Alternating-Current Electroluminescent Device for Stretchable Interactive Display Using Effective Electric Field Modulating Materials

Abstract

The ultimate goal of the interactive system is to simultaneously sense various stimuli on the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and provide dynamic tactile/visual/auditory elements to humans at the same time. Currently, the form factor of HMI was limited to a flat shape, but with the development of augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) or foldable display, various stimuli should be provided without any changes in a curved form with free-form factor. Many efforts have been made to simultaneously provide tactile stimulation and visual expression, which are the most important elements in a touch screen-based interactive system. However, there is an essential limitation to provide simultaneous multiple stimuli on a deformable HMI. This is because each sensation has a different operating mechanism. Therefore, integration of separate device components with different operating signals was demonstrated so far. Here, I present a new methodology to simultaneously control various stimuli with one electric field, as a factor that can realize the intrinsic coupling of tactile stimulation and visual expression in one device. To realize aforementioned concept, materials and structures capable of electric field modulation is developed. In this dissertation, HMI that provides various stimuli simultaneously in real time by combining visual and tactile elements based on a stretchable display is suggested. First, flexible and stretchable electroluminescent platform was developed. A deformable electroluminescent platform has been developed based on alternating-current electroluminescence (ACEL) which is operated by the electric field. Second, the possibility of a stimulus-responsive interactive display platform was explored. A radiation-response display was developed to analyze the residual charge and electric field behavior underlying electric field-based control. Finally, multi-expression of optical expression using tactile stimulation in interactive display was studied. The ACEL was used for optical expression, an electrovibration (EV) which also can be controlled by the electric field was used as tactile stimulation. The concept of the single electric field control to provide multiple stimuli simultaneously in a curved HMI is demonstrated.