3D Printed Robotic Assembly Enabled Reconfigurable Display with Higher Resolution

Abstract

The stretchable display might play a crucial role in transforming many potential applications including wearable electronics, flexible displays for smart TV/devices, health monitoring wristbands, and illumination systems. To date, the most commonly used stretchable displays include the installation of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) onto a compliant substrate. However, they have critical limitations such as an increase in resistance and degradation of pixel resolution due to growing gaps between LEDs. Here, a reversible stretchable platform is demonstrated, which preserves not only the resistance of LEDs but also the pixel resolution of the display. Our stretchable platform utilizes the concept of the multilevel arrangement of LEDs, which are mechanically guided by joint pins/links to move out-of-plane and fill the evolved gap. To corroborate the concept of the reconfigurable display, the reconfigurable platform is manufactured by using a 3D printer. Our design might be a key enabling technology to next-generation expandable display and illuminations systems.