‘Highest-brightness’ green OLED microdisplay developed for AR screens

28 Jun 2021

Kopin says its “world first” 35,000 nit source is designed for displays in defense, medical, and consumer apps.

Kopin, a developer of high-resolution microdisplays, subassemblies and systems, says it has produced the first ultrahigh-brightness (> 35,000 nits; candela per square meter), high-dynamic-range, green organic LED microdisplay on silicon. The OLED source is specified for augmented reality display applications in defense, industrial, and medical products.

This superbright HDR 1in-diagonal SXGA (1280 x 1024 pixel) OLED microdisplay is currently in development, says the company, with performance data measured on initial engineering samples. The new OLED microdisplay incorporates Kopin’s duo-stack OLED structure for high brightness and a patent-pending pixel structure and backplane architecture for “super-high dynamic range” operation, equating to 14 bits.

Combined with superhigh contrast, states Kopin, the new HDR OLED microdisplay is suitable for use in ambient scenes ranging from dark night to bright daylight.

‘Half the power demand of equivalent LCD displays’

The duo-stack structure provides increased current efficiency, which leads to much higher brightness, lower power consumption; “about half of that of LCD displays of equivalent brightness,” says the developer. It also offers a longer lifetime compared to conventional single-stack OLED devices.

“We believe this new HDR OLED display has achieved previously unattainable brightness levels together with long operating lifetime,” said Dr. John Fan, CEO of Kopin. The device was developed in partnership with “a leading customer”, and target markets include automotive and aircraft displays and medical imaging systems.

Fan added, “The achievement of high brightness and long lifetime coupled with a wide luminance range is a culmination of the OLED technology we have been developing over the past several years.

“The performance levels of the initial builds of this display, which we believe have never been achieved before in OLED microdisplays, is a milestone in the development of our displays targeted for emerging AR and VR applications. We are now working to achieve much higher brightness – approaching 100,000 nits.”

Bill Maffucci, Kopin’s GM for Government & Professional Products, commented, “Our OLED microdisplays have reached, for the first time, the luminance levels of current LCD displays used in high-brightness AR applications. In addition, these new displays offer 14-bit HDR operation that has never been achieved in either OLED or LCD microdisplays.”

“These displays represent a major part of our high-performance AR/VR display technology platforms and will strengthen Kopin's industry leading position on advanced display products.”