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OLED displays are increasingly used in modern electronic devices, especially in applications that require excellent readability, compact dimensions, and low power consumption. Unisystem portfolio naturally includes products based on this technology – among them monochrome OLED modules by Winstar, which perform exceptionally well in a wide range of industrial applications. In this article, we present five selected models: WEO009664D, WEO009632C, WEO012864ANX (two-color version), WEO012864V, and WEO025664E, discussing their key parameters, structural differences, and typical application areas to facilitate the selection of the product for a specific project.
What Distinguishes OLED Technology?
The acronym OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode. OLED technology is based on generating light directly within the display structure – each pixel is an independent, electrically driven emissive element. OLED displays are built from thin layers of organic materials placed between electrodes, which emit light as a result of electroluminescence when voltage is applied. Image brightness is controlled individually for each pixel and depends on the current flowing through a given area of the screen, while inactive pixels remain completely turned off.
Advantages and Disadvantages of OLED Technology
OLED technology offers a number of features that are important to designers of electronic devices, both in terms of image quality and module construction. At the same time, like any display technology, it also has certain limitations that should be considered when selecting a solution for a specific application.
Advantages of OLED Technology:
- high contrast, vivid colors, and deep blacks – the ability to completely turn off inactive pixels results in excellent image readability and improved perception of detail,
- wide viewing angles – comfortable viewing of displayed content from various angles without noticeable changes in brightness or color reproduction,
- compact design – the lack of backlighting enables very thin modules that are easy to integrate into devices with limited installation space,
- energy efficiency – in applications with a limited number of active elements, power consumption is low thanks to light emission only from active pixels.
Disadvantages of OLED Technology:
- degradation of organic materials – the natural aging process of OLED diodes can lead to reduced brightness and uneven pixel wear, especially when static image elements are displayed for long periods,
- higher unit cost compared to other display technologies.
Monochrome OLED vs. LCD
In applications using monochrome displays, the choice of display technology directly affects information readability, power consumption, and system durability. The table below compares monochrome OLED displays with monochrome LCDs (transmissive, reflective, and transflective), focusing on key parameters relevant to user interface design.
| Feature / Parameter | Monochrome OLED | Monochrome LCD |
| Image generation | Self-emissive pixels – each pixel emits light independently | Light modulation: transmissive, reflective, or transflective LCD |
| Backlight required | No | Yes (transmissive, transflective) / No (reflective) |
| Character–background contrast | Very high, independent of ambient lighting | High, dependent on LCD type and lighting conditions |
| Inactive pixels | No light emission (pixel off) | Inactive pixels transmit light from the backlight |
| Character readability | Very high, with sharp character–background boundaries | High, but dependent on LCD type and lighting |
| Viewing angles | Essentially unlimited | Dependent on technology (STN / FSTN / DFSTN) |
| Response time | Shorter (µs) | Longer (ms), especially at low temperatures |
| Power consumption | Depends on number and brightness of active pixels | Low and largely constant |
| Image uniformity | Very good (no backlight) | Dependent on backlight quality |
| Module thickness | Thinner | Thicker (LCD layers + backlight) |
| Operating temperature | Even from -40°C to +80°C | Typically from -20°C to +70°C |
| Lifetime | Perceived as limited due to OLED degradation; MTBF for some models specified up to 50.000 hours | Very long; usually limited by backlight lifetime |
| Burn-in risk | Possible with prolonged display of static elements | None |
| Unit cost | Higher | Lower, especially at high volumes |
Summary: Monochrome OLED or LCD?
Monochrome OLED displays stand out for their excellent readability and fast response times, which translate into a high level of visual comfort. These features are particularly important in modern user interfaces, especially in applications presenting real-time data.
Typical applications include:
- control panels,
- laboratory, diagnostic, and therapeutic equipment,
- selected segments of consumer electronics with increased quality requirements.
Monochrome LCDs also provide fine readability, but the visual effect is not as pronounced as with monochrome OLED displays due to the modulatory image generation method and the presence of a background with a defined brightness and color. Their key advantages include high durability, resistance to long-term operation, low and predictable power consumption, and a favorable price-to-performance ratio.
Typical applications include:
- measurement and control equipment,
- simple building automation devices such as thermostats and controllers,
- household appliances, e.g., washing machines and dryers.
