SBIR Phase II: Vivid Pixel array for Reflective, Full-color Digital signage

该小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目评估了为适合中试测试的介电弹性体驱动的大面积户外数字标牌构建生动、全彩、反光显示模块的可行性。第二阶段目标的完成预计将产生以下影响：在商业上，新标牌产品的推出将通过部分占领价值14亿美元的国内广告牌和标牌制造市场，产生重大的经济影响。据估计，多达10%的美国分区代码禁止基于LED(发光二极管)的标牌，同时可能允许反射式数字标牌技术，将国内市场扩大到高达56亿美元，在全球范围内产生10倍的影响。在环境方面，温室气体减排有望成为LED技术的替代方案；与LED相比，预计能耗最高可减少40倍。此外，广告牌包装垃圾将通过更换印刷标牌来减少。从科学上讲，将通过解决目前限制市场翻译的技术和制造障碍，促进在产品中使用介电弹性体作为一类材料。在社会方面，在自然灾害期间展示的数字广告牌上及时发布公共服务公告，在联邦调查局追捕逃犯时？S头号通缉犯名单，以及通过大面积数字标志扩散发出琥珀/银色警报，将增加影响。在第二阶段，将建造和测试基于电活性聚合物的概念验证显示模块，准备与初始客户进行试点测试。低成本的显示器设计使用独特的电液驱动原理，在光学叠层内实现卓越的折射率匹配，以生成高度生动和反射式的全色。在第一阶段，使用可扩展工艺制造了功能概念验证像素阵列模块。为了实现试点准备，需要改进性能、分辨率和校准以满足广告商的标准，以及户外操作的环境资质、开发行业意识的软件控制以及供应链投入的资质以实现进一步的规模化生产。第二阶段的研究将通过引入工艺改进和质量控制标准来解决这些技术挑战，使用现有技术进行颜色校准，执行与行业相关的环境测试，与供应商合作采购软工具组件，并开发模块和多模块控制软件。第二阶段工作的结果将是一个经过校准和坚固耐用的1平方英尺、全彩色、16 mm间距的反射式显示模块，准备在第二阶段之后试生产。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project evaluates the feasibility of constructing vivid, full-color, reflective display modules for large-area outdoor digital signage driven by dielectric elastomers suitable for pilot testing. Completion of Phase II objectives is expected to have the following impact: Commercially, the availability of new signage products will create significant economic impact through partial capture of the $14.2B domestic billboard and sign manufacturing market. Up to 10% of US zoning codes are estimated to prohibit LED-based (light emitting diode) signage while potentially permitting a reflective digital signage technology, expanding the domestic market up to $5.6B, with a 10x impact worldwide. Environmentally, greenhouse gas reduction is expected as an alternative to LED-based technology; up to 40x reduction in energy consumption is anticipated relative to LEDs. Additionally, billboard wrap waste will be reduced by replacing printed signage. Scientifically, the use of dielectric elastomers as a class of materials in products would be promoted through addressing technological and manufacturing hurdles currently limiting market translation. Societally, increased impact from timely public service announcements on digital billboards displayed during natural disasters, when catching fugitives from the FBI?s Most Wanted lists, and with Amber/Silver alerts are expected through large-area digital sign proliferation.In phase II, electroactive polymer-based proof-of-concept display modules will be constructed and tested, ready for pilot testing with initial customers. The low-cost display design uses unique electro-hydraulic driving principles to enable exceptional refractive index matching within the optical stack for highly vivid and reflective full-color generation. In phase I, a functional proof-of-concept pixel array module was fabricated using scalable processes. To achieve pilot readiness, improvements in performance, resolution, and calibration to meet advertiser standards are needed, as well as environmental qualification for outdoor operation, development of industry-conscious software control, and qualification of supply chain inputs to enable further production at scale. Phase II research will address these technical challenges by introducing process refinements and quality control standards, conduct color calibration using existing techniques, perform industry-relevant environmental testing, work with vendors to source soft-tooled components, and develop module and multi-module control software. The result of phase II efforts will be a calibrated and rugged one square foot, full-color, 16mm pitch, reflective display module ready for scaling to pilot production following phase II.