eMagin

eMagin was established in 1996 in the United States as a developer and manufacturer of specialized electronic displays. Its central technical focus was organic light-emitting diode microdisplay technology, especially OLED devices fabricated on silicon. This approach enabled the production of small displays intended for optical magnification and near-eye viewing, giving the company a position in specialized imaging markets distinct from mainstream television and monitor manufacturing. During its development, eMagin served a range of professional and emerging visual-computing markets. Its technology was used or targeted for medical equipment, law-enforcement systems, remote-presence applications, industrial interfaces, computer interaction, gaming, entertainment, and virtual-imaging products. Defense work was particularly significant: eMagin supplied microdisplay technology for equipment such as night-vision goggles and head-mounted displays and acted as a contractor to the United States military. These applications depended on compact display engines that could be integrated into wearable or optical systems. The company received notable industry recognition in 2000 when it won the Display of the Year Gold Award from Information Display magazine. The award acknowledged advances in the development of OLED microdisplays and OLED-on-silicon technology. It helped mark eMagin as an early specialist in a field that later became relevant to augmented-reality, virtual-reality, military-vision, and other near-eye display systems. In 2005, eMagin manufactured the Z800 3DVisor, a head-mounted display intended for stereoscopic computer viewing and portable 2D display use. The product used two OLED panels, magnifying lenses, and an approximately 40-degree diagonal field of view for each eye. Its fixed resolution was 800 by 600 pixels per eye. Compatibility with NVIDIA stereo 3D drivers and later firmware supporting alternating-frame sources allowed it to display stereoscopic computer content. The device also included a three-degree-of-freedom motion sensor based on combined accelerometer, magnetometer, and gyroscope functions, together with earbuds and a microphone. The company continued operating as a specialized display supplier until its acquisition by Samsung Display. In October 2023, Samsung Display purchased eMagin in an all-cash transaction reported at approximately US$218 million. The transaction resulted in the delisting of eMagin’s stock from the NYSE American. The acquisition was the company’s principal documented ownership transition and brought its microdisplay capabilities into Samsung Display. Available reference material does not clearly define the extent to which eMagin remained a separately branded or separately operated business after the acquisition.

• 2023

  Acquisition by Samsung Display

  [1]EMaginen.wikipedia.org

  Samsung Display acquired eMagin in an all-cash deal reported at approximately US$218 million, after which eMagin was delisted from the NYSE American.

• 2005

  Z800 3DVisor

  [1]EMaginen.wikipedia.org

  eMagin manufactured the Z800 3DVisor, a stereoscopic head-mounted viewer based on paired OLED displays and optical magnification.

• 2000

  Display of the Year Gold Award

  [1]EMaginen.wikipedia.org

  The company received the Display of the Year Gold Award for advances in OLED microdisplay technology, described in reference material as OLED-on-silicon development.

• 1996

  eMagin was founded

  [1]EMaginen.wikipedia.org

  eMagin was established in the United States and began developing specialized electronic-display technologies, with a focus on OLED microdisplays.

Specialist supplier of high-performance OLED microdisplays and near-eye imaging technology for defense, professional, industrial, medical, and immersive-visualization applications.

• OLED microdisplay technology

  OLED-on-silicon microdisplays

  eMagin’s core technology consisted of compact OLED displays built on silicon substrates. These microdisplays were intended for optical systems and near-eye equipment, where small size, contrast, and integration flexibility were important. Applications included military vision systems, head-mounted displays, medical devices, industrial equipment, virtual-imaging products, and other specialized viewers.

• Head-mounted display · 2005

  Z800 3DVisor

  The Z800 3DVisor was a head-mounted display manufactured by eMagin from 2005. It used a pair of OLED panels with magnifying lenses, producing an approximately 40-degree diagonal field of view for each eye at an 800-by-600-pixel resolution. The visor supported stereoscopic computer content through compatible NVIDIA drivers and later firmware-based alternating-frame sources. It could also function as a 2D portable monitor and included motion sensing, earbuds, and a microphone.

• 2023

  Accepted acquisition by Samsung DisplayM&A

  Background

  Samsung Display pursued ownership of eMagin and its OLED microdisplay capabilities. The transaction followed eMagin’s years of work in specialized OLED-on-silicon displays and military, professional, and near-eye imaging applications.

  Action taken

  Samsung Display acquired eMagin in an all-cash transaction reported at approximately US$218 million. eMagin’s stock was delisted from the NYSE American after completion.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition placed eMagin’s technology within Samsung Display. Public reference material does not specify whether the eMagin brand continued independently or how the operations were integrated.

  Reported acquisition value. Approximately US$218 million (October 2023)

  Source

• 2023

  Samsung Display acquired eMagin in an all-cash transaction[1]EMaginen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  Samsung Display completed the acquisition of eMagin in October 2023 in a transaction reported at approximately US$218 million. eMagin shares were subsequently delisted from the NYSE American.

• 2005

  eMagin introduced the Z800 3DVisor[1]EMaginen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  The company manufactured the Z800 3DVisor, a head-mounted viewer using paired OLED displays, magnifying optics, stereoscopic computer support, motion sensing, audio earbuds, and an integrated microphone.

• 2000

  eMagin received a Display of the Year Gold Award[1]EMaginen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  eMagin was recognized with the 2000 Display of the Year Gold Award for technological advancement in OLED microdisplay development, including OLED-on-silicon work.

1. 1EMaginen.wikipedia.org