Direct integration of a 4-pixel emissive display into a knit fabric matrix

There exists a growing demand for displays in wearable applications. Wearable displays have traditionally been state-ofthe- art flexible designs that are subsequently mounted onto clothing fabric. Ideally, such a design would itself be fabricintegrated. Recently, much attention has been placed on work involving the weaving of photonic bandgap and other optical fibers to create a true fabric based display. Little exists in the technical literature concerning knit-based fabric displays. In this research, a prototype 4-pixel emissive fabric display is demonstrated. Conductive silver-plated nylon fibers act as a cathode. The fibers are coated in poly-2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylene vinylene (MEHPPV). When this layered structure is placed in contact with a separate metallic fiber (functions as an anode), a singlelayer PLED is formed. After drying and annealing, coated fibers are knit into a fabric matrix using a Shima Seiki SSG202SV automated knitting machine. The knit pattern itself provides a passive matrix addressing system similar to that of a more simple weave. Equivalent planar devices and single-pixel fiber structures are also fabricated. The resultant structures are all actuated, and current-voltage data is obtained for individual pixels using a source meter. Electroluminescence spectra are collected under tension using a UV-NIR spectrometer. The performance of the fiber devices is then compared to its planar analogues. Future directions for investigation are also proposed.