The R&D hub of LG Display’s groundbreaking technologies and new product innovations, LG Science Park in Seoul, has once again demonstrated its prowess! On November 8th, the ‘Final Outcome Showcase for the Stretchable Display National Project’ revealed the results of five years of intense research and development in stretchable displays.
Since 2020, LG Display has continuously strived to enhance the performance and quality of stretchable displays. As a result, the company achieved the world’s first Stretchable display with an industry-leading elongation rate of up to 50%, reaffirming LG Display’s technological leadership. Let’s dive into the event and discover the limitless potential of stretchable displays and how this project is paving the way for the future of display technology.
Breaking Boundaries: The Era of Stretchable Displays Begins
The stretchable display is more than just an expandable screen. It can be folded, twisted, and reshaped, earning it the title of the ‘ultimate free-form display.’ The prototype revealed by LG Display stretches from 12 inches to an impressive 18 inches, flexibly adapting to various curved surfaces while maintaining picture quality on par with standard monitors. With a high resolution of 100 pixels per inch and vivid RGB full color, the display sets a new standard in both flexibility and clarity.
But how did this remarkable stretchable display come to life? It all started in June 2020, when LG Display was selected as the lead company for the R&D ‘Stretchable Display Development National Project’ under the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy(MOTIE)’s Display Innovation Process Platform. Over the past five years, LG Display has collaborated with 19 domestic industry, academic, and research institutions to research and develop core technologies for next-generation displays.
More Flexible and Durable: The Continuous Evolution of Stretchable Displays
The newly introduced stretchable display, developed through extensive collaboration, marks a significant improvement in flexibility compared to the first prototype revealed two years ago. The most notable feature is the enhancement of the elongation rate from 20% to an impressive 50%. This was achieved using special materials typically found in contact lenses, which are as soft and flexible as human skin, allowing for greater adaptability.
Moreover, a new structural design was implemented to minimize physical stress on the wiring when the display is stretched, significantly boosting durability. This innovation ensures the display remains intact even when subjected to everyday impacts and pressure, turning once imagined technologies into reality.
Another key component of the stretchable display is the micro-LEDs, measuring less than 40 micrometers (μm) in size. To put this in perspective, the average thickness of human hair is about 80 micrometers. These ultra-tiny micro-LEDs not only maintain high durability but also deliver consistent high-quality visuals, even under extreme temperatures and external shocks.
Wearing the Future: Stretchable Displays Revolutionize Various Industries!
The new form factor of stretchable displays is already proving its limitless potential and versatility across various industries. Its ability to conform to irregular surfaces, like the human body, opens up applications in fashion, wearable devices, gaming, and even automotive and mobility sectors.
The stretchable display drew significant attention at SID 2023, the world’s largest display symposium. It was publicly unveiled for the first time and received the People’s Choice Award, along with recognition for an outstanding paper. Additionally, a fire-resistant suit featuring stretchable displays won the 2023 iF Design Award.
At Seoul Fashion Week last September, the practicality of stretchable displays as a fashion material was demonstrated through collaborations with the fashion industry. Designers Youn-Hee Park of GREEDILOUS and Chung-Chung Lee of LIE, remarked, “If we could change the design and color of everyday clothing in real time, it would bring a new paradigm to the fashion industry.” They further noted, “Using displays as a fabric material offers revolutionary potential for creating clothes that never become outdated.”
LG Display: Shaping the Future with Stretchable Technology
This national project holds significant meaning beyond being an achievement for LG Display. It has secured core technologies for next-generation displays and contributed to strengthening the country’s display technology competitiveness by localizing materials, components, and equipment and building an R&D infrastructure. The collaborative efforts of industry, academia, and research institutions have opened new horizons for the future of the display industry. With stretchable displays showing limitless potential across various fields, LG Display will continue its research and development to deliver greater customer experiences and innovative value!
