Display pixel using electroactive polymer and display apparatus employing the same
View Patent ↗Provided are a display pixel using an electroactive polymer and a display apparatus employing the display pixel. The display pixel includes: an electroactive polymer layer, of which shape and/or size is displaced when a voltage is applied thereto; a diffraction grating, of which a pitch and a diffraction angle change according to a displacement of the electroactive polymer layer; and a liquid crystal layer disposed on the diffraction grating and controlling gradation according to a voltage applied thereto.
1. A display pixel comprising:
an electroactive polymer layer, of which shape and/or size is displaced when a voltage is applied thereto;
a diffraction grating, of which a pitch changes according to a displacement of the electroactive polymer layer; and
a liquid crystal layer which is disposed on the diffraction grating and controls gradation according to a voltage applied thereto by a thin film transistor (TFT) electrode.
2. The display pixel of claim 1 , wherein the diffraction grating is formed of a flexible conductive material.
3. The display pixel of claim 1 , wherein the diffraction grating is used as a top electrode of the TFT electrode.
4. The display pixel of claim 1 , further comprising a first and a second electrodes which each are formed of a flexible material and disposed on a bottom surface and on a top surface of the electroactive polymer layer, respectively, wherein the first and second electrodes apply a voltage to the electroactive polymer layer and undergo deformation according to the displacement of the electroactive polymer layer.
5. The display pixel of claim 1 , wherein the electroactive polymer layer and the diffraction grating are disposed in the liquid crystal layer.
6. The display pixel of claim 1 , wherein the electroactive polymer layer has a thickness ranging from 0.001 μm to 100 μm.
7. A display apparatus comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises:
an electroactive polymer layer, of which shape and/or size is displace when a voltage is applied;
a diffraction grating, of which a pitch changes according to a displacement of the electroactive polymer layer; and
a liquid crystal layer which is disposed on the diffraction grating and controls gradation according to a voltage applied thereto by a thin film transistor (TFT) electrode.
8. The display apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the diffraction grating is formed of a flexible conductive material.
9. The display apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the diffraction grating is used as a top electrode of the TFT electrode.
10. The display apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the electroactive polymer layer has a thickness ranging from 0.001 μm to 100 μm.
11. A display pixel comprising:
a backlight unit emitting light;
a liquid crystal layer controlling transmittance of the light emitted by the backlight unit according to a voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer;
a thin film transistor (TFT) electrode which applies the voltage to the liquid crystal;
a reflective color unit, which comprises:
an electroactive polymer layer, of which shape and/or size is displaced when a voltage is applied thereto; and
a diffraction grating, of which a pitch changes according to a displacement of the electroactive polymer layer; and
a transmissive color unit including a color filter transmitting light having a predetermined wavelength among the light emitted by the backlight unit.
12. The display pixel of claim 11 , wherein the diffraction grating is formed of a flexible conductive material.
13. The display pixel of claim 11 , wherein the diffraction grating is used as a top electrode of the TFT electrode.
14. The display pixel of claim 11 , further comprising a first and a second electrodes which each are formed of a flexible material and apply a voltage to the electroactive polymer layer.
15. The display pixel of claim 11 , wherein the electroactive polymer layer has a thickness ranging from 0.001 μm to 100 μm.
16. A display apparatus comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises:
a backlight unit emitting light;
a liquid crystal layer controlling transmittance of the light emitted by the backlight unit according to a voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer;
a thin film transistor (TFT) electrode which applies the voltage to the liquid crystal;
a reflective color unit, which comprises:
an electroactive polymer layer, of which shape and/or size is displaced when a voltage is applied thereto; and
a diffraction grating, of which a pitch changes according to a displacement of the electroactive polymer layer; and
a transmissive color unit including a color filter transmitting light having a specific wavelength among the light emitted by the backlight unit.
17. The display apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the diffraction grating is formed of a flexible conductive material.
18. The display apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the diffraction grating is used as a top electrode of the TFT electrode.