Osram Opto Semiconductors and Digital Dash announced at this year’s InfoComm that they will collaborate to produce a new reconfigurable control and display interface called The Digital Dash Reconfigurable Tactile Display (RTD).
Here’s how it works – Osram’s Ostar-Projection LED modules and IR Dragon infrared emitters are the light sources behind the world’s first multi-touch interface that incorporates physical controls with a curved display surface.
According to Osram, the RTD is well-suited for use in automobiles, as well as for sound mixing boards and other control and image intensive user interface applications.
The RTD is composed of a rear projector/camera unit and a display/control surface. The projector displays images such as audio controls, maps or other indicators on the screen, including images that interface with the physical controls (knobs, buttons, faders, etc…) on the display surface. The camera senses the position of the controls or the user’s touch on the screen, eliminating wires and electrical components found in conventional instrument panels.
The control surface, which can feature plastic construction and curved, irregularly shaped designs, uses 3M Vikuiti beaded rear-projection film to provide a high contrast, high-resolution image. 
Digital Dash's Reconfigurable Tactile Display is the world's first multi-touch interface that can incorporate physical controls with a curved display surface. IR Dragon and Ostar-Projection modules from Osram Opto Semiconductors provide IR emission and image projection technology.
With Digital Dash’s system, any given screen area, knob or fader can be easily customized and configured to perform multiple functions For example, in an automobile the RTD allows for safe integration of all auto control functions (audio, heating/AC, navigation, rearward camera) in a fully customizable, software-based technology while reducing part count and assembly cost. The RTD is also well-suited for video editing, industrial control, and military and home control use.
The compact Ostar-Projection modules consist of six RGB LED chips that generate exceptional brilliance and vibrant colors with pure surface emission and extreme brightness, thanks to Osram’s Thinfilm and ThinGaN chip architecture.
Osram’s IR Dragon infrared emitter floods the display area with infrared light, allowing the CMOS camera to detect touch contact, knob rotations and button movement at the dashboard or control surface. The IR Dragon’s combination of power, efficiency and thermal resistance make it ideal for continuous-use audio production and automotive designs.
“Sound mixer manufacturers have been trying to integrate graphical displays in and around knobs, buttons and faders for many years now,” says Tim Pryor, Jr., president of Digital Dash. “They were also among the first to embrace multi-touch, long before the current trend in consumer electronics. Our Tactile Display is the only technology that enables large format sound mixer and digital audio workstation (DAW) manufacturers to easily integrate both multi-touch and graphically reconfigurable controls, while also enabling fully customizable workspaces for their different markets, such as music production, film post, broadcast and live sound.”
Tom Shottes, president and CEO of Osram Opto Semiconductors, Inc., added, “The touch screen market understands the benefits of RTD technology and we are working to bring this next generation of innovation to the market through the advancements in high power and efficient visible and infrared solid state light sources. With Digital Dash’s technology, the futuristic screen designs we see in forward-thinking concept displays can now be a reality.”
For more information, visit:
www.osram-os.com
Osram Opto Semiconductors, Inc.
21800 Haggerty Rd., Ste. 115
Northville, MI 48167
Phone: (248) 277-8012
Fax: (248) 596-0395