Low-Power Direct-View Flexible Displays

The goal of this U.S. Army SBIR program is to develop non-glass, ejection-safe digital displays to replace printed paper maps and checklists on pilots’ knees in tactical cockpits, and to also enable large displays that can be rolled up for stowage. In this proposal UDC and L3 Displays will develop low power consumption flexible full color video rate phosphorescent OLED displays that can be rolled around a cylinder for stowage. If successful, in Phase II the team will deliver four breadboard subsystems with 6” diagonal 480 x 480 pixel full color displays wrapped around a 2.5” diameter cylinder containing power supplies, and wireless communication electronics. The resultant display device will show full motion video and have wireless connectivity enabled by the electronics contained within the cylindrical housing. To our knowledge, this display represents the world’s largest and highest resolution OLED display fabricated on a metal substrate, and also the first designed to wrap around a cylinder for stowage. At the end of Phase I we will deliver a design study of our proposed Phase II display systems, and a mock-up of this Phase II deliverable.