Kopin Awarded $3.6M Contract for Display Development from Army and DARPA.TAUNTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 2, 1998-- Kopin to Develop and Provide Display for RAH-66 Comanche
The Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was an advanced U.S. Army military helicopter intended for the armed reconnaissance role, incorporating stealth techniques. Helicopter Program Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :KOPN) today announced that it has been awarded a two-year $3.6 million contract from the United States Army United States Army Major branch of the U.S. military forces, charged with preserving peace and security and defending the nation. The first regular U.S. fighting force, the Continental Army, was organized by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, to supplement local and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), U.S. government agency administered by the Department of Defense (see Defense, United States Department of). (DARPA DARPA: see Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) The name given to the U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency during the 1980s. It was later renamed back to ARPA. ) for development and delivery of high-density, high resolution active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) for the Helmet Integrated Display and Sighting System (HIDSS HIDSS Helmet Integrated Display & Sight System HIDSS Helmet Interface Display Sighting Sub-System ) for the Army's RAH-66 Comanche helicopter program. The Kopin AMLCD (Active Matrix LCD) See active matrix. display technology was selected for the Comanche HIDSS by a team comprised of the Comanche Program Office, Night Vision and Electronic Systems Directorate (NVESD NVESD Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Director/Directorate (US Army) ), DARPA, Army Aircrew Integrated Systems (ACIS), Kaiser Electronics, Boeing Defense and Space Group, and Sikorsky Aircraft (a division of United Technologies). Boeing and Sikorsky are the prime contractors for the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter, while Kaiser Electronics is the subcontractor for the integration of the helmet display and sight subsystem. The AMLCD being developed is an advanced 0.77" diagonal monochrome display with 1280 columns and 1024 rows, and a resolution of over 2000 lines per inch Lines per inch (LPI) is a measurement of printing resolution in systems that use a halftone screen. Specifically, it is a measure of how close together the lines in a halftone grid are. Higher LPI indicates greater detail and sharpness. . It runs at video speeds (60 frames per second) and in 8-bit gray scale to provide real-time images of forward-looking infrared radar and rotocraft symbology sym·bol·o·gy n. 1. The study or interpretation of symbols or symbolism. 2. The use of symbols. symbology 1. the study and interpretation of symbols. Also called symbolism. . Early versions of this display were developed by Kopin under an existing subcontract with Kaiser Electronics funded via the Army Aircrew Integrated Systems (ACIS) Office. Fully functional displays have been fabricated and delivered by Kopin under this contract. These displays are believed to be the world's highest resolution, small form factor information displays. The RAH-66 Comanche helicopter is being developed by a team of companies led by Boeing Defense and Space Group, Helicopters Division and the Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. It will replace AH-1 and OH-58 attack and observation helicopters. The Comanche is a twin-turbine, two-seat (tandem) armed reconnaissance helicopter An armed reconnaissance helicopter is a light helicopter armed for self defense and rudimentary combat abilities. It can refer to any of the following.
Dr. John C. C. Fan, Kopin's president and chief executive officer, said, "This is a significant program for Kopin, as it links our current commercial AMLCD technology to insertion into a major military program. We see this display as the basis for the Comanche and for other high-resolution head-mounted and head-up display programs in the future, both military and commercial." Tom Sheehy, Sikorsky's Comanche Program Manager, said, "Kopin provided a timely solution to meet our need for the miniature AMLCD helmet mounted displays. These miniature displays allow us to reduce head supported weight and meet center-of-gravity requirements for the helmet integrated display sight system for the Comanche pilots. The HIDSS is an important and unique subsystem on the Comanche helicopter." "Miniature flat panel displays such as these are the enabling technology for high value helmet mounted displays like the HIDSS," said John Milner, HIDSS Program Director at Kaiser Electronics. "Kopin has delivered AMLCDs with performance that exceeds that of any other available technology. This contract provides the means to achieving performance and producibility requirements necessary for Comanche production." The Kopin displays for this program are being fabricated in Kopin's Display Manufacturing Center in Westborough, Massachusetts using its CyberDisplay manufacturing process. This process was developed and is being used for Kopin's commercial CyberDisplay 320 product. The CyberDisplay is the world's smallest full-color, high-performance, high-resolution, full-function information display and is being produced in high volume to support a variety of consumer products. Dr. Ron Gale, Kopin's Chief Technical Officer and Program Manager for the Comanche display development, said, "These AMLCDs are fabricated using our commercial display process that has produced very high reliability displays. We have applied what we've learned from our CyberDisplay production process to the 1280 by 1024 display for the Comanche program." About Kopin Kopin is a leading developer and manufacturer of high resolution, flat panel display products and Wafer-Engineered(tm) device wafers for telecommunications and digital imaging applications. Founded in 1984 with initial technology developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Cambridge; coeducational; chartered 1861, opened 1865 in Boston, moved 1916. It has long been recognized as an outstanding technological institute and its Sloan School of Management has notable programs in business, , Kopin holds over 125 patents and patent applications for technological breakthroughs in flat panel display technology and device wafers. These technologies have enabled Kopin to market display products and device wafers that enhance the delivery and presentation of video, voice and data. The Company has combined advanced AMLCD and integrated circuit technology to produce its CyberDisplay family of ultra-small, high density imaging devices. Telecommunication providers are using Kopin's device wafers for high-performance integrated circuits used primarily in advanced cellular phones and other communications devices. For more information, please visit Kopin's web site at www.kopin.com. -0- Wafer-Engineered and CyberDisplay are trademarks of Kopin Corporation. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made under "safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. " provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could materially affect future results. Among these risk factors are general economic and business conditions and growth in the flat panel display and gallium arsenide integrated circuit and materials industries, the impact of competitive products and pricing, availability of third-party components, availability of integrated circuit fabrication fabrication (fab´rikā´sh  n),n the construction or making of a restoration. facilities, cost and yields associated with production of the Company's CyberDisplay imaging devices and Wafer-Engineered device wafers, loss of significant customers, acceptance of the Company's products, continuation of strategic relationships, and the other risk factors and cautionary statements listed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997. CONTACT: Kopin Corporation Copithorne and Bellows Dr. Ronald Gale Bill Brikiatis Paul J. Mitchell 617/450-4300 Ext. 268 508/824-6696 |
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