Ultrahigh Definition Microdisplay (UDM)

Advanced helmet-mounted displays (HMD) have been proven to improve the safety and success rate of warfighters in combat situations. These HMD systems provide pilots and warfighters with enhanced situational awareness and augment their abilities to fulfill their mission objectives. However, current systems are limited in display resolution, bit depth, and refresh rates. To maintain a strategic advantage, next-generation HMD systems must incorporate a new generation of microdisplay technologies. The Alces Microdisplay is an ideal candidate for the ultrahigh definition HMD systems because of its small pixels, high speed operation, and precise analog control. Through support from the USAF and NSF, Alces has accelerated the development of this microdisplay technology and has demonstrated operation in lab display systems. A commercialization roadmap is being planned to introduce this remarkably versatile technology into various markets and applications. Relative to existing technologies such as LCD-based microdisplays and digital micro-mirror devices, Alces Technology’s MEMS-based approach offers significant advantages: 1) reduced device-size, 2) improved optical efficiency, 3) linear scalability to ultrahigh resolution, 4) high frame rate operation. The Alces Microdisplay is a breakthrough scalable display technology with the potential to bridge the gap to visual-acuity limited displays and next generation ultra-high definition HMD systems. BENEFIT: The Alces Microdisplay technology is an innovative display technology with many beneficial qualities in size, scalability and operation. The design is capable of leveraging commercial polarization optical components and emerging laser sources, making the display technology well-aligned with commercial display trends. Alces expect to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing an Alces Microdisplay in a HMD system through collaborative efforts with firms such as Rockwell Collins, who has reviewed the technology and is encouraged by its potential. With these efforts, Alces will be able to realize a stronger HMD design and a quicker path into production. For commercial success, Alces is aligned with the consumer microdisplay market, which addresses various applications including HMDs. The consumer microdisplay market is expected to follow a similar path as CMOS imagers and their adoption into portable consumer electronics such as cell phones, multimedia devices, and digital cameras. With microdisplays, larger images can be generated offering product differentiation and new services and applications. Markets served by microdisplays include various compact projection technologies, high-performance projection technologies, heads-up displays (HUD), and rear projection displays. To address these broad market groups, Alces Technology is focusing its Alces Microdisplay products around three target resolutions: 2K (2048 x 1080), 4K (4096 x 2160), and 8K (7680 x 4320). With these digital cinema standard resolutions, the Alces Microdisplay technology will be able to succeed in the expected $1.1billion microdisplay market in 2012.