Largest Flexible Color OLED Display Produced

A prototype of the largest flexible color organic LED (OLED) display was developed using advanced mixed-oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs).

Measuring 7.4 in. diagonally, the device was produced at the Flexible Display Center at Arizona State University in conjunction with scientists from the Army Research Labs. It meets a critical target set by the US Department of Defense to advance full-color, full-motion video flexible OLED displays for use in thin, bendable, lightweight yet highly rugged devices.

“This is a significant manufacturing breakthrough for flexible display technology,” said Nick Colaneri, director of the FDC. "It provides a realistic path forward for the production of high-performance, flexible, full-color OLED displays, accelerating commercialization of the technology in the process."

Mixed-oxide TFTs, a cost-effective alternative to low-temperature polysilicon, deliver features such as vibrant colors, high switching speeds for video, and reduced power consumption. They can be manufactured on existing amorphous silicon production lines, eliminating the need for specialized equipment and processing, thereby reducing costs compared with competitive approaches.

"One of the primary directives of the FDC has been to pursue approaches to flexible technologies that take advantage of existing manufacturing processes," Colaneri said. “This display showcases the center's successful scale-up to GEN II, and our ability to produce displays using mixed-oxide TFTs in standard process flows with our proprietary bond/de-bond technology."

The full-color OLED display was exhibited in early June at SID Display Week, held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

For more information, visit: flexdisplay.asu.edu