display. The OLEDs also provide better contrast compared to the LCDs as the OLED can be deactivated individually as they do not require a backlight like the LCDs. OLEDs have a risk of “burn-in” images wherein the image previously displayed on the display partially remains creating a ghost image over the display, however, there are methods that can be applied to reduce the risk of this occurring such as switching off the display when it is not needed, additionally, the OLED display has a faster response time compared to the LCD display. It is noted that of the suitable light-emitting elements the preferable option would be a plurality of OLEDs. In addition to the feature described above it is noted that the OLED display would have a wider viewing angle compared to the LCD display, allowing the display to be seen more easily especially when mounted to a curved surface. Additionally, the OLED display is more flexible and less bulky than the LCD display allowing the display to be mounted to a wider range of surfaces. Such a display may be necessary to provide information on surfaces that are not suitable to be painted on, such as the side of a glass building, or on the surface of certain vehicles. In the case of the building, these displays may be used to provide information such as a company name or logo on the building, or may be used to provide advertisements on the side of the building. This is especially useful as the user can change the display thereby producing multiple advertisements at once or allowing the company name and logo to be changed over time as the company changes or when the building is used by a different company. In the cases, where the display is used on a vehicle such as a plane or train, the display may still be used to provide advertisements, but can also be used to provide information about the vehicle by displaying words and numbers on the side of the vehicle such as, such as the aircraft ID, bus number or a trains next stop. Further, these displays can be used to show livery to indicate the company that owns the vehicle. As previously noted, these displays would be configured to be changeable, such that if the vehicle changes owner the livery can be altered without the need to re-paint the vehicle. Also, the display would be able to alter information such as the vehicle's next stop / destination as necessary. This can be especially useful on personal or small aircraft with sloped fuselages, as they will comprise a smooth continuous curved surface, which may not be suitable for painting. For example, some aircraft may comprise a sandwich structure to produce the desired curvature for the fuselage, while having a suitably strong structure to withstand the forces associated with air travel and the force of potential impacts. In these cases, the fuselage may comprise a sandwich structure where the fuselage’s skin comprises a flexible mesh layer that can be bent into the desired shape for the fuselage providing the required curvature for the fuselage’s shape. It is noted that the mesh layer would preferably comprise a hexagonal mesh, as this shape provides the best compromise between the layer's strength and flexibility. Once the mesh layer is shaped the mesh can be surrounded by a pair of solid layers, such as a polymer or metallic layer to form the desired fuselage. In some cases, the fuselage may stack two or more of these sandwich structures to provide additional strength. However, some of the polymers used to form the solid layers are not suitable to be painted, and the smooth curved surface of the fuselage may be unsuitable for mounting a sign or other material which the material can be painted, thus necessitating the need for the claimed flexible display which can be shaped to the curvature of the fuselage. It is noted that in use the rear side of the display would comprise a coupling means that allows the display to be mounted to the desired surface. For example, the back or edge of the display substrate may include attachment features that couple to a complimentary coupling feature attached to the surface that the display is mounted to. In other cases, the back of the display may include an adhesive layer that can be coupled to a desired surface by pressing the display against the surface. It is noted that the adhesive layer would be preferable as the attachment features may damage the surface on which the display is mounted. This can be very problematic when the display is mounted to an aircraft, as the mounting features can cause additional drag as they obstruct the airflow over the aircraft’s surface, especially as the base of these mounting features would create breaks in the otherwise smooth surface of the aircraft resulting in increased drag. The problem is that such an adhesive layer would degrade with time resulting in the display eventually coming loose from the surface. An alternative mounting means may include a moulded or flexible mount or frame, which can be shaped to match the shape of the desired mounting surface, wherein the frame or mount is relatively flat and is moulded to the mounting surface to ensure that the display produces little drag. It is also noted that by using a relatively flat mount or frame, the size of the attaching means needed to attach the mount or frame to the surface is reduced thereby reducing the risk of damaging the surface and minimizing the amount of drag the mounting feature would produce. Once the mount or frame is in place the display can be attached to the mound or positioned into the frame to mount the display onto the desired surface. This is the preferred method of mounting the display as the mount and frame can be shaped to match the surface of the desired mounting surface. This reduces the risk of the display creating drag on the vehicle it is mounted to, and also reduces the risk of the display being pried from the surface, as there would be little to no space between the surface and the display. In some cases, the desired surface may not be suitable for the display, either the display cannot be mounted directly to the frame or the image of the display would be distorted by the curvature of the surface. In these cases, the display may further include a mounting panel that can be coupled to the desired surface by a suitable fastening means and may include one or more arms on the back of the panel to allow the panel to be level regardless of the curvature of the desired mounting surface. In some cases, the mounting arms may be telescopic or actuated such that the user can adjust the position of the mounting panel before attaching the display to ensure that that display is in the desired position. These adjustable arms may also be used to move the display as close to the desired surface as possible to reduce the risk