Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a groundbreaking OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) device that could revolutionize the world of night vision. This new technology promises to replace bulky and costly night vision goggles with lightweight and affordable glasses, making them more accessible and practical for prolonged use.
Amplifying the Night
The new OLED device takes near-infrared light and turns it into visible light which it then amplifies over 100 times. This is orders of magnitude better than conventional image intensifiers that takes light, turns it into electrons, accelerates them through a vacuum then bounces them against a phosphor screen to turn them back into light.
And the OLED device, conversely, is a smoother and more compact simple win. That includes one that converts infrared light to electrons, and a five-layer stack of OLEDs in which those get turned into visible photons of light. This positive feedback cycle, as it is called, significantly increases output light and enables the user to see with very little ambient lighting.
Goodbye, Bulky Goggles
Size and AgingThe single most important advantage behind this tech is the weight penalty. The microscale device is less than a micron thick — thinner than a single strand of hair. In doing so, users no longer have to wear the cumbersome night vision goggles, but only lightweight glasses that are more comfortable and practical for long periods of time.
The smaller design also has some permission for power packing. Since the operating voltage of the OLED device is much lower than that of a traditional image intensifier, it can greatly reduce power consumption and improve battery life. This makes the technology more readily available and usable for a broader spectrum of use, whether it for military or law enforcement applications to outdoor leisure recreation and exploration.
Conclusion
It is because this new OLED night vision technology opens a new door in the optoelectronic field. The researchers at the University of Michigan1 are making more easily usable and affordable night vision a step closer to reality, by providing a smaller, lighter weight alternative. Moving forward, this could make the technology a major player in law enforcement and military applications, as well outdoor recreation, and any number of new markets that have yet to be considered.
