How OLED Display Technology Is Driving Infotainment

Drivers are eager for the cars of the future to deliver the display-rich cabins of science fiction along with new levels of functionality and safety.

With progress on autonomous driving and electric vehicles quickly advancing with added infotainment and software-based features, the auto industry is delivering new levels of performance and comfort through a reimagining of the modern automobile from the inside out.

Even parts of the car that might not at first come to mind – such as interior displays, taillights and mirrors – are experiencing an exciting shift, spurred by innovations by automakers such as Audi, Mercedes and BMW which are applying organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology.

OLEDs are thin layers of film containing molecules that emit light when an electric current runs through them. They can be folded, rolled and shaped in unique ways, providing new possibilities for automotive designers. That inherent flexibility, along with the stunning visual performance of OLED displays, is driving their adoption. As rear-seat entertainment screens, as well as passenger-side and central information displays become more integrated into vehicles, OLEDs are becoming more popular for automotive use.

According to a recent report by Trendforce, OLED display panels are expected to grow to nearly 10% of the automotive display market by 2026 – compared to their relatively rare use in vehicles just a couple of years ago.

Added Safety and Comfort for the Cars of Tomorrow

Audi took the lead on using OLED taillights to provide a more premium and modern cabin environment.OLEDs can be made in patterns and shapes to better integrate into the design of a car while conveying increased information.

OLED adoption in the automotive industry has accelerated over the past five years, with General Motors, Volvo, Jaguar, Porsche, and others signing on for the technology.

 A taillight, for example, can shift from a standard brake light to display a hazard symbol, helping to prevent rear-end crashes by warning the following driver of a slowdown or obstacle in the road ahead.

Because OLEDs provide excellent clarity at night and in daylight, designers have lots of options to package and manage safety features tied to exterior lighting.  Even when dimmed, the gamma – the relationship between a color and its brightness – never diminishes in these taillights, providing clear visuals with no reduction in image quality.

In dashboards, automakers are going beyond swapping current displays for OLEDs; they’re using larger OLEDs to create displays that can be made thinner and conform to design schemes. These OLED displays can be used to provide information to the driver as well as entertainment to the passengers. Not only are OLEDs aimed at improving the driving experience, but the fact that OLEDs can be made on plastic also means the displays can be made more shatter-resistant for improved safety and lower incidence of breakage. OLEDs also perform better than traditional LCD screens in cold temperatures, allowing for consistent performance with minimal lag in the winter months.

More Applications for the Road Ahead

Aside from taillights and interior displays, companies recently have showcased the possibility of removing or redesigning wing mirrors. While these are a crucial part of a vehicle, a small camera can transmit to an interior display, eliminating the need for the mirror, getting rid of dangerous blind spots and even making the car more aerodynamic.

Michael Hack UDC

Offering functionality, safety and performance, OLEDs are enabling new features to bring about futuristic vehicles to current reality with much-improved efficiency. The next car you buy could look very different, inside and out, with the help of new, innovative and larger displays. While OLEDs are available only in select vehicles today, in time, we’ll be wondering how we ever drove without them.

Michael Hack (pictured, above left) is vice president for business development at Universal Display Corp.