Pixel-Level Nanowire Polarizer for Flexible Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display panels face challenges in maintaining visibility and contrast in bright outdoor lighting conditions due to the inability to effectively block ambient light reflections, particularly in flexible and foldable mobile devices.

Innovation Solution

Integration of digital polarizers onto each illumination element of the display panel, which polarize and steer light to reduce reflected ambient light, thereby enhancing the contrast ratio and maintaining flexibility in display panels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional polarizers are used in display panels, then contrast ratio improves, but flexibility and foldability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrast ratioVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the display panel into individual pixels, with each pixel containing its own nanowire polarizer. This segmentation allows each pixel to be independently optimized for both polarization performance and flexibility, enabling the overall panel to maintain contrast ratio while achieving foldability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the polarizer material from conventional rigid structures to flexible nanowire structures with specific dimensions (width: 50-200nm, length: 1-10μm). This parameter change enables the polarizer to maintain its polarization function while accommodating the mechanical deformation required for flexible and foldable displays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional polarizers are integrated into display panels, then visibility in bright light improves, but device flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility in bright lightVSAvoiddevice flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs ultrathin nanowire polarizers that function as flexible optical elements. These nanowire structures are thin enough to allow the display panel to bend and fold while maintaining their polarization capability, thus preserving visibility in bright light conditions without compromising device flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent integrates nanowire polarizers into the pixel structure, creating a composite system where the nanowires are embedded within the flexible substrate matrix. This composite structure combines the optical properties of the nanowires with the mechanical flexibility of the substrate, achieving both visibility enhancement and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Illumination intensity

If pixel-level polarizers are implemented, then contrast ratio and transmittance improve, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetransmittanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical polarizer integration methods with a chemistry-based approach, using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to grow nanowire polarizers directly on the pixel substrate. This substitution of manufacturing methodology simplifies the process by eliminating complex alignment and assembly steps, achieving high transmittance through automated chemical synthesis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 significantly improves the contrast ratio and transmittance of display panels, allowing for better visibility in bright light conditions while preserving flexibility, with a transmittance of approximately 50% compared to conventional displays.

Implementation Method 1

digital polarizers to polarize light emitted from the plurality of light illumination elements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Data Source

PatentUS10598838B2Pixel level polarizer for flexible display panels

Publication Date: 2020.03.24 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Disclosed herein are display panels, display panel stacks, and techniques to manufacture such display panel stacks where a polarizer is provided for each illumination element of the display panel stack. A polarizer can be formed onto each individual illumination element once the illumination element is transferred to the backplane. The polarizer can be arranged to polarize light emitted from the illumination element and light incident on the display from ambient.