Universal Display delivers Wrist-mounted OLED display

Universal Display Corp. recently announced that the company delivered eight wrist-mounted phosphorescent organic light emitting diode (PHOLED) displays  built on thin flexible metal foil to the U.S. Army Communication Electronics Research and Development Engineering Center (CERDEC) and to representatives from the Project Director -- Common Hardware Systems (PD-CHS).  The prototype wrist-mounted flexible OLED display  devices were designed and built as part of a U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) funded program to develop a thin, lightweight, and ruggedized communications device.

During simulated exercises at the Fort Dix facility, the wrist-mounted devices were shown depicting a number of different sources of information, including a real-time unmanned air vehicle (UAV) video feed and various other images received through computers running different applications. These devices have the potential to provide soldiers with advantages in the field that could mitigate risk and improve operational performance. 

The devices were presented to the military for evaluation and testing, and were showcased at the U.S. Army's C4ISR On-the-Move testing environment last month at Fort Dix, N.J., where they received positive feedback by senior leaders who make critical research, development, and acquisition investment decisions, Universal Display officials say.

The eight units each contain a 4.3 inch QVGA full-color, full-motion AMOLED -- active matrix OLED -- display using amorphous-Silicon (a-Si) TFT backplanes designed and fabricated on thin metallic foil by LG Display. The front planes were then built on top by Universal Display using its full-color PHOLED technology and materials. The use of Universal Display's PHOLED technology enables these displays to consume less power than comparable AMLCDs, an extremely important feature to lighten the load of electrical power requirements.

Designed and integrated by L-3 Display Systems, the units offer various advanced communications features, all integrated into a thin and rugged housing that comfortably fits around a soldier's wrist. 

"These devices will increase the user's situational awareness, while reducing the power and weight required by current display technologies," says David Huffman, chief scientist for L-3 Display Systems.

"The delivery of these state-of-the art flexible communications devices, and their success in simulated field exercises, are significant achievements," says Steven V. Abramson, president and chief executive officer of Universal Display. "I'd like to thank the DOD for its long-standing support of our flexible OLED technology. As well, I'd like to thank our tremendous partners at LG Display and L-3 Display Systems for their ongoing initiatives to make this milestone possible. This collaboration has driven key advances that may improve soldiers' capabilities and enable a variety of wearable and other flexible applications for both the military and consumer markets."

Flexible OLEDs may enable a variety of thinner, lighter weight, and more rugged products and lead to a host of novel product designs using the conformable and flexible features that are unique to this technology.