Icuiti in Rochester, N.Y., sought out organic light-emitting diode (OLED) microdisplay technology for the production of its Tac-Eye display system for defense applications. Company experts found the necessary technology at eMagin Corporation of Bellevue, Wash., which they chose to provide the Icuiti with thousands of microdisplays.

Tac-Eye, designed for the U.S. military with partial funding from the Air Force Research Lab Human Effectiveness Directorate in Mesa, Ariz., and the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., was developed over three years.

The Tac-Eye system, able to mount on a helmet or goggles, combines ultra-low-power electronics with eMagin’s OLED microdisplays and a lithium battery capable of providing as much as six hours of operation. The eMagin high-contrast SVGA OLED display features 800-by-600-pixel resolution, brightness controls, Icuiti’s Quantum Optics, and the ability to display images from a wearable computer, laptop, thermal imager, or vehicle-mounted computer system.

“Designing and building the Tac-Eye system led us to evaluate every component and material to ensure optimal performance under extreme conditions,” says Stephen Glaser, vice president of sales for Icuiti’s Tactical Display Group. “eMagin’s OLED microdisplays meet our system needs for power efficiency and performance, and they deliver high resolution for critical communications.”

The microdisplays’ high-resolution, brightness, speed, and power efficiency ensure their suitability for a broad range of defense and security applications. The devices emit light in all directions, supporting a range of pupil movement greater than traditional LCDs, and are capable of working without failing or flickering for extended periods in harsh and high-vibration environments. For more information, visit www.emagin.com.