NAIL DISPLAY DEVICE AND SYSTEM

Abstract

A nail display device comprising a display configured to be removably mounted relative to a nail of a user, and at least one control board associated with the display to control media displayed on the display.

Claims

1. A nail display device comprising a display configured to be removably mounted relative to a nail of a user and provided over an entire area of the nail display device to cover the nail of the user, and at least one control board associated with the display to control media displayed on the display, the at least one control board provided in a first layer and the display provided as a second layer above the first layer and wherein at least one encapsulation layer is provided as a barrier layer above the second layer.

2. A nail display device as claimed in claim 1 provided as a part of a set of a plurality of nail display devices, the nail display devices within the set having different shapes and/or sizes in order to fit different nail shapes and/or sizes.

3. A nail display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nail display device is curved from side to side.

4. A nail display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nail display device is curved from front to back.

5. A nail display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display is programmable in order to display media thereon.

6. A nail display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the layers extend over the entirety of an area of the nail display device.

7. A nail display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a lowermost layer comprises an adhesive to attach the nail display device relative to the nail of the user.

8. A nail display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a control board layer is provided.

9. A nail display device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the control board layer is or includes a flexible control board in order to control the display.

10. A nail display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a thin-film transistor layer formed using a substrate is provided.

11. A nail display device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the thin-film transistor layer is formed using a flexible substrate.

12. A nail display device as claimed in claim 11 wherein a transparent plastic substrate is used.

13. A nail display device as claimed in claim 10 wherein one or more display layers are provided above the thin-film transistor layer.

14. A nail display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display is provided as an active matrix organic light emitting diode display.

15. A nail display device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the display is built from a number of layers comprising an anode layer, an emissive layer comprising one or more light-emitting layers of an organic semiconductor material, and a cathode layer.

16. A nail display device as claimed in claim 1 with a rechargeable on-board power supply.

17. A nail display device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a wireless communication module to send and/or receive information or instructions or requests to the at least one control board in relation to media to be displayed on the display of the nail display device.

18. A nail display device system comprising a nail display device as claimed in claim 17 and a computer software program operating on a personal computing device to allow a user to issue instructions to the at least one control board of the nail display device via the wireless communication module in relation to the media displayed on the display.

19. A nail display device system comprising a nail display device as claimed in claim 17 and a personal computing device operating a computer software program to allow a user to issue instructions to the at least one control board of the nail display device via the wireless communication module in relation to the media displayed on the display.

20. A system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the computer software program controls all aspects of operation of the nail display device including powering on and off.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0080] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0081] FIG. 1 is an isometric top view of a nail display device according to an embodiment;

[0082] FIG. 2 is an isometric bottom view of the nail display device illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0083] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the nail display device illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0084] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the nail display device illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0085] FIG. 5 is an end view of the nail display device illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0086] FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the nail display device illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0087] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a nail display system according to an embodiment;

[0088] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a nail display system according to an embodiment; and

[0089] FIG. 9 is a schematic flow diagram showing the operation of a system of an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0090] With reference in to the accompanying Figures, a nail display device 10 is provided. The nail display device illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 in particular comprises a flexible display configured to be removably mounted relative to a nail of a user, and a flexible control board associated with the display to control media displayed on the display.

[0091] The nail display device 10 of the illustrated embodiment is configured to be applied to a user's finger, but it will be immediately recognised that the nail display device is equally applicable to being applied to a toe.

[0092] Where sold in a set, the nail display devices within the set may have different shapes and/or sizes in order to fit different nail shapes and/or sizes. For example, a user's thumbnail is typically larger than the other nails of the hand and therefore, a larger nail display device is generally provided for the thumb with smaller nail display devices for the other nails.

[0093] As illustrated in FIG. 5 in particular, the nail display device 10 is curved from side to side.

[0094] The particular shape and configuration of the nail display device is preferably configured as closely as possible to the user's natural nail or nail bed, with a minor degree of sizing and shaping possible. Excessive shaping or size reduction will likely adversely affect the operating layers explained below and is therefore to be avoided.

[0095] The illustrated embodiment shows a set of nails for a single hand that have been manufactured after sizing. A nail fitting may be required.

[0096] The nail display device 10 is programmable in order to display one or more colours, patterns or other media thereon at the decision of the user. The media displayed on the nail display device 10 is adjustable by the user. The information displayed may relate to colour, pattern, finish (gloss or Matt), according to a theme or any other media. The media displayed on the nail display device 10 of the illustrated embodiment results in a static display.

