Motorola applies for a patent on technology for self-repairing self-repairing of scratched cracked or scratched smartphone's screen by heat alone

ByHugovk

We found that Motorola filed a patent for a technology to self repair the scratches and cracks on the screen that are attached when you scratch or drop a smartphone by simply applying heat.

Motorola patented a display that can heal its own cracked screen with heat - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/8/16/16156558/motorola-thermal-heating-patent-cracked-screen

This patent is to make a self-restoring power by using a special polymer material on the surface. In the use example described in the patent document, when a scratch or crack (1001) occurs as shown in the figure below ...


Use your fingers to trace the areas you want to restore (1201 - 1204). By the way, the repair function application icon (105) is displayed on the screen.


After specifying the area, start the self-repair phase. It makes it possible to heat (1301) only the designated area, and it seems that it is possible to apply heat efficiently. A message (1302) "Filming repair is in progress, do not touch" is displayed on the screen.


When the repair is completed, the message "1502" message that "membrane repair process has been completed!" Is displayed.


The key to this technology is a material called "shape memory polymer". In the following movies, you can see how similar materials actually change.

Shape Memory Polymers: Plastic with a Brain, and Some Muscle - YouTube


A polymer that is in the form of a thin belt. Originally shorter and thicker band, it has plasticity that can be pulled by hand and stretched.


Polymer stretched in uneven shape. Put your fingers here ......


A polymer that moves like a living thing. It reacts to the heat of a person's fingers and is returning to the initial shape.


And finally, I returned to the original short and thick strip.


Even if it is coiled like this ...


By placing it on the palm of your hand, you will receive heat and return to its original straight shape.


Restoring power is strong, pulling a toy car using the shrinking force like this ... ....


It seems that we can also lift the weight.


If a smartphone that can self repair a wound can be created, it is an inevitable new technology that everyone wants to get it, but it seems that it will take some time for products with such characteristics to appear yet. This is because the display of the present smartphone is made of transparent glass, whereas such a polymer has a reality that it is not easy for glass to be transparent and glossy. Therefore, at first it is used for limited applications such as terminals that are required for children's robustness, and from then on it is likely that we have to wait for technical innovation.