Monochrome OLED Displays by Winstar – Characteristics
Monochrome OLED Displays – Graphic vs. Character Types
Monochrome OLED displays are available in both character and graphic versions. The differences mainly concern the flexibility of information presentation and user interface design.
Character OLED displays are intended for presenting predefined characters and simple symbols, which simplifies implementation and ensures high readability in applications with a fixed data structure.
Graphic OLED displays offer much greater freedom in interface design, enabling the display of arbitrary characters, icons, and graphical elements, as well as dynamic content layout. This makes them suitable for more advanced and interactive applications.
This article discusses selected graphic OLED display models by Winstar:
- WEO009632C (WEO009632CWAP3N00000 and WEO009632CLAP3N00000),
- WEO009664D (WEO009664DWPP3N00000 and WEO009664DLPP3N00000),
- WEO012864V,
- WEO012864ANX,
- WEO025664E.
Diagonal Size, Resolution, and Active Area
The discussed models differ in diagonal size, resolution, and active area dimensions, allowing the solution to be matched to application requirements in terms of displayed information and available mounting space.
The smallest model is the WEO009632C, featuring a 96 × 32 px matrix, a 0.68-inch diagonal, and an active area of 16.298 × 5.418 mm, making it suitable for space-constrained devices.
Two models with similar diagonal sizes and rectangular formats are the WEO009664D (96 × 64 px, 0.95 inch, active area 19.946 × 13.418 mm) and the WEO012864V (128 × 64 px, 0.96 inch, active area 21.74 × 10.86 mm), enabling more complex content display while maintaining a compact form factor.
A slightly larger rectangular format is offered by the WEO012864ANX (128 × 64 px, 1.33 inch, active area 28.52 × 18.33 mm), providing a larger usable display area.
The largest display discussed is the WEO025664E, designed as an elongated rectangle, offering a resolution of 256 × 64 px, a 3.55-inch diagonal, and an active area of 87.52 × 21.28 mm, suitable for extended screen layouts.
Content and Background Color
The monochrome nature of OLED displays typically means displaying a single content color (e.g., white or yellow) on a black, non-emissive background, ensuring high contrast and excellent readability even under strong ambient lighting.
Models WEO009632C and WEO009664D are available with white or yellow content colors, while WEO012864V is available with white content color only.
The WEO025664E is also available only with white content; however, its 4-bit grayscale support enables shading and more complex graphical elements by displaying content at different brightness levels.
The exception in this group is the WEO012864ANX, which features a two-color OLED matrix (yellow and green) with a banded color layout, allowing logical separation of user interface areas.
COG (Chip-On-Glass) Construction and Module Dimensions
In COG (Chip-On-Glass) designs, the controller IC is mounted directly on the display glass, eliminating the need for a separate controller PCB. This results in a thinner module compared to traditional designs and reduces the number of mechanical and electrical connections, improves vibration resistance, and facilitates integration into compact devices.
External dimensions (width × height × thickness) of the models:
- WEO009632C (0.68”) – 19.80 × 12.32 × 1.21 mm,
- WEO009664D (0.95”) – 24.90 × 22.95 × 1.61 mm,
- WEO012864V (0.96”) – 24.74 × 16.90 × 1.26 mm,
- WEO012864ANX (1.33”) – 33.50 × 27.08 × 1.26 mm,
- WEO025664E (3.55”) – 99.20 × 33.50 × 2.01 mm.
Communication Interfaces
The individual models differ in supported communication interfaces, enabling flexible adaptation to system architecture. Available interfaces include classic 6800/8080 parallel interfaces for high-throughput industrial applications, as well as SPI (3- or 4-wire) serial interfaces for fast data transfer with a reduced number of signal lines. Selected models also support the I²C interface, popular in IoT applications.
Models WEO009632C, WEO009664D, WEO012864ANX, and WEO025664E support a full set of interfaces: 6800/8080, SPI, and I²C. The WEO012864V supports only SPI and I²C, without parallel interface support.
Operating Temperature
The discussed Winstar monochrome OLED displays are designed for operation over a wide temperature range, making them suitable for industrial applications.
