Microscale, printed LEDs for unusual lighting and display systems

Current technology development in light emitting diodes has enabled high efficiency operation, low energy consumption and lifetimes, thereby creating new possibilities in conventional display and lighting industry. Recent work is also creating more unusual uses in biomedicine and in sensing applications, where conformal contact over curvilinear surfaces is required. Here, ultrathin device geometries and optimized mechanical designs, including neutral mechanical plane layouts and serpentine interconnects, provide indicators and lighting modules with arbitrary shapes capable of integrated on nearly any type of substrates. Biomedical devices such as light emitting suture threads, and glove-mounted optical proximity sensors demonstrate the versatility of this strategy and create great new opportunities.