Variable stiffness film, variable stiffness flexible display, and method of manufacturing the variable stiffness film

1. A variable stiffness film, comprising:

a variable stiffness layer comprising:

a lower electrode;

a first variable fluid layer disposed on the lower electrode;

an upper electrode disposed on the first variable fluid layer; and

a second variable fluid layer disposed above the first variable fluid layer,

wherein the first variable fluid layer comprises a plurality of first variable fluid receptacles that are arranged in a first pattern that respectively comprise a first variable fluid,

the second variable fluid layer comprises a plurality of second variable fluid receptacles that are arranged in a second pattern, orthogonal to the first pattern, that respectively comprise a second variable fluid,

the lower electrode or the upper electrode are arranged in a third pattern, and

each variable fluid of the first variable fluid and the second variable fluid has a change in stiffness when one of an electric field and a magnetic field is generated between the upper electrode and the lower electrode.

2. The variable stiffness film of claim 1 , wherein the first variable fluid layer comprises:

patterns of a plurality of supporting polymers to support the plurality of first variable fluid receptacles.

3. The variable stiffness film of claim 2 , wherein

the variable stiffness layer further comprises a polymer separation layer disposed between the first variable fluid layer and the second variable fluid layer,

and the first variable fluid layer and the second variable fluid layer are controllable to have stiffness, respectively.

4. The variable stiffness film of claim 2 , wherein

the lower electrode and the upper electrode are arranged in the third pattern, and

the plurality of supporting polymers are respectively arranged between the plurality of first variable fluid receptacles.

5. The variable stiffness film of claim 1 , wherein the first variable fluid is at least one of an electro-rheological (ER) fluid and a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid.

6. The variable stiffness film of claim 1 , wherein the lower electrode and the upper electrode each comprise at least indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), tin antinomy oxide (TAO), tin oxide (TO), zinc oxide (ZnO), graphene, carbon nanotube (CNT), and silver nanowire.

7. The variable stiffness film of claim 1 , further comprising a polymer layer disposed on at least one of the upper electrode and the lower electrode.

8. The variable stiffness film of claim 1 , further comprising sealing portions disposed on opposite sides of the first variable fluid layer.

9. The variable stiffness film of claim 1 , wherein both the lower electrode and the upper electrode are arranged in the third pattern.

10. The variable stiffness film of claim 1 , wherein the variable stiffness film further comprises a flexible display layer disposed on the upper electrode, and

the variable stiffness film, comprising the variable stiffness layer and the flexible display layer, is flexible when the one of the electric field and the magnetic field is not generated.

11. A variable stiffness flexible display, comprising:

a flexible display; and

variable stiffness films disposed below the flexible display, each of the variable stiffness films comprising:

a lower electrode;

a variable fluid layer disposed on the lower electrode; and

an upper electrode disposed on the variable fluid layer,

wherein the variable fluid layer comprises a plurality of variable fluid receptacles that are arranged in a pattern and that respectively comprise a variable fluid,

the variable fluid has a change in stiffness when one of an electric field and a magnetic field is generated between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and

when the one of the electric field and the magnetic field is generated, the stiffness of each of the variable stiffness films is increased using the variable fluid to hold a shape and when the one of the electric field and the magnetic field is removed using the variable fluid, the stiffness of each of the variable stiffness films returns to an original flexible state, and

wherein the plurality of variable fluid receptacles of a first variable stiffness film of the variable stiffness films and the plurality of variable fluid receptacles of a second variable stiffness film of the variable stiffness films are arranged, at intermediate portions thereof, in directions different from each other.

12. A variable stiffness flexible touch sensor, comprising:

a flexible display;

a touch sensor;

variable stiffness films disposed below the flexible display, each of the variable stiffness films comprising:

a lower electrode;

a variable fluid layer disposed on the lower electrode; and

an upper electrode disposed on the variable fluid layer,

wherein the variable fluid layer comprises a plurality of variable fluid receptacles that are arranged in a pattern and that respectively comprise a variable fluid,

the variable fluid has a change in stiffness when one of an electric field and a magnetic field is generated between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and

when the one of the electric field and the magnetic field is generated, the stiffness of each of the variable stiffness films is increased using the variable fluid to hold a shape and when the one of the electric field and the magnetic field is removed using the variable fluid, the stiffness of each of the variable stiffness films returns to an original flexible state, and

wherein the plurality of variable fluid receptacles of a first variable stiffness film of the variable stiffness films and the plurality of variable fluid receptacles of a second variable stiffness film of the variable stiffness films are arranged, at intermediate portions thereof, in directions different from each other.