J. Isbell
Materic,
United States
Keywords: CT scan, infrared, flexible, displays, 3D imaging, quality control
Summary:
An infrared CT scanning system was used to create high resolution, 3D images of flexible displays for evaluating mechanisms of failure. In collaboration with Bayflex Solutions, Images were taken of multiple flexible displays at various points in their life cycle by using YUASA, a robotic endurance testing system, to rapidly flex the displays until failure. Imaging the display before a full failure can help diagnose the cause of the failure. The specific layer where small fractures or delamination begins can be pinpointed, as well as the nature of the failure. This gives designers better insight into how to create a more robust display. The infrared CT scanner allows depth imaging that can penetrate multiple layers of a display. It has a depth resolution of 10 µm, and a lateral resolution of 20 µm. The scan line rate of the system is 100kHz, which allows scanning of a 4mm cube in .4 seconds. If faster scans are needed, the resolution can be lowered to accommodate this. A benefit of using infrared light is that it’s non-ionizing radiation. Unlike x-ray, it is safe to use and poses no health risks to the user. This system provides a method of evaluating flexible displays to determine the causes and nature of failure. Its high resolution and ability to distinguish different layers makes it a valuable tool in imaging displays to help the design of future flexible display technologies. Integrating this system with the YUASA endurance tester creates a powerful platform that can be used for testing and imaging many different flexible displays in the future.