The United States Display Consortium, a group of flat panel display manufacturers and developers, has initiated 33 projects to bolster the US infrastructure and supply base.The consortium has committed $107 million to R&D projects over the past three years. Among the projects nearing completion: Display Inspection Systems of Wixom, Mich., is developing an advanced inspection tool to detect defects on the surface of glass substrates, based on the company's patented black-beam interferometry. A prototype is undergoing manufacturing facility evaluation at OIS Optical Imaging Systems of Northville, Mich. Litton Data Systems in San Diego is developing next-generation backlights for cockpit avionics and commercial sunlight-readable applications, which require a wide dimming range for night-vision operation and protection against shock and vibration. Polaroid in Norwood, Mass., has invested in the development of a highly automated, wide-web, inline processing facility for supplying optical film materials for military avionics and land-vehicle use.