Harvard College

Solchroma Technologies, Inc.

Roger Diebold

Samuel Shian

David Clarke

Display devices and actuators and other components for a display device are provided. Display devices are provided configured to alter an optical property by moving an amount of a first fluid through which light can pass. In some aspects, the first fluid is movable within a cavity by varying an amount of pressure on the cavity; and the display includes a means of varying the amount of pressure. The means can include an actuator. An actuator is provided that has a first cavity containing fluid and bounded at least in part by a first elastomer; a second cavity containing fluid and bounded at least in by part by a second elastomer; a channel connecting the first cavity to the second cavity; and a valve configured to be electrically operated into an open state or a closed state and thereby allow or block flow of the fluid through the channel.

Display techniques incorporating fluidic actuators and related systems and methods

According to some aspects, an adaptive lens is provided. One such adaptive lens comprises at least one fluid-filled chamber located within an optical and/or acoustic path of the lens, and at least one elastomeric and substantially optically and/or acoustically transparent membrane, located within an optical and/or acoustic path of the lens and at least partially bounding one or more of the at least one fluid-filled chambers, wherein one or more of the at least one membranes is configured such that a shape of the membrane is altered upon receipt of an electric field. Some aspects provide a method of producing a lens comprising providing at least one chamber bounded at least in part by first and second membranes, and providing a fluid into the at least one chamber such that the fluid is located within an optical and/or acoustic path of the lens.

Adaptive optic and acoustic devices

A pixel device using optically active fluid contained within elastomeric materials and actuated through dielectric elastomer membrane is disclosed. The underlying mechanism of optical contrast in this display pixel is the spread and contraction of the fluid contained within a pre-stretched elastomer membrane and a substrate. The actuation mechanism for the fluid flow is a dielectric elastomer membrane coated with compliant electrodes on both sides. When both electrodes are connected to a voltage source, the oppositely charged electrodes attract each other, compressing the sandwiched elastomer membrane in the thickness direction but increasing its lateral dimension. Due to geometrical constraint, the change in the membrane lateral dimension results in the net volume change of the fluid reservoir, causing optically active fluid to move from the display cavity into the fluid reservoir or vice versa. The variation of the amount of fluid in the display cavity corresponds to the variation of optical properties, such as contrast and color, of the pixel device.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Roger Diebold