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Pursuing different display approaches, Universal
Display Corporation (UDC) has developed the Flexible OLED (FOLED)
technology where organic light emitting devices are built on flexible
substrates such as plastic or metallic foil. When matured, FOLED
displays will offer significant performance advantages over LCD
displays that are typically built on rigid glass substrates and
contain a bulky backlight. They will be thinner and lighter weight and
more durable than current displays. Such displays may be made to bend,
flex and conform to many surfaces. “Flexible displays are the next
revolution in information technology that will enable lighter weight,
lower power, more rugged systems for portable and vehicle
applications, “said Brig. Gen. Roger Nadeau, commanding general of the
Army’s Research, Development and Engineering Command. These devices
cannot be realized with current glass-based displays. Among such
devices are body worn displays that conform to the uniform, displays
that can be rolled-up and put in a pocket when not in use and unrolled
for large-area, high information content.
In February 2005 the U.S. Army and Arizona State
University established the Flexible Display Center, to accelerate
research, development and manufacture of flexible display
technologies, focusing on small, lightweight, rugged information
devices designed for military and commercial uses. The center has
already produced a proof of concept limited flexibility 4-in. diagonal
monochrome devices, while the overall goal is to increase size,
reliability and flexibility supporting full color displays as large as
15- to 17-inch diagonal. The center was established as part of a $43.7
million, five-year cooperative agreement between the U.S. Army
Research Laboratory (ARL) and Arizona State University signed in
February 2004.
Army partners include the ARL and the Natick Soldier
Center. Industry partners include EV Group, Honeywell, Universal
Display Corporation, Kent Displays, E Ink, Ito America, General
Dynamics, Rockwell Collins, Abbie Gregg Inc., and the U.S. Display
Consortium. University collaborators include Cornell University, the
University of Texas and Waterloo University. Additional partners will
be engaged in the near future as the center matures.
 The company is developing a compact cell phone-like communication
device which will utilize a roll-out FOLED display offering
full-color, full-motion video capability. This initiative partly
funded by U.S. Department of Defense programs through the Army
Research Laboratory (ARL), U.S. Army Communication Electronics
Research and Development Engineering Center (CERDEC), and Air Force
Research Laboratory (AFRL). This futuristic communications device will
be form-fitted to a soldier's wrist and communicate wirelessly to a
nearby computer, thereby enabling soldiers to see crucial video and
graphics information in real time. The device will use a full-color,
active-matrix OLED (AMOLED) display built on metal foil. The use of
metal foil substrates can lead to a rollable, retractable and rugged
display with a small and lightweight form factor for use in portable
communication devices. With a 4-inch diagonal screen, the 320 x 240
pixel the display will also use the company's proprietary
high-efficiency PHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology and materials.
UDC will supply the displays to L-3 Display Systems, which will be the
prime contractor for the communications device.
Under a different contract, the UDC is developing a novel,
top-emission infra-red pixel on metal foil substrates for use in
military applications. This flexible day/night PHOLED display will be
compatible with current-generation night vision capabilities employed
by the military. These devices can be incorporated into a color
display with conventional full-color emitting pixels to produce a
display that has both daytime and covert nighttime functionality.
Integrating these visible and infrared-emitting OLEDs on a flexible
steel foil substrate will provide a rugged package to ensure
survivability in an uncontrolled battlefield environment. |
