Partnership enables glass-free conformed LCDs for cars

16th September 2015

FlexEnable

Nat Bowers

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FlexEnable has announced that it will showcase the first conformed LCD in an integrated automotive application at IAA 2015. The demonstration shows how an LCD, the world’s most established and proven display technology, can be applied to glass-free, ergonomically shaped displays in cars without incurring the cost and stability issues of flexible OLED.

The FlexEnable demonstration will be part of a display integrating several new automotive technologies, coordinated by its partner Flex - a leading sketch-to-scale solutions company that designs and builds intelligent products for a connected world.

FlexEnable, a partner in Flex’s Collective Innovation Platform (CIP), teamed up with Flex to design a flexible display that is incorporated into the A-pillar and paired with a camera attached to the wing mirror. This innovation will offer drivers an enhanced view of the side and rear of the vehicle, eliminating blind spots and increasing road safety.

The ability to activate the surface of the A-Pillars is enabled by the unique flexible transistor technology created by FlexEnable, combined with Flex’s expertise in connecting and integrating breakthrough technologies in the Age of Intelligence.

FlexEnable’s lightweight display adds minimal incremental thickness and weight to the frame, minimising visibility impedance, while its conformal nature provides comprehensive coverage of the A-pillar. The smart and connected technology provided by Flex gives the display and the camera the ability to interact with the environment, allowing the driver to respond in real-time.

“We are excited to be working with Flex, a worldwide leader in automotive electronics systems, to demonstrate our unique capability in OLCDs at this important event,” said Chuck Milligan, CEO, FlexEnable. ”Conformable, high-quality OLCDs bring a new degree of design freedom to automotive designers and will significantly enhance driver experience and safety. Today’s car interiors are stylish, functional and comfortable and have curved surfaces everywhere except where constrained by rectangular, glass display panels. FlexEnable technology removes this constraint while providing the same display quality and reliability customers have come to expect from LCD displays.”

Kent Helfrich, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Flex Automotive, commented: “Flex is always seeking to identify and develop technologies that create real value for our customers and end users. We are excited to demonstrate one of the new capabilities we are helping bring to the automotive market, with partners such as FlexEnable.”

FlexEnable will be exhibiting the product with Flex in booth 41, Hall 3.1 at the IAA in Germany, from 15th to 18th September.