LG Unveils Innovative Stretchable Display at Display Week

LG has introduced a groundbreaking stretchable display capable of conforming to various shapes at the Display Week event. This novel technology allows for the creation of screens that can wrap around curved surfaces, a significant advancement in display design.

The new display, when not stretched, measures 30.5 centimeters diagonally (equivalent to 12 inches) and is sensitive to touch, enabling user interaction. It comprises two plastic substrates laminated onto a flexible base, featuring an array of micro-LEDs in red, green, and blue colors.

Initially, LG aimed to develop a display that could stretch up to 20%. However, their research has resulted in a remarkable panel that can stretch up to 50% in all directions. The resolution is reported to be 100 dpi, translating to approximately 960 x 720 pixels for the 12-inch screen. This means over two million tiny RGB LEDs are packed into this compact area.

One of the potential applications highlighted by LG is the incorporation of this display into car interiors. In a demo, the display is shown integrated into a flat center console. Upon user interaction, the display bulges to form a tactile control knob, allowing users to adjust features such as climate control through touch gestures. This innovation aligns with recommendations from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), which advocates for user-friendly controls that minimize distraction while driving.

While LG has not disclosed details regarding the availability or pricing of this stretchable display, they have indicated that the micro-LED panel has successfully undergone tests involving 10,000 stretch cycles at a 20% stretch rate without damage. This suggests that a driver could adjust the climate control approximately four times per trip over five years without compromising the display's integrity. However, this durability may not suffice for extensive daily use.

It is important to note that the items showcased at Display Week are still in the development phase and not yet finalized products. Nonetheless, LG's achievement in creating a display that can stretch 1.5 times more than previous iterations is a significant leap forward in display technology. Previous stretchable displays presented at past events were often difficult to distinguish from conventional screens.