TAUNTON, Mass., 15 February 2005. Kopin Corp. today announced that it has won two new contracts to provide display hardware for the U.S. Army's Thermal Weapon Sight (TWS) Program.
Kopin will provide microdisplay systems to BAE Systems, Lexington, Mass., and DRS Optronics, Palm Bay, Fla., as part of the U.S. Army's TWS-II Production program. The TWS-II program provides for five years of production of Light, Medium and Heavy Thermal Weapon Sights. Under the new contracts, TWS system qualification and initial production is scheduled for 2005 with volume production beginning in 2006.
"These new contracts reinforce Kopin's position as the leading supplier of microdisplays to the U.S. military for thermal imaging applications," said Dr. John C. C. Fan, president and chief executive officer.
"Once production has commenced on these contracts, our ruggedized CyberDisplay 640M will be in all thermal weapon sight products being deployed as part of the U.S. Army's TWS-II program. Our expanded presence in this program is a testament to our display system's performance and reliability. The superiority of a soldier's military hardware can play a vital role in their mission, and in the U.S. Army's 'Year of the Soldier,' we hope every soldier in the field benefits from the exceptional capabilities of this equipment."
Under the new contracts, Kopin will provide DRS Optronics and BAE Systems with a combination of microdisplay system components, display modules and complete eyepiece assemblies. Each system will utilize the CyberDisplay 640M active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD), a ruggedized, industrial grade, monochrome VGA-quality display with 640-x-480-pixel resolution in a 0.38-inch diagonal package. With an operating temperature range of minus 37 degrees C to 65 degrees C in a low-power, durable package, Kopin's CyberDisplay 640M is ideal for a broad spectrum of infrared imaging applications.
The display module for the TWS consists of the CyberDisplay 640M , backlight and interface/control electronics. The system converts the output from TWS thermal imaging electronics to a high-resolution monochrome image that allows soldiers to see in total darkness, smoke or dirty battlefield conditions and to identify targets that might be camouflaged. The complete eyepiece assembly consists of the display module, lens system and focus mechanism packaged in a rugged, lightweight housing that is sealed and tested as a complete assembly.
"With these new contracts, Kopin's CyberDisplay is now the featured microdisplay in products from the three top suppliers of thermal imaging equipment to the U.S. military," said Michael J. Presz, Kopin's vice president of government programs. "These design wins reflect our efforts to increase the number and diversity of our product solutions, from standalone microdisplays to complete eyepiece assemblies, providing our partners with a wide range of options in this growing thermal imaging market."
Built with Kopin-patented nanotechnologies, Kopin's CyberDisplay products are the world's smallest, most-power-efficient and highest-resolution AMLCDs for their size, which ranges from 0.16-inch to 1-inch diagonal. These transmissive displays, available in monochrome and full-color, are ideal for a wide range of military, homeland security and consumer mobile electronics applications that call for high-resolution, high-speed video in a compact, power-efficient package. These applications include weapon sights, surveillance equipment, digital still cameras, camcorders, video eyewear, medical devices, gaming equipment and next-generation Internet wireless handsets.
Kopin is a leading developer and manufacturer of telecommunications and digital imaging technologies that enhance the delivery and presentation of video, voice and data. The company has combined advanced AMLCD and integrated circuit technology to produce its CyberDisplay family of award-winning ultra-small, high-density imaging devices for camcorders, digital cameras, next-generation Internet wireless handsets and other consumer and defense electronics. Telecommunication providers are using Kopin's heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) wafers in wireless digital phones and high-speed Internet data transmission. For more information, see www.kopin.com.