[0097] The nail display device, even where provided in a set, is controlled individually but to display the same media, for example to represent the same colour on the five nails on a user's hand.

[0098] The nail display device 10 is configured to be removably mounted relative to a nail of a user. The nail display device 10 includes a flexible display, in order to allow for small variations in the shape of the user's nail or nail bed. The display will preferably be generally nail shaped as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, either according to the shape of the user's natural nail or nail bed or a desired shape.

[0099] Preferably, the display layer (described below) is provided over the entire area of the nail display device 10 which will cover the entirety of the user's nail or nail bed.

[0100] According to an embodiment, the nail display device is constructed using a number of layers, built up one on top of one another as illustrated schematically in FIG. 6. Each of the layers extend over the entirety of the area of the nail display device 10, although there may be some tapering of the layers at the edges.

[0101] As shown in FIG. 6, the lowermost layer is an adhesive layer such as an adhesive tape for example, in order to attach the nail display device 10 relative to a user's nail or nail bed. A double-sided adhesive tape is provided as the lowermost layer which the user can cut to size/shape and apply to their natural nail prior to attaching the nail display device 10 relative thereto.

[0102] In a bespoke, fully fitted configuration, the lowermost layer is provided on the rear of the nail display device 10 and the entirety of the nail display device 10 is shaped and/or sized to suit and then applied to the user's nail or nail bed. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, flexible control board layer is provided above the adhesive layer, in order to control the display. The control board layer may be integrated into or connected to the LTPS layer and/or the rear of the OLED display layer.

[0103] A low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) layer is provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. The LTPS layer preferably functions as a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer. Typically, the TFT layer is built upon a substrate. In the illustrated embodiment, the substrate is flexible.

[0104] A transparent plastic substrate is compatible with both the bottom emitting and the top emitting OLED device architecture illustrated in FIG. 6. An example plastic substrate material, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) films (Teonex® brand—Q65), is fully compatible with the TFT fabrication chemistry.

[0105] One or more OLED display layers are preferably provided above the TFT backplane. Typically, the OLED display layer is provided in a single layer (but comprising a number of different layers internally, directly upon the TFT (LTPS layer) backplane.

[0106] An active matrix organic light emitting diode (AM OLED) display provides the most rugged, full colour, lightweight, low power and low-cost flexible displays. An AM OLED display based on a flexible plastic substrate is used in the illustrated configuration.

[0107] The polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) plastic substrate is not typically impermeable enough to protect the OLEDs, an encapsulation barrier layer with a permeability less than 1e.sup.−6 gm/m.sup.2/day for moisture and 1e.sup.−5 mL/m.sup.2/day for oxygen, is added to the plastic substrate.

[0108] A preferred AM OLED display layer is built from a number of layers. In an embodiment, the preferred AM OLED display includes a primer layer formed directly on top of the TFT backplane (LTPS layer).

[0109] An anode layer is then provided, preferably formed on the primer layer by deposition.

[0110] An emissive layer is then provided above the anode layer. The emissive layer is formed on the anode layer by evaporation. The emissive layer includes one or more light-emitting layers of an organic semiconductor material.

[0111] A cathode layer is provided above the emissive layer. The cathode layer is formed on the emissive layer by deposition.

[0112] Other layers may be provided to improve the functionality of the OLED layer. For example, the anode layer may be provided with an ultrathin layer of another organic semiconductor as a spacer layer between the electrode and the light-emitting organic semiconductor.

[0113] As mentioned above, at least one encapsulation layer is provided. A typical encapsulation or barrier layer consists of a multi-layer stack of inorganic barrier films and organic compliant films. In this scheme, the inorganic films serve as a barrier film for oxygen and moisture, organic layers serve the planarization/smoothing function, and multi-layers provide redundancy against pin hole defects in the encapsulation layer.

[0114] Vitex Systems has developed a moisture barrier film used for OLED encapsulation called Vacuum Polymer Technology (VPT) which is equivalent to glass in terms of water or oxygen penetration and can be applied to flexible substrates or over a finished display.

[0115] The encapsulation layer is transparent in the visible region and compatible with top emission OLED displays.

