Flexible Electrophoretic Displays from Polymer Vision and PVI

 

Prime View International in Taiwan bought an electrophoretic display business of Philips in 2005, but there is no link between them and Innos. Prime View International, a subsidiary of the Yuen Foong Yu Group, makes a rigid glass e-book display for Sony. Earlier in 2007, Prime View International (PVI) announced what it called the "World's First Flexible Active-Matrix (AM) Electrophoretic Display Made in a Volume TFT Fab" at Display Week 2007.

 

 

This electrophoretic display comes in 6-in. and 1.9-in sizes. The new PVI Screens are built on "MagicMirror Reflective Technology that provides an extremely efficient and high-quality reflective TFT backplane as well as the EPLaR process that enables all standard a-Si TFT, developed by Philips Research". PVI's flexible e-Paper is said to be very slim, light in weight, easy to handle and virtually unbreakable. It offers enhanced choices and convenience to the reader providing greater freedom for industrial designers. Toppan Printing is also bringing a flexible electrophoretic display to market in this case with inorganic printed transistor drive circuits.

 

IDTechEx makes no judgment as to who is first in flexible electrophoretic displays. It is a global race and the participants are neck and neck so far. The race for an acceptable, affordable product is more important, as is the race for colour versions.

 

The earlier Polymer Vision announcement concerning the Innos partnership was as follows:

 

Eindhoven, Netherlands - January the 24th 2007 - Polymer Vision today announced its cooperation with Innos (UK) to establish the world's first production facility for organic semiconductor based rollable displays. Manufacturing will start this year to meet the increasing commercial demand for the unique Polymer Vision display technology and product.

 

Following 10 years of research, Polymer Vision has spent the past three years processing displays in its own pilot facility in Eindhoven to develop the technology to maturity. Polymer Vision and Innos will together transfer the process technology and finalise qualifications in Southampton, UK, where Innos has already started installing equipment in its newly built cleanroom.

 

In line with their strategy to use mainstream Thin Film Transistor (TFT) equipment, Polymer Vision is confident that they will rapidly scale up to commercial volumes in 2007. "This step confirms Polymer Vision's pioneering position in the new industry of rollable and flexible displays and marks the next step towards putting the products in the consumer's hands," says Guido Aelbers, COO of Polymer Vision. "Innos' experience of semiconductor processing and manufacturing equipment is vital to our success in meeting market demand and we are very happy to be working together with Innos."

 

Alec Reader, Business Development Director at Innos comments, "Rollable display technology is the future for mobile devices and Innos is delighted to be sharing its expertise and working with Polymer Vision to bring this next generation of technology to the mass market."

 

Polymer Vision rollable display technology enables mobile devices to incorporate a display that is larger than the device itself. This is the breakthrough needed in the world-wide mobile industry, to address the dilemma of display size versus device size. With the opportunity to create unique design form factors and the additional advantage of low power, rollable displays will lead to a whole new generation of mobile devices.

 

 

Exhibit and attend Printed Electronics USA 13-14 November.

Optional visits to six local facilities and optional masterclasses all on adjoining days. Expected attendance 500 with up to 50 exhibitors - world's largest such event.