of the display being damaged, and the risk of the mounting plate being removed from the surface, as there would be less space to insert objects behind the display to pry it from the surface. It is also noted that these mounting structures should preferably be transparent to allow observers to see the display through them. To achieve this the supporting structure may be formed using the same sandwich or double sandwich structure described above. As the solid layers of the structure can be made from suitable a transparent material, such as a strong polymer, while the mesh layers comprise thin wires arrange into a mesh, which an observer would be able to see through. By doing this the observer will be able to see the display through the support structure. Further, the sandwich structure allows the plate of the supporting structure to be moulded to the curvature of the desired surface, thereby reducing the space between the display and the surface allowing the display to be mounted more securely and reducing the drag caused by the display when mounted to a moving vehicle. In some cases, the display can be seeded or otherwise embedded into the double sandwich structure described above. In some of these cases, one of the solid layers may be partially melted such that the display can be embedded into the outward-facing surface of the solid layer. In other cases, the display may be seeded into one of the layers of the sandwich structure such that the light-emitting elements of the display are within the layer, for example, the elements of the display may be placed within the spacings in the mesh layer after the mesh has been shaped to match the desired mounting surface before the transparent solid layers are formed over the mesh. It is noted that in the preferred embodiment, the material used to form the solid layer would be configured to be self-repairing. In particular, the material would be configured to melt when impacted, such that the melted material fills any holes or deformations in the solid layer’s surface. It is noted that placing the display into the layers of such a structure would help to protect the display from physical damage but may reduce the user’s ability to re-shape the display after the solid layers are formed. Though, it is noted that the display may use heating elements to partially melt the solid layers so that the mesh layer and solid layers may be reshaped as desired. Regardless, of the specific device used to attach the display to the desired surface, it is preferable for the display to be configured such that the user can see through the display. This may be particularly useful when the display is used on the sides of a building or over the side of a vehicle so that occupants of the structure are still able to see outwards from the structure. In these cases, the mounting structures or frame would comprise a transparent material to ensure they can be seen through. As for the display, the display may use sufficiently small light elements on a think display such that the display is transparent when not active. In other cases, the light element in the display may be separated forming transparent spots in the display thereby making the display translucent when the observer is proximate to the display, in other cases, this effect may not work with lighting elements like LCDs which require a backlight. By using the displays described above the user would be able to add information or livery to the surface of any desired structure. More specifically, the user is able to display and change the information and livery on such structures at will, requiring minimal time to do so. By using such a thin flexible display, the user will be able to scale and shape the display to the dimension of the desired surface that the display is to be mounted to. It is also noted that when used on a vehicle the flexible display can be positioned flush with the vehicle's surface helping to reduce or remove the risk of the display causing drag when the vehicle is in motion. It is noted that when the above displays are used at high altitudes, either on tall buildings, on an aircraft, or in cold environments, there is a risk of ice forming over the surface of the display which may damage the display, and may obscure the information being displayed. Therefore, there is a need to provide a means to protect 5 the display from such ice, preferably by preventing the ice from forming. This is achieved by applying a de-icing layer over the surface of the display. This de-icing layer utilizes materials with a high thermal conductivity and / or a hydrophobic, to prevent ice and moisture from forming on the surface of the display. It is also noted that this layer may also have a high electrical conductivity, so the 10 layer may also act as a lightning deflector. More specifically, the de-icing layer may be in the form of a heat-conducting mesh, which would preferably be made of graphene for its smooth, hydrophobic, and its thermo-conductive properties, but as this may not be commercially available, materials such as copper mesh or carbon nanotube (CNT) grid, can deliver alternatives that have the same de-icing properties 15 as the mesh can be heated to remove ice from the surface and are also lightweight. However, it is noted that some materials such as CNT may be sufficiently conductive that it can stop ice forming through thermal conduction without the need for external heating, or with very little external heating when compared to other materials. LO Therefore, it is preferable to use a de-icing layer formed from CNT. CXI20 To further improve the de-icing layer, the heated mesh may be coated in a CO hydrophobic material, such as ETFE, this coating will help remove water and moisture from the surface of the aircraft preventing the ice from forming initially, and may help remove the ice that does form when partially melted by the heated mesh. It Is** is also noted that these conductive meshes and layers may also have a relatively 25 high electrical conductivity. This will be preferable as the high electrical conductivity may allow the de-icing layer to also act as a lightening deflector, protecting the display, and the covered surfaces, from being damaged by lightning striking the structure. In a preferred embodiment, the de-icing layer would be in the form of a layer of graphene, as graphene is both highly conductive and hydrophobic, it can 30 fulfil the role of both the conductive mesh and hydrophobic coating. It is noted that in some cases this de-icing layer may extend to cover more than the display. In such cases, the de-icing layer would also cover the frame, panel, or other apparatus used to couple the display to the desired surface. Further, the de-icing layer may be extended to cover the part or all of the