The OLED display global market has grown rapidly in the past few years. It was initially valued at USD 27.94 billion in 2020 and has been projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9% from 2021 to 2028. Primarily OLED displays have come in direct competition with LED or LCDs.
An OLED display or Organic Light Emitting Diode Display offers higher contrast images, is brighter, offers broader viewing angles, and utilizes lesser power. For these reasons, these displays are being used in many applications. One of the biggest applications of OLEDs has been in the form of small OLED display technology that can be used for smaller electronic devices.
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Types of Small OLED Displays
Before we can discuss the applications of OLED displays, let’s discuss the three major types available. A small OLED display can be of 3 types:
1. PMOLED
Passive Matrix OLEDs are a type of display that uses a simple control scheme where you control each line of pixels in the display one at a time. Typically, there is a horizontal and vertical array of conductors with OLED materials between them. A pixel is formed when the conductors intersect.
Usually, the pixels in each line are off most of the time since they lack a storage capacitor and therefore require more voltage if you want to make them brighter.
PMOLEDs are:
- Easy to fabricate
- Cheaper
- But require higher voltage.
2. AMOLED (including Flexible OLED Display)
Active Matrix OLEDs are a type of display that contains thin strips of TFT (thin film transistors) behind each pixel. These transistors accelerate how electric current moves through the display, lighting up your pixels more quickly. These TFTs are further powered by storage capacitors that maintain the line pixel states.
AMOLEDs are:
- Larger than PMOLEDs
- Consume less power
- But are expensive to manufacture.
3. E-Ink Display
E Ink display screens or electronic paper displays differ slightly from traditional OLED displays. They do not emit light but rather reflect light. It consists of millions of microscopic ink capsules filled with clear liquid polymers. An electric charge applied to the capsules will form black or white pixels. Even if the electric charge disappears, the image remains on display.
E ink displays are:
- Energy efficient
- Consume less power
- Not able to display moving images such as videos.
Applications of Small OLED Displays
Here are the various applications of a small OLED display:
§ Portable & Wearable Electronics
AMOLED and PMOLED are primarily used in manufacturing portable and wearable electronics such as mobile phones and smartwatches. Their brighter screens, energy-efficient technology, thinner lightweight displays, and better refresh rate make them the best fit for these devices.
Since they are power efficient, they also help preserve your device’s battery, enabling it to last longer.
§ Consumer Electronics
OLEDs such as AMOLED and PMOLEDs are used in constructing various consumer electronics, including e-cigarettes, smart home devices, electric toothbrushes, VR devices, and smart bags. OLED displays aren’t just lighter; they are also incredibly flexible. This flexibility of small OLED display technology offers more design possibilities for manufacturers.
§ Medical Equipment
OLEDs, specifically PMOLEDs, are widely used in new and innovative medical equipment and biomedical devices. They offer higher contrast displays, lower power consumption, wider viewing angles, and ultra-thin displays. Moreover, where medical devices are often smaller and battery-powered, they demand better display solutions.
§ Portable GPS
AMOLEDs are often seen in the manufacturing of portable GPS systems. Since AMOLEDs consume less power and therefore put less strain on the battery, they are ideal solutions for new portable GPS systems. Moreover, they deliver clear, high-contrast displays to the user.
§ Game Console
Another popular application of AMOLEDs is seen in gaming consoles. Since AMOLEDs are thinner and use less electricity, they render faster motion response and provide vivid picture quality. For these reasons, they are rapidly replacing traditional LCDs in gaming consoles.
§ Car Display
If you want a clear, crisp, high-contrast display in your car, consider using AMOLEDs. AMOLEDs are becoming more and more popular in automobiles as display units. They have a higher contrast ratio, consume lesser power, and have wider viewing angles.
Many manufacturers have adopted OLED displays, such as those seen in the AUDI e-Tron, Cadillac Escalade, and Mercedes S-Class. We are bound to see small OLED display technology in car displays become mainstream.
§ Electronic Shelf Label
E-ink displays are often seen in electronic shelf labels; these are digital wireless display systems used to show product pricing on shelves. E-ink displays are more energy efficient for such systems since they can preserve their image without needing power while also delivering clear images to the reader.
§ Electronic Cards
Another popular application for e-ink displays is seen in electronic cards. These include name cards, business cards, or tags which can be updated from time to time, use lesser power and showcase the images with clarity.
FET – The Leading Supplier of Small OLED Displays
FET (Forfuture Electron Technology) is the leading manufacturer of and supplier of flexible OLED displays. They offer a wide range of OLED products, including PMOLEDs, AMOLEDs, and E-ink displays. If you are looking for a trustworthy and reliable supplier of small OLED display products, FET may be your best choice!
About FET
Forfuture Electron Technology is the leading supplier of flexible OLED displays today. Initially founded in 2010, they have quickly built a reputation for providing reliable, innovative, well-constructed OLED displays for a wide range of applications, including wearables, smart home appliances, medical devices, and e-cigarettes, to name a few.
To top it off, FET carries a number of international certifications, including ISO9001 and ISO4001. For more insight into their services, head over to their website today!
