The US is still trying to catch up in display technology, and Taunton, Massachusetts-based Kopin Corp is expected to receive a $5.5m award from the US Defense Advanced Projects Agency for a two-year project to develop flat panel helmet displays, Electronic News reports. It is thought Kopin will develop its wafer technology for the production of active matrix electroluminescent displays. The company is presently working on Smart Slide technology involving the production of integrated circuits on a single-crystal Silicon thin film, which is then transferred onto glass The integrated circuit and liquid crystal are sandwiched between two glass panels in the finished display. Smart Slides would be suitable for variety of applications including mounting in helmets. Kopin has been authorised to incur some pre-contract costs on the scheme under an advanced agreement and expects the final award will be made in 30 to 60 days. The company says that it intends to subcontract some of the development work.