surface of the desired structure 35 the display is coupled to. It is noted that because the de-icing layer comprises a mesh, typically a thin wire mesh, the de-icing lay will effectively be transparent allowing observers to still see the display through the de-icing layer. Additionally, the de-icing layer may further include an oscillating layer positioned between the de-icing layer and the surface of the display. This oscillating layer may 40 be in the form of a flexible paper-thin layer, that can help reduce surface friction over the display, a type of friction caused by molecules scraping against the surfaces of the display, by rippling and redirecting such particles away from the surface. However, as the layer is so thin, this rippling is not sufficient to disrupt the airflow over the display or the surrounding structure and so will have little to no effect on any vehicle the display is coupled to. Also, the oscillating layer can assist the de-icing layer, by oscillating the de-icing layer itself, thereby shaking lose any ice or moisture that manages to form on the de-icing layer. It is noted that the oscillating layer would need to be formed from a transparent, or at least a translucent material, to allow an observer to still see the display beneath the oscillating layer. As with the de-icing layer, this oscillating layer may extend beyond the display to also cover the mounting structure coupled to the display and / or the surface that the display is mounted to. The claimed invention may further comprise a control system configured to operate and control the various parts of the claimed display. This control system may be a set of control coupled to the display itself, but more preferable would be a form of remote control with wirelessly communicates with the display. The remote control may comprise a control panel within the structure the display is mounted to, a remote-control device, or an application that the user can install onto a desired mobile. It is noted that when the control system is a remote from the display the display would further configure the necessary receiver for receiving signals from the control system. Regardless of the form of the control system, the function of the controls remains the same, the control system would be configured to activate and deactivate the display and to alter the colours or information displayed on the display as per the user’s requirements. Wherein the user can send signals from the control system to the display to change the display as required. It is noted that the control system would comprise a suitable interface that may comprise a display and buttons, and / or a touchscreen display to allow the user to control the display. It is noted that the control system may also be configured to control other portions of the display. More specifically, the control system may also control the de-icing layer and oscillating layer coupled to the display. Wherein the control is configured to activate and deactivate these components and may adjust their settings, such as changing the temperature of the de-icing and / or change the frequency or amplitude of the oscillating layer vibrations. Additionally, if the support structure coupling the display to the surface has any components that can be actuated such as actuated arms or a mechanism for tilting or holding the display in position, the control system would also be configured to control the movements of these components. Drawings The present invention is illustrated by means of the following drawings in which like features are designated with like numerals. The figures provide Figure 1 depicts an example of the claimed display. Figure 2 depicts an example of the layers of the display. Figure 3 depicts an example of the claimed display coupled to a support structure. Figure 4 depicts an example of the claimed display coupled to a vehicle. Figure 5 depicts an example of a double sandwich structure that may be used for a vehicles surface, and / or support structure. Figure 6 depicts an example of de-icing layer coupled to the claimed display. The features of the drawings are listed as follows: 10 - display 12 - Flexible substrate layer 14 - Light emitting element layer 20 - flexible frame 30 - Supporting panel 32 - Actuating arm 40 - Aircraft 42 - Aircraft tail 50 - Solid layer 60 - Mesh layer 70 - De-icing layer 72 - Oscillating layer Detailed description Figure 1 depicts an example of the claimed display set into a flexible frame. It is noted that the claimed display is configured to be a flexible display wherein the surface of the display can be distorted. This distortion allows the display to be mounted to a range of surfaces and structures. It is noted that because the display is configured to be flexible it would need to be mounted to a similarly flexible frame, or directly onto the desired mounting surface, to allow the display the freedom of movement to be bent into the required curvature. Once the display is mounted to the surface it may be used to provide decoration to the structure it is mounted to and / or provide information to an observer, in particular information relating to the structure the display is mounted to, such as a vehicle ID, vehicle destination, or a map or layout of a building. It is noted that due to the displays flexibility it can be easily mounted to any surface regardless of the surface’s curvature. This means that the claimed display is ideal for surfaces that are not suitable to be painted, or when used on structures where the information or livery being displayed may be changed over time, as the display can provide a range of different colours and text which can be changed with a command signal without the need to replace the display. This means that the information and / or livery on the structure can be altered more quickly and requires less time, labour, and materials compared to repainting the structure. Figure 2 depicts the structure of the claimed display. In the simplest example, the display comprises a flexible substrate layer, which allows the display to bend into a desired shape, thereby allowing the display to match the curvature of the desired mounting surface. The display further comprises a layer of light-emitting elements that provide the display, wherein each element is configured to provide a range of colours with each element also having an adjustable brightness to produce a range of different designs and to provide characters to convey information to an observer. These light-emitting elements may comprise a plurality of LCDs or OLEDs. By placing these light-emitting elements over one or both sides of the substrate the user can produce a display that can produce a desired pattern and can be bent or stretched to match the profile of the desired mounting