Sheet-Type Braille Displays by Integrating Organic Field-Effect Transistors and Polymeric Actuators

A large-area, flexible, and lightweight sheet-type Braille display has been successfully fabricated on a plastic film by integrating high-quality organic transistors and soft actuators. An array of rectangular plastic actuators is mechanically processed from a perfluorinated polymer electrolyte membrane. A small semisphere, which projects upward from the rubberlike surface of the display, is attached to the tip of each rectangular actuator. The effective display size is 4times4 cm2. Each Braille letter consists of 3times2 dots and 24 letters; in other words, 6 letters times 4 lines can be displayed. Pentacene field-effect transistors with top-contact geometry have a channel length of 20 mum and a mobility of 1 cm2/Vmiddots. The Braille dots on one line are driven for 0.9 s. The total thickness and weight of the entire device are 1 mm and 5.3 g, respectively. The present scheme will enable people with visual impairments to carry the Braille sheet display in their pockets and read Braille e-books at any time. Since all the device components are manufactured on plastic films, these sheet-type Braille displays are mechanically flexible, lightweight, shock resistant, and potentially inexpensive to manufacture; therefore, they are suitable for mobile electronics

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