Stretchable Electro-Optic Displays With Segmented Conductive Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electro-optic displays are limited in their ability to stretch, restricting their flexibility and ability to form complex shapes, as they often include stiff materials like indium tin oxide (ITO) that inhibit stretching, even if the display is flexible.
Innovation Solution
The development of an electrophoretic display with a layer of conductive material and an electrophoretic medium, where the conductive material includes a plurality of nodes connected by stretchable interconnections, allowing the display to stretch and conform to various shapes, including those with compound curves, by manipulating the serpentine or zig-zagging interconnections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional electro-optic displays use stiff materials like indium tin oxide (ITO) for conductive layers, then electrical functionality is ensured, but the display's ability to stretch and conform to complex shapes is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive layer is segmented into discrete nodes connected by stretchable interconnections rather than being a continuous stiff layer. This segmentation allows the structure to deform and stretch while maintaining electrical pathways between nodes, resolving the contradiction between electrical functionality and stretchability.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive interconnections are designed to be dynamic and adaptable in structure, allowing them to change configuration during stretching. The interconnections can deform elastically while maintaining electrical conductivity, enabling the display to conform to complex shapes without compromising electrical functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the conductive layer is made flexible to allow stretching, then the display can conform to various shapes, but electrical connectivity and signal transmission may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive interconnections are implemented as flexible thin film structures that can bend and stretch while maintaining electrical conductivity. These flexible conductive paths ensure reliable electrical connectivity even when the display is deformed into complex shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive layer uses composite material structures combining flexible substrates with conductive materials, creating a hybrid structure that provides both mechanical flexibility and electrical conductivity. This composite approach allows the display to stretch while maintaining reliable electrical connections.
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 design enhances the display's flexibility and stretchability, enabling it to cover more surface area and conform to three-dimensional shapes, while maintaining electrical functionality and visual performance, suitable for applications like architectural and wearable displays.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of charged particles move through a fluid under the influence of an electric field
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 3C
AI summary
A stretchable electro-optic display includes a layer of conductive material and an electrophoretic medium laminated to the layer of conductive material. The layer of conductive material also includes a plurality of nodes and a stretchable interconnect connecting first and second nodes of the plurality of nodes. A method of manufacturing a stretchable electro-optic display is also provided that includes patterning a layer of conductive material to define a plurality of nodes and a stretchable interconnect connecting first and second nodes of the plurality of nodes and laminating a layer of an electrophoretic medium to the layer of conductive material.