surface. Though not depicted, it should also be noted that the display would further comprise a power source to power each of the light-emitting elements. The power source may include a battery, declarable battery, or solar panel coupled to the display. In cases where the display is mounted to a vehicle, the display may be coupled to the battery of the vehicle as a power source or as a means to recharge the battery of the display. Further, the display would be coupled to a control system configured to send control signals to the display, these signals can be used to turn the display on and off, and can also change the output of the display, thereby allowing the user to vary the pattern or information on the display. In some cases, the display is coupled to a cable, that is configured to allow the display to be coupled to a control device. In other cases, the display is coupled to a receiver that is configured to receive control signals from a remote-control system, such as a mobile device. It is also noted that the remote-control system may comprise an application on a user’s mobile device. In some cases, once the display is formed and placed into a suitable frame, the display can be mounted directly to the desired surface with a suitable fastener, and / or adhesive. In some cases, the display cannot be mounted directly to the mounting surface, in such cases there may be a separate support system positioned between the display and the mounting surface. The support system comprises a plate to which the display can be mounted, and one or more arms, or supports, mounted to the rear of the plate which can be coupled to the mounting surface. It is noted that the support arms may be configured to be actuated, such as the telescopic arms depicted, such that the arms can be independently actuated to tile or bend the display. It should be noted that each support system can be customized for a specific mounting surface by changing the size and shape of the plate and by changing the shape and number of the support arms. Figure 4 depicts an example of how the claimed display may be used on a vehicle. In the depicted example the vehicle is an aircraft with a display attached to both the tail of the aircraft and another attached to the fuselage, as indicated by the shaded areas. It is noted that the displays can also be mounted on other vehicles such as trains, boats, or cars. The display may also be mounted to a building or other structures using the same methods. In the depicted example the display on the tail of the aircraft may be used to display a vehicle ID or the logo of the company the aircraft belongs to, while the display on the fuselage can display the desired livery of the aircraft’s owner, it is noted that should the aircraft be sold to a new owner or other require a new ID these displays can be easily changed using a suitable control device. Figure 5 depicts an example of the double sandwich structure that can be used to form the substrate or support system for the display, it is noted that in some cases the user may only use a single sandwich structure to provide a substrate that is more flexible, though such a structure would be weaker compared to the depicted double sandwich structure. Both of these structures comprise a flexible mesh layer, such as the depicted hexagonal mesh, which is bent and folded into the shape required to be mounted to the desired mounting surface. Once the mesh is shaped the outer solid layers can be formed over the mesh, in some cases the solid layer material may be melted and poured over the mesh, and in other cases, the solid layer material may be directly deposited onto the mesh. Regardless of the method chosen the structure provides strong support for the display which can be moulded to the curvature of the mounting surface. It is also noted that this structure would be mostly transparent, by using a thin mesh and a transparent material, likely a polymer, for the solid layers, thereby allowing an observer to view the display through the sandwich structure. In some cases, the light-emitting elements of the display may be seeded or embedded into one or more layers of this sandwich structure. The structure’s solid layers would protect the display elements from the environment and reduce the risk of the display being damaged during an impact. Figure 6 depicts an example of a de-icing layer that may be coupled to the surface of the display. In most cases, the de-icing layer would comprise a wire mesh placed over the surface of the display and may be extended to cover the display support structure and / or at least part of the surface the display is mounted to. As the layer is formed from a mesh the user would still be able to see the display clearly through the mesh layer. This mesh may be formed of a metal or carbon fiber wherein in use the mesh can be heated to remove or prevent ice from forming on the display. These meshes may also act as lightning conducted that can help prevent lightning from damaging the display or the structure it is mounted to. It is also noted that of these options the carbon fiber mesh is preferable as the material is hydrophobic, meaning that the moisture from the melted ice would run off the mesh preventing the moisture from damaging the display. In cases, where the display uses a sandwich structure a similar mesh may be used in the mesh layer to heal the solid layers to make them more flexible when shaping the display. The depicted example further comprises an oscillating layer that is configured to vibrate to remove the moisture and partially melted ice formed from the de-icing layer. This layer would comprise a paper-thin transparent layer positioned either between the de-icing layer and the display, or over the de-icing layer. As the layer is so thin, this rippling is not sufficient to disrupt the airflow over the display or the surrounding structure and so will have little to no effect on any vehicle the display is coupled to. It is also noted that the control system used to control the display output may also be configured to control the output of the de-icing layer and oscillating layer. By using the displays described above the user would be able to add information or livery to the surface of any desired structure. More specifically, the user is able to display and change the information and livery on such structures at will, requiring minimal time to do so. By using such a thin flexible display, the user will be able to scale and shape the display to the dimension of the desired surface that the display is to be mounted to. It is also noted that when used on a vehicle the flexible display can be positioned flush with the vehicle's surface helping to reduce or remove the risk of the display causing drag when the vehicle is in motion.

