Flexible Display Center Makes Largest OLED TFT

A prototype of the largest flexible color OLED display — nearly twice the size of its predecessor announced last May — was manufactured using mixed-oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs).

Measuring 14.7 in. diagonally, the device was produced at the Flexible Display Center (FDC) at Arizona State University in conjunction with scientists from the Army Research Labs. The previous display measured 7.4 in. diagonally (See: Largest Flexible Color OLED Display Produced).

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.

The latest version includes advances in the OLED materials to enhance performance and the encapsulation process used to protect the display. 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.”

For more information, visit: http://flexdisplay.asu.edu