Flexible Electroluminescent Display on Smart Textile

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electroluminescent displays (ELDs) are expensive, rigid, and non-stretchable, making them unsuitable for flexible applications such as smart textiles.

Innovation Solution

The development of a flexible and stretchable electroluminescent display using a screen printing process, featuring a first and second conductive layer made of transparent, flexible materials, with an electroluminescent layer sandwiched between insulating layers, integrated with a flexible circuit board and power supply, and attached to a textile via conductive interconnects like yarn or threads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional ELDs are made with flat opaque electrodes on insulating substrate, then light emission is achieved, but the display becomes rigid and non-stretchable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight emissionVSAvoidrigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid flat electrodes with flexible transparent conductive layers formed as thin films. The conductive layers are deposited on flexible substrates and can be stretched without breaking, enabling the display to maintain light emission functionality while achieving flexibility and stretchability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material structures combining flexible substrates with transparent conductive layers. The combination of these materials creates a display structure that maintains electrical conductivity and light emission properties while gaining mechanical flexibility and stretchability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional ELDs use standard manufacturing processes, then production is achieved, but cost is high and scalability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction capabilityVSAvoidvolume production scalability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical assembly processes with direct deposition methods. Transparent conductive layers are formed directly on flexible substrates through deposition techniques, eliminating the need for separate electrode fabrication and assembly steps, thereby reducing cost and enabling scalable production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Illumination intensity

If transparent conductive layers are used, then light transmission is improved, but electrical conductivity may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmissionVSAvoidelectrical conductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the parameters of transparent conductive layers, including thickness, material composition, and deposition conditions, to achieve the right balance between transparency and conductivity. By carefully controlling these parameters, the display achieves sufficient light transmission while maintaining reliable electrical conductivity for light emission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 the creation of a cost-effective, flexible electroluminescent display that can be seamlessly integrated with textiles, offering enhanced durability and versatility while maintaining light emission functionality.

Implementation Method 1

Electroluminescence (EL) is an optical and electrical phenomenon where a material emits light in response to an electric current passing through it

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentUS10575381B1Electroluminescent display on smart textile and interconnect methods

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 FLEX LTD

AI summary

An electroluminescent display is flexible and stretchable, and therefore able to be attached to a textile. All interior layers of the electroluminescent display can be made using a screen printing process which can be scaled for volume production.