For models WEO009632C, WEO009664D, WEO012864ANX, and WEO025664E, the operating temperature range is –40 °C to +80 °C. The WEO012864V has a slightly narrower range of –30 °C to +70 °C, which is still sufficient for typical industrial use.
FPC (Flat Panel Cable) Connections
Winstar monochrome OLED displays are available with various FPC (Flat Panel Cable) connection options, facilitating mechanical design adaptation and system integration. Depending on the model, different FPC attachment technologies are used. For example, the WEO009632C is offered in ZIF and Hotbar versions, allowing the connection method to be selected according to project assembly requirements.
Model Comparison (WEO009632C, WEO009664D, WEO012864V, WEO012864ANX, WEO025664E)
The table below summarizes key parameters of the discussed Winstar graphic OLED displays, including optical parameters, color variants, construction, supported interfaces, and operating temperature ranges, aiding in model selection.
| Parameter | WEO009632C (WEO009632CWAP3N00000 / WEO009632CLAP3N00000) | WEO009664D (WEO009664DWPP3N00000 / WEO009664DLPP3N00000) | WEO012864V | WEO012864ANX | WEO025664E |
| Size | 0.68″ | 0.95″ | 0.96″ | 1.33″ | 3.55″ |
| Resolution | 96 × 32 px | 96 × 64 px | 128 × 64 px | 128 × 64 px | 256 × 64 px |
| Active area | 16.298 × 5.418 mm | 19.946 × 13.418 mm | 21.74 × 10.86 mm | 28.52 × 18.33 mm | 87.52 × 21.28 mm |
| Color / grayscale | White / yellow | White / yellow | White | Yellow, green | White + 4-bit grayscale |
| Construction | COG | COG | COG | COG | COG |
| External dimensions (W × H × T) | 19.80 × 12.32 × 1.21 mm | 24.90 × 22.95 × 1.61 mm | 24.74 × 16.90 × 1.26 mm | 33.50 × 27.08 × 1.26 mm | 99.20 × 33.50 × 2.01 mm |
| Controller | SSD1315 | SSD1315 | SSD1315 | SSD1309 | SSD1363 |
| Interfaces | 6800/8080, SPI, I²C | 6800/8080, SPI, I²C | SPI (3-/4-wire), I²C | 6800/8080, SPI, I²C | 6800/8080, SPI, I²C |
| Operating temperature | –40 °C ~ +80 °C | –40 °C ~ +80 °C | –30 °C ~ +70 °C | –40 °C ~ +80 °C | –40 °C ~ +80 °C |
Applications of Monochrome OLED Displays
Monochrome OLED displays are used in a wide range of applications, both indoor and outdoor. They perform well in demanding environments with variable operating conditions, including strong ambient lighting and extreme temperatures. Their compact design allows integration into both stationary and portable devices.
Typical application areas include:
- industrial automation – PLC controllers, control and measurement modules, machine and production line status indicators,
- IoT – temperature, humidity, and CO₂ sensors, utility meters, data concentrators, telemetry and monitoring devices,
- building automation (smart home / smart office) – HVAC controllers and thermostats, control panels, BMS systems,
- medical devices – vital signs monitors (e.g., blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeters), ECG devices, defibrillators, infusion and syringe pumps, spirometers, portable laboratory analyzers,
- gastronomy – control panels for kitchen appliances, coffee machines, refrigeration equipment,
- transport and logistics – onboard terminals, information panels, vehicle parameter monitoring systems,
- energy sector – energy meters, measurement devices, substation and switchgear control panels, grid monitoring systems,
- retail – POS systems, payment terminals, measurement and control devices, vending machines,
- consumer electronics – professional audio equipment, including mixers, signal processors, and amplifiers.
Summary – Why OLED Displays?
Winstar monochrome OLED displays are a versatile solution for projects in which excellent readability – even under strong ambient lighting – fast and precise image updates, compact dimensions, and resistance to environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures, are essential.
The models presented in this article represent only a portion of the monochrome OLED display range available in Unisystem portfolio. A wide selection of sizes, color variants, and communication interfaces makes these solutions suitable for many industries, including environments with increased operational requirements.
Looking for a different model? Check our catalog: character OLED displays and graphic OLED displays.
Wondering whether a selected model is optimal for your project? Contact us – we will help you choose the solution that ensures maximum performance and the best fit for your application.
