Researchers from Samsung’s Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) have unveiled a stretchable OLED panel. The small display was built into a blood pressure monitor that is worn like a large plaster on the inner surface of the arm.
According to scientists, the display can be stretched by up to 30 percent of its original size without breaking. This is made possible by a base material based on elastomers. This has been chemically developed by Samsung in such a way that it is less sensitive to heat — which is important when electronic components such as semiconductors are installed on it.
In addition to the OLED screen, a photoplethysmographic sensor for measuring blood pressure is built into the elastomer. Due to the elastic design, the device should be able to be worn on the arm for a longer period of time.
According to Samsung, it also records the heartbeat 2.4 times more than a conventionally attached sensor. The measurement should also be more precise because the sensor cannot move as much on the skin.
To prevent the OLED pixels from deforming when they move, the scientists’ built-in so-called island structures. These electrodes between the pixels are also stretchable and are intended to take the strain caused by deformations on the OLED elements.
According to Samsung, research on stretchable OLED panels is still at an early stage. The South Korean manufacturer has been a leader in the field of foldable OLED screens for several years.
