Tolis Voutsas

Tolis Voutsas has been actively involved in research and development relating to Liquid Crystal Displays since 1989. After joining Sharp in 1994, he participated in a variety of research projects in the area of a-Si and poly-Si TFT technology for AM-LCD arrays. In 1995-1997 he developed advanced metallization technology for a-Si TFT-LCDs, which enabled Sharp to move into the mass production of >13" diagonal TFT-LCDs. Between 1997-1999 he worked on a variety of process development projects, culminating into the assessment and development of novel, laser-crystallization technology for high performance poly-Si thin-film-transistors. In the ensuing years he was tasked with the planning, set up and development of a new group at Sharp Labs of America to conduct R&D in the fertile area of poly-Si TFT technology, encompassing process and device development. He is currently responsible for the management of this group and the associated technology development. His experience covers a broad range of TFT technology, including process/equipment development, thin film characterization, process integration, TFT device fabrication and analysis. He is considered an expert in the areas of Si-deposition, crystallization and poly-Si TFT device characterization. He has been an invited seminar speaker for SID and has presented seminars on AM-LCD technology worldwide. 

Tolis has been an organizing-committee member in various LCD-related conferences and the main organizer of the recurring SPIE symposium on "AM-LCD technology and Applications". In 2001 he served as a co-organizer of the Flat Panel Symposium in the 2001 Spring MRS meeting. He has been an active SID member since 1989 and, since 2001, has served as the Chairman of the Pacific-Northwest SID chapter. In 1999-2001 he held an adjunct professor appointment at the Manufacturing Engineering department of Washington State University (Vancouver campus). 

Tolis has authored 1 book-chapter on poly-Si TFT technology and more than 40 journal publications. He has been issued 23 US patents. Dr. Voutsas received his Diploma in Engineering from the Polytechnic School of Thessaloniki (Greece) and his MS and Ph.D. degrees from Lehigh University (all in Chemical Engineering). He also received an MS degree in Engineering Management from Washington State University.