[0116] In an illustrative embodiment, the TFT (LTPS) layer is laid down, followed by an AM OLED layer and an encapsulation layer follows the AM OLED layer, each of which can have multiple layers. This forms the display. An FCB layer is provided beneath the LTPS layer. A lower adhesive layer and an outer polariser layer are provided to finish the nail display device as shown in FIG. 6.

[0117] The nail display device 10 of an embodiment can be extremely thin. For example, an embodiment can have a display with an overall thickness of approximately 0.67 mm±0.06 mm including the adhesive tape layer. This is made up of the following components with dimensions:

TABLE-US-00001 Polariser 0.163 mm Encapsulation  0.20 mm LTPS  0.20 mm Adhesive Tape 0.110 mm

[0118] The nail display device 10 is typically associated with an on-board power supply, preferably on or within the FCB layer.

[0119] Typically, the power supply includes a battery 14 to hold a temporary charge in order to power the nail display device 10 for a period of time. In an embodiment, the battery 14 is rechargeable. Preferably a recharging mechanism, such as induction charging is used which only requires contact.

[0120] A nail display system is provided including a number of comprising a set of nail display devices 10, one for each finger of a user's hand 12, a wireless communication module mounted on the FCB layer of each device and a computer software program operating on a personal computing device, such as a smartphone 11, to allow a user to issue instructions to the each of the set of nail display devices 10 via the respective wireless communication module, to change the media displayed on the display of each of the set of nail display devices 10.

[0121] The wireless communication module 13 may be provided within the FCB layer, offset from other components, particularly the battery 14 in order to minimise the thickness of the nail display device 10.

[0122] Whilst any communication methodology can be followed, it is preferred that a system such as low energy Bluetooth® is used.

[0123] Information and/or the media to be displayed thereon relating to the display is stored on the FCB in the FCB layer. Information relating to the display and/or the media to be displayed thereon can be transmitted to nail display device 10, particularly the respective FCB in order to update the display. The FCB is normally provided with memory in order to store instructions or information relating to the display thereon.

[0124] The display will typically be operable in a display mode in which the display is operational and/or information is displayed thereon. The display will also preferably have an off mode where the display is inactive. When the displays inactive, a base colour may be provided such as grey or black for example as illustrated.

[0125] Instructions for operation of the nail display device 10 can be transmitted to the nail display device from a remote source, such as the smartphone 11. In an embodiment, a software application is provided to operate on the smartphone 11, and through which a user can select media to be displayed on the nail display devices 10 and then forward instructions to the nail display devices 10 using a Bluetooth® signal or similar 15

[0126] Typically, the software application requires pairing or similar at first use in order to form a communication pathway between the software application and the nail display devices. Once the pairing has occurred at first use, the communication pathway can be revived when the nail display devices are to be used. This can occur through a sync functionality.

[0127] Normally, there will be an actuation button or similar provided as a part of the software application in order to initiate the changes which causes transmission of the instructions from the software application to the FCB of the nail display devices.

[0128] As mentioned above, the simplest configuration of media which will be displayed on the now displays typically be a uniform colour on the nail display device.

[0129] The instructions may be sent directly to the nail display devices 10 from the smartphone 11 as shown in FIG. 7.

[0130] The instructions may be sent to the nail display devices 10 via a computer network such as is shown in FIG. 8. In the system illustrated in FIG. 8, a user makes a media selection on the smartphone 11 which may obtain media information via a cloud network 16 from a server 17 for example. The user can then use the smartphone to instruct the nail display devices 10. Alternatively, the user may use the smartphone 11 to instruct the nail display devices 10 via the server 17, although this is likely to be less efficient and take more time.

[0131] The display instructions may be stored on the FCB of the nail display devices 10 and/or in the software application and/or on the network in case any of the nail display devices have problems and require resetting or retransmission or reimplementation of the instructions to cause the display of the media thereon.

[0132] In an embodiment, updating the display of one or more nail display devices will preferably temporarily fix the display on the nail display device until updated further. In other words, the display of one or more nail display devices, once instructions have been issued will typically display the media instructed until the nail display devices are instructed to change the media displayed.

[0133] An example methodology for implementation is illustrated in FIG. 9.

[0134] In this way, a user can select what is displayed on the nail display devices 10 to adjust the appearance of the nail display devices 10 as required according to the user's preference. The nail display devices 10 can be easily removed from the users nail or nail bed which will typically maintain a more healthy, natural nail, which will therefore allow the nail display devices to be more easily attached and detached as desired.

[0135] The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.