Flexible Display Actuator with Electro-Active Polymer for Shape Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flexible display devices lack the ability to precisely control physical changes, making it difficult for users to accurately fold or unfold them for portability and viewing, resulting in inconvenient shape transitions and inefficient power usage.
Innovation Solution
A flexible display device incorporating an actuator with an electro-active polymer layer between electrodes, and an initial shape forming substrate, allowing for controlled shape changes between a folded and flat state through voltage application, reducing power consumption and enhancing user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flexible display device is made foldable to reduce size for portability, then the device becomes more portable, but the user cannot exactly control the shape change state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical folding/unfolding with an electro-active polymer actuator that uses electrical fields to control shape changes. The electro-active polymer layer extends when voltage is applied, automatically transforming the display device between folded and unfolded states without requiring manual manipulation, thus achieving precise control over shape change states while maintaining portability.
2Ease of operation
If the flexible display device is unfolded to watch screen, then the device is ready for use, but power consumption increases during shape changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic or pulsed voltage application to the electro-active polymer actuator rather than continuous power supply. Voltage is applied only during the shape change transition periods (when folding or unfolding is needed) and then deactivated, allowing the display device to maintain its shape state without continuous power consumption. This periodic action significantly reduces overall power consumption while ensuring the device is ready for use when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise control over shape transitions, improving portability and user convenience while minimizing power consumption by maintaining a folding state during non-use and unfolding to a flat state for viewing, with the actuator's electro-active polymer layer extending to exert a bending force.
Implementation Method 1
an electro-active polymer layer that is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. When a voltage is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, the electro-active polymer layer may extend whereby the flexible display device may be changed.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a flexible display device including a display body having flexibility; an actuator for changing and driving the display body; and an initial shape forming substrate for maintaining an initial state of the display body before the display body is changed and driven. The flexible display device allows a user to exactly control a change state of the flexible display device by driving the actuator and to decrease power consumption for changing and driving the flexible display device. Thus, by using the flexible display device, user convenience can be improved and the flexible display device can be driven with low power consumption.