Possible New type of future surface display technology being tested by Dutch scientists

[Tech_Dreamer]

 

Nick named the  'Mechanical Pixels’ , unlike regular LED pixels which takes in electricity & it it self emit varying range of color , with the help of LED backlighting, this display surface does it without needing a electrical source to start working,   it works under a whole new principle ,  principle of takes advantage of  Graphene bubbles(doing the job of representing pixels)under certain conditions alter their balloon-like structures which acts like pixels to emit visible color range , it currently it works only on reflected light (light source isis indirectly )

 

Lemme list some cons i saw

• the color changes have only been observed under a microscope
• resulting pixels are too small (10nm), that hundreds of thousands would be needed to create even a tiny image
• expensive to manufacture graphene samples at a greater size
• you cannot get clean colors like pure red or pure blue yet
• Method to control pressure inorder to achieve the image is still under works
• Light source dependent , cannot be viewed on a dark environment

 

Now the Pros

• New display technology
• pixel size is really small , meaning seriously fine details can be brought up with high clarity
• Power consumption reduction
• New ergonomic designs for adaptive display tech , maybe restrictive but
• consistent image display non reliable on electricity & artificial backlighting ,
• far smoother image transmission as in real life like if used with temperature/pressure instead of electricity (possible death of refresh rates if properly implied??)

 

 

 

Quote

By applying a pressure difference across the graphene membranes, the perceived color of the graphene can be shifted continuously. This effect can be exploited in order to create colored pixels in e-readers and other low-powered screens. The researchers are now working to control the color of the membranes electrically. 

 

Research was done in collaborative effort from researchers at TU Delft, Netherlands, and Graphenea, Spain, as part of the Graphene Flagship

 

have found a new way to create mechanical pixels using tiny balloon-like structures which do not emit light themselves but are visible in sunlight, could lead to energy-efficient colour displays that can be used in devices such as e-books and smart watches hopefully in e-papers .

 

Video (virtual demo)

 

Quote

Scientists say that these ‘mechanical pixels’ could eventually make screens that are more flexible, durable, and energy efficient than current LED technology

 

The production of color can be influenced by pressure , By applying a pressure difference across the graphene membranes, the perceived/produced color of the graphene can be shifted continuously manipulated. This effect can be exploited in order to create different colored pixels

 

imagine picture frame not requiring any/very few power to be visible

(cort: some HarryPotter gif i thought would be relative)

 

Quote

Previous statistical studies on the mechanical properties of chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) suspended graphene membranes have been performed by means of measuring individual devices or with techniques that affect the material. Here, we present a colorimetry technique as a parallel, non-invasive, and affordable way of characterizing suspended graphene devices

 

How it works,

 

 

 

 

The above shown image(to your left) are cavities that are of the size of 1/1000th diameter of a human hair(these are spread over a mirror like surface like a pixel arrangement parallel & organized), these are covered with 2 layers of graphene (suspended membrane) & due to pressure difference the top one is exhibiting visible color change just due to pressure difference alone,  this can be amplified & changed & dampened according to your liking , mind you these color changed after a while under the same pressure, this was later identified caused due to pressure difference inside & outside those cavity being shifted due to regular conditions & Light interference assisted the color change constructively & destructively (resulting in varying range of color)

 

 

Each of these pixels (mechanical pixels) could be moved (shifting image boundary) by using pressure or temperature , The researchers hope to have a screen prototype for the Mobile World Conference 2017 in Barcelona.

This seems promising for me, if they actually make this thing work in a real world environment

 

 

Sources:

http://www.tudelft.nl/en/current/latest-news/article/detail/delftse-onderzoekers-creeren-bij-toeval-nieuwe-energie-efficiente-mechanische-pixels/

http://www.theverge.com/2016/11/24/13740946/dutch-scientists-use-color-changing-graphene-bubbles-to-create-mechanical-pixels

 

[FPSwithaWacomTablet]

I've seen this effect on stressed glass, though tbh I personally think the effect is too weak to be noticed properly. It's like the rainbow-coloured patterns one sees on soap bubbles, though I'd like to see how far they go with this

[rattacko123]

2 hours ago, Tech_Dreamer said:

 

Lemme list some cons i saw

• the color changes have only been observed under a microscope
• resulting pixels are too small (10nm), that hundreds of thousands would be needed to create even a tiny image
• expensive to manufacture graphene samples at a greater size
• you cannot get clean colors like pure red or pure blue yet
• Method to control pressure inorder to achieve the image is still under works
• Light source dependent , cannot be viewed on a dark environment

 

Now the Pros

• New display technology
• pixel size is really small , meaning seriously fine details can be brought up with high clarity
• Power consumption reduction
• New ergonomic designs for adaptive display tech , maybe restrictive but
• consistent image display non reliable on electricity & artificial backlighting ,
• far smoother image transmission as in real life like if used with temperature/pressure instead of electricity (possible death of refresh rates if properly implied??)

 

Sounds amazing for smartwatches, 4k smartwatch anyone?  

Also you could just use upscaling to avoid the issue of too small pixels.
 

[SansVarnic]

Very interesting. I would like to see where this goes, if it goes somewhere.

[Doobeedoo]

Exciting new display tech. Though seems far off if it comes to realization with it's pros in every way.

[Blackie Sheen]

On 25/11/2016 at 7:07 PM, Doobeedoo said:

Exciting new display tech. Though seems far off if it comes to realization with it's pros in every way.

Well its the case with every new unconventional technologies.Its gonna take some years to make it into a product if the technology. That even depends if the technology is deemed viable to manufacture or simply can compare to current technologies in terms of color accuracy and other image quality related parameters.

 

[corrado33]

Yes because every new technology that promised awesome things with graphene has worked out wonderfully. 

 

As far as I know, there is no good way to mass produce graphene. Without that, this will never happen.