'Stretch, Fold, Twist'... LGD Develops World's First 'Stretchable' Display

Increased from 12 to 14 inches with 'standard monitor' level image quality
Full red, green, and Cheong color implementation... Applied to wearables and new industries

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] LG Display announced on the 8th that it has developed the world's first high-resolution 12-inch full-color "Stretchable Display" that can expand the screen by up to 20%. This marks a significant advancement necessary for the commercialization of a product that can be "stretched, folded, and twisted," drawing attention as the ultimate future display. It is expected to be widely applicable in promising fields such as wearables, mobility, smart devices, gaming, and the fashion industry.

LG Display recently held the "Stretchable National Project Phase 1 Performance Sharing Meeting" to share news of the product development. The prototype unveiled by LG Display succeeded in increasing the screen size from 12 inches to 14 inches, achieving a maximum 20% expansion (20% elongation rate) for the first time in the world. It also realized full color with red, green, and blue and a resolution comparable to general monitors (100 ppi, pixels per inch). An LG Display official explained, "We have overcome the technical challenges necessary for the commercialization of stretchable displays by dramatically improving flexibility, durability, and reliability."

To secure flexibility, LGD announced that it developed a film-type substrate with excellent elasticity using a special silicone material used in contact lenses. In terms of durability, it used micro LED (light-emitting diode) light sources under 40μm (micrometers, one-millionth of a meter) to a level that prevents image quality changes even when subjected to external shocks. The design was optimized by changing the existing straight wiring structure to an "S-shaped spring form," ensuring performance is maintained even after repeatedly bending or folding the monitor.

The stretchable display is thin and lightweight and can be attached to irregular curved surfaces such as skin, clothing, and furniture. Thanks to this, it is expected to be widely applied across various industries including wearables, mobility, smart devices, gaming, and fashion. In particular, it is anticipated to play a decisive role in opening the era of IT devices worn like clothes or attached to the body. Moreover, it can be applied to special suits for firefighters and paramedics at disaster sites to enable real-time information sharing. It can also be made into a raised button form on the screen to be easily handled by visually impaired people.

LG Display was selected as the lead company for the "National Project for the Development of Stretchable Displays for Automotive and Smart Devices" in 2020 and has been conducting joint research and development (R&D) with 20 domestic industry, academia, and research institutions. It has secured core technologies based on the highly challenging stretchable display, contributed to the localization of materials, parts, and equipment, and helped build R&D infrastructure. LG Display plans to further enhance the completeness of stretchable display equipment and material technologies by the project expiration date in 2024.

Yoon Sooyoung, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of LG Display, said, "By successfully completing the stretchable national project, we will elevate Korea's display technology competitiveness to a new level and lead a new paradigm in displays."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.