Display technology LEDs form 3D shapes from a flat surface

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South Korean researchers have developed an innovative tactile display capable of reproducing 3D shapes and textures on flat surfaces. This technology aims to enable immersive applications, such as enhancing accessibility for the visually impaired and improving user interfaces in vehicles.

A South Korean research team from the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has developed advanced haptic display technology that lets users physically experience 3D shapes and textures. This innovation uses a photothermal, elastic, variable film to create tactile three-dimensional sensations. The team's findings were published in Nature Communications.

The technology uses infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to control the light intensity to enable precise control of the height and elasticity of tactile elements several millimeters in size on a smooth film surface. This display can directly display Braille, text and various three-dimensional shapes. The key differentiator, compared to holograms for example, is the ability to precisely control elasticity and temperature for different sections, accurately reproducing different heights and textures.

Polymers make it possible

At the heart of this technology is a functional polymer film structure consisting of two thin layers. The lower photothermal layer, which faces the LED, absorbs light and generates heat. The upper, variably elastic layer is hard at room temperature, but becomes very soft when it undergoes a transition from glass to rubber at around +50 °C (+122°F) due to the heat of the photothermal layer.

If air is pressed underneath in this state, the film swells according to the absorbed heat and forms a tangible 3D shape. The maximum height of the 3D shape created by an element with a diameter of 4 mm is 1.4 mm, which is around twice as high as that of a typical Braille display. It can be precisely controlled in 0.1 mm increments depending on the intensity of the LED light. When the light is switched off, the top layer cools and hardens again so that the shape can withstand contact without the need for additional energy to maintain the shape.

Advantages over Braille

Inwook Hwang, lead author of the study and senior researcher at ETRI, explained: "Conventional tactile Braille displays can only display simple shapes at fixed heights. With our new technology, the height and elasticity of each cell can be freely controlled, enabling the creation of realistic 3D terrains and textures." Sungryul Yun, Head of the Tangible Interface Creative Research Section at ETRI, adds: "This innovative achievement takes tactile display technology to a higher level. We plan to integrate large-area light sources and tiling technologies to develop large 3D displays while improving cell resolution and maximizing energy efficiency."

This technology has the potential to realize advanced 3D information transmission for the visually impaired, adaptive user interfaces in vehicles, tactile communication and realistic educational models, thus realizing immersive tactile interaction. (sb)

Link: ETRI Creates 3D Shapes from a Flat Surface Using LEDs

Link: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute