Automotive Interiors World
  • News
    • A-C
      • ADAS
      • Aftermarket
      • Augmented Reality
      • Automotive Interiors Expo
      • Autonomous
      • Concepts
      • Connectivity
    • D-L
      • Dash
      • Displays
      • EV
      • Graphics & Printing
      • HMI
      • HVAC
      • Infotainment
      • Lighting
      • Luxury
    • M-S
      • Materials
      • NVH & BSR
      • Personal Assistants
      • Safety
      • Seating
      • Sensors
      • Simulation
      • Sound System
    • S-V
      • Sport
      • Surfaces & Decoration
      • Sustainability
      • Testing
      • Trim
      • Virtual Reality
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    • May 2020
    • October 2019
    • May 2019
    • October 2018
    • May 2018
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
LinkedIn Facebook Twitter
  • Automotive Testing
  • Automotive Powertrain
  • Autonomous Vehicle
  • Professional Motorsport
  • Tire Technology
  • Media Pack
LinkedIn Facebook
Subscribe
Automotive Interiors World
  • News
      • 3D Printing
      • ADAS
      • Aftermarket
      • Augmented Reality
      • Automotive Interiors Expo
      • Autonomous
      • Computing
      • Concepts
      • Connectivity
      • Dash
      • Displays
      • EV
      • Graphics & Printing
      • Haptics
      • HMI
      • HVAC
      • Infotainment
      • Lighting
      • Luxury
      • Materials
      • Microprocessors
      • NVH & BSR
      • Personal Assistants
      • Safety
      • Seating
      • Sensors
      • Simulation
      • Sound System
      • Sport
      • Surfaces & Decoration
      • Sustainability
      • Testing
      • Trim
      • Virtual Reality
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    1. May 2020
    2. October 2019
    3. May 2019
    4. October 2018
    5. May 2018
    6. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    April 3, 2020

    In this Issue – May 2020

    By Helen NormanApril 3, 2020
    Recent

    In this Issue – May 2020

    April 3, 2020

    In this Issue – October 2019

    September 19, 2019

    In this Issue – May 2019

    April 30, 2019
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Events
Facebook Instagram
Subscribe
Automotive Interiors World
Opinion

Flexible displays and the automotive interior of the future

Chuck Milligan, CEO, FlexEnableBy Chuck Milligan, CEO, FlexEnableDecember 4, 20194 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
Pic: Novares

Chuck Milligan, CEO at FlexEnable, looks at how flexible display technology can help meet consumer demands while providing an affordable and robust solution.

When it comes to the future of transportation, the role of innovation is absolutely essential. Consumers are always looking for the next advancement in the goods they consume, but vehicles have always been one sector that comes with even higher expectations. Thanks to years of Hollywood blockbusters, many of us find our imaginations going that little bit further when we are asked to envision the car of the future. Just look at the latest launch by Tesla, accompanied by cyberpunk aesthetics and a synth soundtrack, the entire event was a love letter to the expectations consumers now have.

One area that is already seeing innovation at a rapid pace is display systems within vehicles. These have evolved significantly in the past few years, with IHS Markit forecasting automotive display system markets will grow to a total of nearly US$21bn in 2022. This highlights where the future of automotive interior display is going – as there’s a growing need for interactivity and connectivity.

Similar to mobile phone technology, people want designs that look and feel part of the vehicle. Displays and touchscreens within vehicles have their own challenges and need to become better integrated into the curved and shaped surfaces of the interior. At the same time, these new surface displays must also meet strict automotive and reliability requirements – all at an affordable cost.

Visual requirements
Auto makers are looking for innovative display technologies that merge with the car interior design while offering passengers a more secure and personalized environment. There is a demand for displays that can be shaped and conformed to the non-flat surfaces of the car interior. Be it an S-shaped center console, a round display on the steering wheel or a curved digital sideview mirror, these screens should follow the design and not dictate the design.

Display brightness is also a key consideration when choosing new display technologies for cars. High-brightness displays ensure that the information displayed can be viewed in daytime and sunlit conditions. Therefore, any new display technology needs to meet or exceed the brightness of LCD screens used in vehicles today.

This is why there needs to be a greater emphasis on the material being used to develop the cars of the future. One flexible screen technology, known as Organic LCD (OLCD) addresses several issues by replacing the amorphous silicon on glass displays with displays made with high-performance organic transistors on plastic using a very low temperature process.

Some automotive companies are experimenting with flexible OLED which has been adopted in some high-end smartphones and smartwatches. However, this technology has several significant limitations for vehicle applications: lower reliability and lifetime compared to LCD; lower brightness; and much higher cost than LCD.

By making a plastic version of LCD that can be manufactured on existing active-matrix LCD production lines, it reduces cost, risk and time of making the transition comfortable. Unlike flexible OLED, the displays can be bright with no impact on lifetime, as this is primarily a function of the backlight implementation. One example of OLCD in use comes from Novares which incorporated OLCD screens into its demo car – Nova Car 2. These included an S-shaped center console, left and right side concave digital sideview mirrors and an OLCD passenger HMI touchscreen integrated with the rear door panel.

Lifetime requirements
Automotive surface-integrated displays need to last as long as the lifetime of a vehicle which could be more than 10-15 years. This is much longer than the lifetime of many mainstream consumer electronic products such as smartphones and smartwatches.

These displays also face a unique environment and therefore require high level reliability. They have to be tested in much higher and much lower temperature and humidity conditions compared to consumer electronics.

How to build the future now
As well as meeting all the requirements listed above, there is still the issue of affordability. Automotive manufacturers are facing tighter margins as production costs increase, alongside legislation around environmental considerations. OLCD screens offer a smart solution to this, with lower temperature manufacturing process, lower production costs and longer life spans than other flexible display technologies.

There is no time to wait for auto makers, as the steps to safeguarding their future need to be taken now. Those who embrace the latest technologies will be the ones who win the race.

 

Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
Previous ArticleNaim develops sound system for new Bentley Flying Spur
Next Article Quieter, more luxurious interior for updated 2020 Genesis G90

Read Similar Stories

Opinion

Creating more secure and safer code in modern vehicle design

February 2, 20235 Mins Read
Opinion

How digital touchpoints can put automotive brands back in the driving seat

September 26, 20227 Mins Read
Opinion

BMW’s M8 and iDrive – an ode to buttons

June 3, 20214 Mins Read
Latest News

TechnoCompound and RE Plano expand post-consumer recyclates collaboration

May 15, 2025

Audi adds DAZN sports streaming service to in-vehicle app portfolio

May 15, 2025

Renault uses pineapple as a sustainable alternative to leather

May 15, 2025

Receive breaking stories and features in your inbox each week, for free


Enter your email address:


Supplier Spotlights
  • TG0 Ltd
Getting in Touch
  • Contact Us / Advertise
  • Meet the Editors
  • Download Media Pack
  • Free Weekly E-Newsletter
Our Social Channels
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
UKi Media & Events
Related UKi Topics
  • Automotive Testing
  • Automotive Powertrain
  • Autonomous Vehicle
  • Professional Motorsport
  • Tire Technology
  • Media Pack
© 2025 UKi Media & Events a division of UKIP Media & Events Ltd
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Notice and Takedown Policy

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “ACCEPT ALL”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie settingsREJECTACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Functional

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

Performance

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

Analytics

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

Advertisement

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

Others

Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.

SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by