Universal Display wins SBIR grant for IR OLEDs on metal foil

December 29, 2004, Ewing, NJ--Universal Display Corporation, a developer of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies for flat panel displays, lighting and other opto-electronic applications, has been awarded a $69,999 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract by the U.S. Army Communication Electronics Research and Development Engineering Center (CERDEC; Ft. Monmouth, NJ). This contract is aimed at developing a novel, top-emission infrared pixel-on-metal-foil substrates for use in military applications utilizing the company's proprietary phosphorescent and top-emission OLED display technologies.

The focus of this project, entitled "Flexible Day/Nighttime Phosphorescent OLED Displays," is on developing novel infrared-emitting OLEDs that will be compatible with current-generation night vision capabilities employed by the military. These devices can be incorporated into a color display with conventional full-color emitting pixels to produce a display that has both daytime and covert nighttime functionality. Integrating these visible and infrared-emitting OLEDs on a flexible steel foil substrate will provide a rugged package to ensure survivability in an uncontrolled battlefield environment.

"We are very pleased to add this new project from the U.S. Army to our current work on developing flexible OLEDs on metal foil," stated Steven Abramson, president and COO of Universal Display Corporation. "We believe that this program can result in another advanced military application designed to help commanders and soldiers alike communicate better on the battlefield. In addition, the development of novel infra-red OLED materials themselves may further broaden the potential for a host of military products including helmet mounted displays, and may also lead to novel uses in the commercial and consumer sectors."