Flexible Mobile Display with Pico Projector and Micro-Reflector Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current foldable and rollable display technologies face challenges such as mechanical stress, material issues like transistor failure, low light emission efficiency, and durability problems, particularly with OLED displays, and limited reflectivity and color gamut in passive matrix displays, making them unsuitable for reliable operation in portable devices.
Innovation Solution
A flexible mobile display that combines a foldable/rollable multi-layer passive display with an optical or laser-based micro or pico projector, utilizing a light redirection layer and focusing layer with micro-reflector arrays to provide high contrast images, touch sensitivity, and low power consumption, while being easy to manufacture and integrate into portable devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If OLED is used for rollable displays, then emissive display capability is achieved, but water vapor tolerance and hermetic sealing requirements become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inorganic LED as an intermediary light source that projects images onto the flexible display medium, eliminating the need for OLED's problematic direct emission while maintaining emissive display capabilities. The inorganic LED serves as a mediator between the power source and the flexible display surface.
2Productivity
If active matrix is used for rollable displays, then video capability is provided, but transistor failure under repeated bending occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the active matrix transistor layer from the flexible display structure, placing it in a rigid housing instead of on the flexible medium itself. This separation allows the flexible display to bend repeatedly without subjecting transistors to mechanical stress, while video capability is maintained through the projection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical active matrix transistor switching system with an optical projection system. Instead of using electrical signals from transistors to control each pixel, the system uses light projection to create images on the flexible display medium, eliminating mechanical stress on electronic components.
3Volume of moving object
If short-throw projector is used, then display size requirements are reduced, but projector placement proximity to display becomes constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the third dimension (depth) by positioning the projector in a rigid housing close to the flexible display surface. The short-throw projector projects images onto the flexible medium from a very close distance, effectively using the z-axis dimension to achieve compact form factor while maintaining display functionality.
4Volume of moving object
If foldable display is implemented, then large display in compact form factor is achieved, but mechanical stress along folds becomes extreme
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display system into two distinct parts: a rigid housing containing the projector and electronics, and a flexible display medium that can be folded or rolled. This segmentation allows the flexible portion to be replaced if damaged, while the rigid housing provides structural support and protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible thin-film display medium that can be folded or rolled without containing electronic components that would be damaged by bending. The flexible medium acts as a passive surface that receives projected images, eliminating the need for flexible circuits or transistors that would suffer from repeated mechanical stress.
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
The solution enables a compact, energy-efficient, and durable display that can be easily integrated into mobile devices, offering high contrast images, touch sensitivity, and reduced power consumption, addressing the limitations of existing technologies by using a multi-layer passive display with a pico-projector for enhanced performance and usability.
Implementation Method 1
a light redirection layer and focusing layer with micro-reflector arrays to provide high contrast images
Implementation Method 2
a light redirection layer and focusing layer with micro-reflector arrays to provide high contrast images
Data Source
AI summary
In general, a “Flexible Mobile Display,” as described herein, provides various techniques for implementing a flexible display for mobile phones or other handheld or portable electronic or computing devices that, in various embodiments, is foldable and/or rollable. Consequently, the Flexible Mobile Display provides a large display in a small form factor that is user extensible. Advantageously, production of the Flexible Mobile Display uses an adaptation of various currently available production techniques and is expected to be relatively low cost to produce. Additionally, in various embodiments, the Flexible Mobile Display also includes a low cost touch or multi-touch sensing mechanism that can be easily integrated into the overall system.