Samsung Display has announced that its recently developed “unbreakable” smartphone panel has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an official testing company for OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the US Department of Labour.
The company says that, in addition to being used on smartphones, the newly developed display is expected to find viable markets with other electronic products such as display consoles for automobiles, mobile military devices, portable game consoles and tablet PCs.
Image: Samsung Display
Samsung developed the flexible OLED panel with an “unbreakable” substrate and an overlay window securely adhered to it. Current-generation flexible display products attach a glass-covered window to their display that often breaks when severely impacted.
According to UL, the display passed rigorous real-time durability tests based on military standards set by the US Department of Defense.
Following 26 consecutive drop tests from 1.2 metres above the ground and accompanying high (71 degrees) and low (-32 degrees) temperature tests, the panel continued to function normally with no damage to its front, sides or edges.
Even in a subsequent 1.8-metre drop test — significantly higher than the US military standard — Samsung’s panel operated normally with no sign of damage, UL said.
Analyst Comment
There is a video online of a member of staff attacking a flexible OLED with a (rubber, we think) hammer. (BR)
