eMagin: OLED microdisplays for new markets

08 Jul 2010

OLED manufacturer eMagin is expanding the applications for its microdisplays, moving into entertainment on the move.

The US company is speaking with consumer electronics firms on new applications for its OLED displays, which are currently used in applications such as head-mounted screens for the military.

'We're working with suppliers for digital devices, like the iPhone, or companies that build peripherals for these devices,' explains Bruce Ridley, vice-president of business development and special projects at eMagin.

'People download television programmes or record them to watch on the move. And the model for using data on the move exists - for instance, you could have sunglasses that use your GPS data to display directions and information to the wearer.'

Wireless data

Although the company has not clarified the nature of such accessories, Ridley argues that these applications are a natural extension of the usage of the wireless technology offered by smartphones and other devices.

He comments: 'Our displays exist in the format to meet these requirements, but will take a large marketer to reach a competitive cost and volume point for a product.

'If you look at Apple, Amazon, or Microsoft, they have both the devices and the information delivery service to make use of this.

'We're speaking at various levels with developers.'

eMagin's microdisplays are solid state screens typically measuring around 1 inch diagonally, and are used in head-mounted displays for soldiers, thermal imaging equipment and other niche applications.

Unlike applications elsewhere - such as OLED televisions or touchscreen phones - OLED microdisplays are able to directly replace LCDs, because the technology's properties are a primary concern for users.

Ihor Wacyk, director of design at eMagin, explains: 'Form factor, the fact light emissions are integrated into the display, the advantages of size and weight - these are the important factors.'

Ridley adds: 'If more OLED companies arrive in this area, LCD will be displaced because of these benefits.'

A number of companies have already been active in employing organic electronic microdisplays in headgear and other applications. At one point, UK-based MicroEmissive Display (MED) was producing devices at a manufacturing line leased from Fraunhofer in Germany, but the company was later wound up in 2008.

Mobintech, a Danish producer of personal display glasses that worked with MED in 2008, was acquired by Novero, another digital technology company, in 2009. Novero has produced headgear products, such as TheFirstOne, a designer Bluetooth headset.

HD microdisplays

As part of the company's expansion into new areas like entertainment, eMagin is working on improvements to its OLEDs.

The company is currently enhancing the performance of its displays to exceed high-definition (HD) standards.

Ridley notes: 'We've talked to our customers about their requirements, and one of the things we're working on is HD displays. We plan to create our first prototype of a 1920 x 1200 pixel display.'

Wacyk adds: 'The screens we are working on are higher than 1080p, so they are HD plus. We will have prototypes ready early next year.'