Universal Display Corporation, an innovator behind today’s and tomorrow’s displays and lighting through its UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology, today announced that it has been awarded a $333,593 extension to a U.S. Army Communication Electronics Research and Development Engineering Center (CERDEC) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III contract. Under the extension, Universal Display will continue work on its flexible OLED display technology and will deliver prototype flexible displays built on metal foil to the U.S. Army.

Universal Display, working with partners LG Display and L-3 Display Systems, will focus on improving the design and performance of flexible active-matrix OLED (AMOLED) display prototypes built on metal foil substrates. This technology is currently being evaluated by the U.S. Department of Defense for military applications, including a wrist-mounted, light weight display for use by soldiers in the field.

Work under the extension includes the design and fabrication of new prototypes using amorphous-silicon backplanes that are designed and built on metal foil substrates by LG Display. The new prototypes will also utilize a phosphorescent OLED frontplane designed and built by Universal Display.

The OLED display will be encased in a new and thinner housing, designed and fabricated by L-3 Display Systems. The new housing is less bulky and more rugged than earlier prototypes, which should improve wearability and portability of the device for prospective use by soldiers.

“The U.S. Army’s continued support in this area is essential for flexible OLED display technology to reach its full potential for military and commercial applications,” said Steven Abramson, president and CEO of Universal Display. “The work under this program, through our longstanding collaborations with LG Display and L-3 Display Systems, will continue to demonstrate performance enhancements over previous prototypes, moving us closer to lighter, less bulky, commercial flexible OLED products for use by soldiers and consumers alike.”