Colorization of solid state AMLCDs for military head-mounted displays (HMDs) and other viewer applications

Kopin's miniature Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays (AMLCD's) are rapidly becoming the display technology of choice in a wide range of military head mounted and sensor viewer applications. These low power, ruggedized displays operate from -37°C to +65°C with excellent imaging characteristics and reliability. Kopin and the US Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directive (NVESD) are co-operatively developing high resolution, full-color displays for day/night operations and image fusion applications. Kopin is leveraging the successful development of its monochrome SXGA (1280 x 1024) AMLCD to develop a color SXGA display and a color SVGA (800 x 600) display. Color technology approaches evaluated for these new products included color filters, frame sequential color, binary optic phase plate spot sequential color, and diffractive optic column sequential color. These approaches all involve frame sequential operation with the exception of color filters. A generic color frame sequential mode was selected for the SXGA display design that will allow operations of all frame-sequentially based approaches. This display facilitates color technology changes and upgrades by replacing the backlight assembly. The color filter approach was selected for the SVGA display. Both color technologies are used for Kopin commercial display products. Performance data and specifications for Kopin's displays will be presented with reference to military (HMD and weapon sight), industrial, and commercial applications. Analytical results and data from color approaches investigated will be presented and compared. Application extensions that utilize the new color technologies developed will be highlighted.