Stretchable Device With Segmented Stiffness Substrate

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional devices lack stretchability and maintain performance when attached to the skin or clothing, as they do not adapt to the body's movements effectively.

Innovation Solution

A stretchable device with a substrate having regions of varying stiffness, where high-stiffness regions support unit devices and low-stiffness regions provide flexibility, allowing the device to stretch without damaging the unit devices, and incorporating a connecting electrode and encapsulant for enhanced durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the substrate is made uniformly stiff to support unit devices, then device performance is maintained, but stretchability and adaptability to body movements are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice performanceVSAvoidstretchability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is designed with spatially varying stiffness: high-stiffness regions (first regions) provide mechanical support for unit devices while low-stiffness regions (second regions) enable stretchability. This local differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally without compromising overall device performance or adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate is segmented into multiple first regions (island-shaped) and second regions, creating a patterned structure where stiff and flexible areas are distributed throughout. This segmentation allows the device to maintain structural integrity at critical locations while providing flexibility in other areas for body movement adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the substrate is made uniformly flexible to provide stretchability, then adaptability to body movements is improved, but mechanical support for unit devices is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestretchabilityVSAvoidmechanical support

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is designed with spatially varying stiffness: high-stiffness regions (first regions) provide mechanical support for unit devices while low-stiffness regions (second regions) enable stretchability. This local differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally without compromising overall device performance or adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate is segmented into multiple first regions (island-shaped) and second regions, creating a patterned structure where stiff and flexible areas are distributed throughout. This segmentation allows the device to maintain structural integrity at critical locations while providing flexibility in other areas for body movement adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If continuous substrate material is used to ensure structural integrity, then mechanical strength is maintained, but stretchability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidelongation rate

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is segmented into multiple first regions (island-shaped) and second regions, creating a patterned structure where stiff and flexible areas are distributed throughout. This segmentation allows the device to maintain structural integrity at critical locations while providing flexibility in other areas for body movement adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate utilizes an elastomeric material with controlled thickness and composition to create flexible regions that can stretch and deform without breaking, while maintaining enough structural integrity to support the device components. The elastomer properties enable reversible deformation for adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 device effectively responds to external forces and movements, maintaining performance and preventing damage, making it suitable for attachable devices on skin or clothing.

Implementation Method 1

The substrate may include an elastomer. A difference between elastic moduli of the plurality of first regions and the second region of the substrate may be about 100 times or more. An elongation rate of the first region of the substrate may be less than or equal to about 5%, and an elongation rate of the second region of the substrate may be about 10% to about 100%.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11765963B2Stretchable devices, display panels, sensors, and electronic devices

Publication Date: 2023.09.19 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A stretchable device includes a substrate, the substrate including first regions having a first stiffness and a second region between adjacent first regions and having a second stiffness that is lower than the first stiffness, a unit device array including unit devices on separate, respective first regions of the substrate, and an encapsulant covering the unit device array. The unit device array includes pixel electrodes isolated on separate, respective first regions of the substrate, common electrodes isolated on separate, respective first regions and each facing a separate pixel electrode, the stretchable device configured to apply a same voltage to the plurality of common electrodes, and active layers on separate, respective first regions and each between a separate pixel electrode and a separate common electrode.