[NEWS] OLEDs now lighting up automobiles, says report

[Ken]

From EE Times.com (Electrical Engineers):

OLEDs now lighting up automobiles, says report

By Spencer Chin
EE Times
[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]January 19, 2005 (11:27 AM EST)[/font]

MANHASSET, N.Y. — Organic-light-emitting-diode displays are making their way into high-end automobiles as display makers begin increasing production, according to a report by ABI Research.

The report said OLED displays are debuting in the Aston-Martin DB9, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Chevrolet Corvette. Up to now, the technology has been limited to mobile phones, digital cameras, and aftermarket radios, according to ABI Research analyst Joshua Laurito.

Laurito noted that even factoring in the higher cost of the new displays, the fewer warranty claims to replace a part costing under a dollar translates into big savings for luxury car makers and dealers, and greater customer satisfaction.

"Eventually, higher production volumes will drive down the cost of OLED displays until they are affordable in even mid-range vehicles," Laurito said. "Samsung, for instance, has announced a doubling of OLED production, allowing prices to fall by as much as 50 percent."

The report added that low-cost printed polymer OLED displays will by the end of the decade provide the mass market needed to spur widespread adoption of the technology.

 

[Ken]

[NEWS] OLED Displays to Debut in High-End Cars

From engadget.com:

OLED displays to debut in high-end cars

Posted Jan 20, 2005, 9:39 AM ET by Dan Wu

It’s going to be a few more years before you have an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display on your desk or in your living room (though they have already found their way into smaller gadgets like MP3 players, cellphones, and even the odd digital camera display), but if you’re fixing to get in on the action, OLED screens are slated to show up in the dashboards of cars like the Aston-Martin DB9, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the Chevrolet Corvette later this year. The big deal about OLED displays is that they’re brighter, clearer, and less power-hungry than LCD screens—and once the economies of scale thing kicks in, they promise to be cheaper to produce, too. We’re already gazing lustily at that 21-inch prototype Samsung was showing off the other day.

 

[Ken]

[NEWS] Next-Gen Display to Park Itself in Cars

From CNetNews.com:

Next-gen display to park itself in cars

Published: January 19, 2005, 4:49 PM PST
By Richard Shim
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

A next-generation display technology found in cell phones, digital cameras and electric shavers will soon find its way in some high-end cars, according to a study.

The new technology, called organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), is expected to replace liquid crystal displays because its luminescence eliminates the need for a backlight in screens. This translates to less power consumption and potentially less cost. So far, OLED is in its early stages and thus only comes in small sizes, and it will be several years before it's ready to challenge LCD in notebooks and televisions. But it is gradually taking hold in small devices.

The latest market is in car dashboards, according to ABI Research. Three new cars--the Aston-Martin DB9, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Chevrolet Corvette--come with OLED displays in their dashboards, according to ABI.

OLED displays don't wear out as quickly as lamps used in car dashboards now. That means fewer warranty claims to replace burned-out lamps, which could mean higher consumer satisfaction rates.

"Eventually, higher production volumes will drive down the cost of OLED displays until they are affordable in even midrange vehicles," ABI Research analyst Joshua Laurito said in a statement.

Display manufacturers are demonstrating large-screen OLED displays and are ramping up small-screen OLED production as they aim to become more familiar with the technology.

 

[Jack]

Dunno about Oleds ... but LED arrays are soon coming to front of some new cars as OE primary headlamps ... dunno what kind of LEDs ... probably within 2-3 years.
JACK:gap

 

[MaineShark]

The problem with LED displays instead of LCD displays in cars is pretty fundamental. LED's emit light. LCD's only reflect it. Yes, that means an LCD needs to be backlit during low-light conditions, but it also means that LCD's are readable in high-light conditions. In direct sun, LED's become almost unreadable. It's one thing when the radio display becomes unreadable, but what about important gauges like the tach, etc.? Having owned a car with an LED dash, I can't say that I am a fan of them, in the slightest. Every time you turn so that the sun is behind you, the dash washes out and you have no gauges of any sort.

LCD's might be more expensive for the manufacturer, but they are much more suitable for use as dashboards and such. I'd rather pay the higher price and actually be able to see my dashboard.

OLED's are useful for portable electronics (cellphones, etc.) because you can always just turn a bit to get the sun off the screen. Can't always do that with a car...

Joe