Claims

02 05 251. A flexible display, wherein the display comprises:A light-emitting layer comprising:a flexible substrate that is configured to be mounted to be mounted to a surface;a plurality of light-emitting elements mounted to the side of the substrate and configured to produce a pattern over the surface of the substrate that can be altered based on a user’s input;a power source to power the light-emitting layer; andcomprises a de-icing layer coupled to the light-emitting layer comprising a carbon nanotube grid.

2. The flexible display of claim 1, further comprising a receiver configured to receive control signals to activate, or deactivate the display, and to change the pattern displayed on the display.

3. The flexible display of claims 1 and 2 wherein the light-emitting layer is transparent when the display is deactivated.

4. The flexible display of any preceding claim, wherein the light-emitting elements comprise LCDs or OLEDs.

5. The flexible display of any preceding claim, wherein the display further comprises a supporting structure, wherein the light-emitting layer is configured to be mounted to the supporting, and the supporting structure is configured to be mounted to a desired surface or structure.

6. The flexible display of claim 5, wherein the support structure comprises a moulded frame or flexible mount.

7. The flexible display of claims 5 and 6, wherein the support structure is transparent.

8. The flexible display of any preceding claim wherein the display is configured to be mounted to the side of a building.

9. The flexible display of any preceding claim wherein the flexible display is configured to be mounted to the surface of a vehicle.

10. The flexible display of claims 9, wherein the display is configured to be coupled to the vehicle’s engine or battery, as a further power source.02 05 2511 .The flexible display of any preceding claim wherein the flexible substrate comprises a sandwich structure or double sandwich structure;wherein each sandwich structure comprises: a pair of solid layers, with a flexible mesh layer positioned between the solid layers.

12. The flexible display of claim 11, wherein the light-emitting elements of the light-emitting layer are embedded into one or more layers of the sandwich or double sandwich structure.

13. The flexible display of claims 11 and 12, wherein the support structure comprises a plate and support formed with the sandwich or double sandwich structure.

14. The flexible display of any preceding claim, wherein the de-icing layer further comprises a transparent oscillating membrane.

15. The flexible display of any preceding claim, wherein the de-icing layer uses the same power source as the light-emitting layer.

16. The flexible display of any preceding claim, wherein the de-icing layer extends beyond the display to cover at least a part of the surface the display is mounted to.

17. The flexible display of any preceding claim, wherein the display further comprises a control system configured to control the light-emitting layer, to activate, or deactivate the display, and to change the pattern displayed on the display.

18. The flexible layer of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to control the de-icing layer.

19. The flexible layer of claims 17 and 18 wherein the control system comprises an application on a mobile device.

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