Self assembly of elements for displays
View Patent ↗Various embodiments of methods and systems for designing and constructing displays from multiple light emitting elements are disclosed. Display elements having different light emitting and self-organizing characteristics may be used during display assembly.
1. A method of forming a display, comprising:
disposing a plurality of display elements of a plurality of types onto a substrate, each of said plurality of types of display elements having a characteristic comprising at least one of a characteristic shape or characteristic surface property configured for forming preferred associations with one or more other types of display elements with a degree of preference that depends upon the type of display element; and
inducing relative movement of display elements and said substrate sufficient to produce association of at least a portion of said display elements with other said display elements to form a group of associated display elements, wherein said induced movement is sufficient to permit said display elements to self-organize to form preferred associations within said group of associated display elements.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said types of display elements in said plurality of types has a characteristic comprising at least one of a characteristic shape or characteristic surface property selected to provide a relatively lower preference for said display element forming associations with other display elements of the same type than for forming associations with other display elements of a different type.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said characteristic comprises a surface charge.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said characteristic comprises a surface energy.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said characteristic comprises a magnetic property.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said characteristic comprises a binding affinity of a biomolecule.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said biomolecule includes a nucleotide sequence.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said biomolecule includes an amino acid sequence.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said characteristic comprises a concavity.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said characteristic comprises a convexity.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of said types of display elements in said plurality of types has a characteristic comprising at least one of a characteristic shape and characteristic surface property adapted for forming preferred associations with one or more other types of display elements with a degree of preference that depends upon the type of display element.
12. The method of claim 1 , including pouring said elements onto said substrate.
13. The method of claim 1 , including spraying said elements onto said substrate.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said relative movement is random.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein inducing said relative movement of said display elements and said surface includes shaking said surface.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein inducing relative movement of said display elements and said surface includes vibrating said surface.
17. The method of claim 1 , including connecting said group of associated display elements to each other.
18. The method of claim 17 , including connecting said group of associated display elements to each other by at least one of heat, vibration, pressure, chemical treatment, or an adhesive to form a connected group of associated display elements.
19. The method of claim 18 , comprising removing said connected group of associated display elements from said substrate as a unit.
20. The method of claim 19 , comprising transferring said unit to a different substrate.
21. The method of claim 1 , including connecting said group of associated display elements to said substrate.
22. The method of claim 18 , including connecting said group of associated display elements to said substrate by at least one of heat, vibration, pressure, chemical treatment, or an adhesive.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein connecting said group of associated display elements includes forming connections for transmitting data or power.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein connecting said group of associated display elements includes forming connections for transmitting thermal energy.