Printed Touch-Activated Electroluminescent Display on Flexible Substrates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current production techniques for touch activated displays are expensive and difficult to implement, especially on flexible substrates, limiting their use in low-cost applications such as flexible smart packaging due to high production costs and technological challenges.

Innovation Solution

A touch-sensitive illuminating display is fabricated using cost-effective printed electronics techniques, comprising layers such as a bottom conductive layer, an electroluminescent layer, a touch-sensitive dielectric layer, and a top conductive layer, where contact pressure activates the dielectric material to strengthen the electric field and emit light, with materials processed into jettable fluids for printing, and adhesives controlling the illumination duration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional transparent touch screens are used over LED or LCD displays, then touch functionality is achieved, but production costs become too high for lower end applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch functionalityVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive traditional touch screen materials with inexpensive, printable conductive inks and dielectric materials that can be manufactured using cost-effective printing processes, enabling deployment in low-cost applications while maintaining touch functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes traditional mechanical touch screen structures with a printed electronics approach using conductive layers and dielectric materials, replacing complex manufacturing processes with printable technologies that reduce production costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If touch activated displays are implemented on flexible substrates, then versatility is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases due to technological challenges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexible substrate compatibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible transparent substrates and thin-film printed layers to create bendable touch-sensitive displays, enabling implementation on flexible surfaces while using printing processes that are inherently suited for flexible substrate manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of materials from traditional rigid touch screen components to printable ink formulations that can be deposited as functional layers on flexible substrates, simplifying the manufacturing process for flexible applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If contact pressure strengthens the electric field to emit light, then illumination intensity is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight emission brightnessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a dielectric layer that can be repeatedly charged and discharged through touch activation, allowing the electroluminescent layer to emit light only when needed through periodic touch input, reducing continuous energy consumption while maintaining high illumination intensity during activation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a dielectric material that undergoes a phase transition or state change when subjected to contact pressure, enabling it to store and release electrical energy to strengthen the electric field across the electroluminescent layer, producing light emission with reduced overall energy input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

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

This approach enables the production of interactive, printable smart devices that can be incorporated into various products, providing cost-effective touch-sensitive displays on flexible substrates, enhancing functionality in packaging and other applications with reversible or permanent illumination options.

Implementation Method 1

An electroluminescent layer and a variable-thickness dielectric layer are sandwiched between the top and bottom conductive layers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Implementation Method 2

A touch-sensitive dielectric layer... An electroluminescent layer and a variable-thickness dielectric layer are sandwiched between the top and bottom conductive layers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentUS11307683B2Touch-sensitive illuminating display

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

In an example implementation, a touch-sensitive illuminating display includes a transparent flexible touch layer, a transparent top conductive layer adjacent the flexible touch layer, a bottom conductive layer, and an electroluminescent layer and variable-thickness dielectric layer sandwiched between the top and bottom conductive layers. Pressure against the flexible touch layer is to reduce the dielectric layer thickness and bring the top and bottom conductive layers closer together, causing the electroluminescent layer to emit light where the pressure is applied.