Breakthrough Technology Increases Battery Life and Allows
"Instant-On" Operation at -40(degree)C
TAUNTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 2007--Kopin(R)
Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN), the largest U.S. manufacturer of
microdisplays for mobile consumer and military applications, today
announced the adoption of its new CyberDisplay(R) 640M LVR display for
use in the U.S. Army's new thermal weapon sight program, the TWS
Bridge, which has potential volumes exceeding 150,000 units. This
high-tech display is specifically designed to operate at temperatures
as low as -40(degree)C with nearly "Instant-On" capability, an
unprecedented achievement for liquid crystal displays. This
performance is achieved without the need for an external heater,
significantly reducing display system power consumption.
"This latest award represents a solid endorsement of Kopin's
technology as the microdisplay of choice for the U.S. military," said
President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. John C. C. Fan. "Our design
team was inspired by a challenge from our major Department of Defense
(DOD) equipment suppliers to develop a display system capable of
operating at extremely low temperatures with unsurpassed power
efficiency. Our innovative display solution not only meets the needs
of the TWS Bridge product, but will likely be adopted across a broad
range of DOD applications."
The CyberDisplay 640M LVR monochrome display with VGA (640 x 480)
resolution combines two of Kopin's patent-pending inventions: Kopin's
low-voltage (LV) architecture, which reduces AMLCD video levels by
50%, and Kopin's latest "Vcom Thin Film" technology, which serves as
an active matrix element while simultaneously operating as an integral
heating element. This "dual purpose" operation is available on demand
and allows the display to provide full-video-rate performance at
temperatures down to -40(degree)C without the need for an external
heater. The complete display system, including Kopin's new general
purpose back-end ASIC driver, dissipates less than 130 mW during
normal video-rate operation. This low power operation, combined with
the low temperature "Instant-On" capability, leads to increased
battery life for the soldier and reduced procurement costs for the
DOD.
The CyberDisplay 640M LVR is being readied for volume production
in early 2008. Qualification and accelerated life testing of the
display was conducted earlier this year with exceptional results.
Developments are underway to incorporate the "Instant-On" technology
into full-color displays with resolutions up to 1280 x 1024. Kopin
anticipates making the "Instant-On" technology available in its full
line of military displays by the end of 2008.
"Kopin's Instant-On displays raise the bar significantly in terms
of battery life and operational readiness for ultra-portable military
systems," stated Michael Presz, the Company's Vice President of
Government Programs. "Our new displays dramatically reduce the power
requirements because of reduced video levels and ultra-efficient
integral heating elements. The net effect is lighter-weight systems
and extended battery life. In addition, cold-start performance can be
achieved within 10 seconds at a fraction of the power used in
currently deployed systems."
About Kopin
Kopin Corporation produces lightweight, power-efficient,
ultra-small liquid crystal displays and heterojunction bipolar
transistors (HBTs) that are revolutionizing the way people around the
world see, hear and communicate. Kopin has shipped more than 25
million displays for a range of consumer and military applications
including digital cameras, personal video eyewear, camcorders, thermal
weapon sights and night vision systems. The Company's unique HBTs,
which help to enhance battery life, talk time and signal clarity, have
been integrated into billions of wireless handsets as well as into
WiFi, VoIP and high-speed Internet data transmission systems. Kopin's
proprietary display and HBT technologies are protected by more than
200 global patents and patents pending. For more information, please
visit Kopin's website at www.kopin.com.
Kopin, CyberDisplay, and The NanoSemiconductor Company are
trademarks of Kopin Corporation.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this news release about the adoption of CyberDisplay
640M LVR in TWS Bridge may be considered "forward-looking" under the
"Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These include statements relating to the potential
volumes of the TWS Bridge Program to exceed 150,000 units; Kopin's
belief that its "Instant-On" display technology will likely be adopted
for a broad range of U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) applications;
the Company's belief that it will be able to incorporate this
technology into full-color displays with resolutions up to 1280 x
1024; Kopin's estimate that the technology will be available in its
full line of military displays by the end of 2008; and the Company's
projection that its CyberDisplay 640M LVR will be in volume production
in early 2008. These statements involve a number of risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that
might affect the actual results, performance or achievements include,
among other things, technical, manufacturing or other issues that may
prevent the qualification process from being completed; technical,
manufacturing or other issues that may prevent Kopin from ramping up
manufacturing even if qualification is successfully accomplished; the
potential that the U.S. Government may delay or cancel implementation
of the program for which this technology is intended; issues related
to the supply or production of non-Kopin components used to
manufacture its customers' products; the potential consequences
surrounding any findings relating to the Company's special committee's
ongoing internal review of stock option granting practices;
uncertainty of results of pending civil litigation related to the
Company's stock option grant practices; the potential for further
delays related to the Company's regulatory filings; general economic
and business conditions; and other risk factors and cautionary
statements listed in the Company's periodic reports and registration
statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You
should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company
undertakes no responsibility to update any of these forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstance occurring after the date
of this report.
CONTACT: Kopin Sales & Marketing
Mike Presz, 831-430-0688
VP of Government Programs
mpresz@kopin.com
or
Investor Relations
Richard Sneider, 508-824-6696
CFO
rsneider@kopin.com
or
News Media Relations
VP RDW Group, Inc.
Dave McDermitt, 617-235-5812
dmcdermitt@rdwgroup.com
SOURCE: Kopin Corporation