news archive
Vitex and
Samsung to Collaborate on Barix™-encapsulated OLEDs
San Jose,
California, February 25 - Vitex Systems, Inc. today
announced it will partner with Samsung SDI Co. (Seoul, South
Korea) to apply Vitex's Barix™ thin-film coating solution
to the packaging of Samsung OLED displays. During the
initial phase of this joint development effort, Samsung will
provide funded support for specialized design and
engineering activities. Samsung's goal in exploring the
production-worthiness of this technology for encapsulating
full-color, active-matrix OLEDs is to bring to market OLED-based
displays that are 50 percent lower in weight and thickness
than other commercially available displays.
"We
believe that Vitex's Barrier Engineering Program holds the
potential to be the fastest, most cost-effective way for
Samsung SDI to achieve a thin-film encapsulation solution
for our OLED displays," said Samsung Senior Vice
President Ho-Kyoon Chung. "The ability to offer
mobile-device makers an OLED display on a single piece of
glass, cutting display weight and thickness in half, will
provide Samsung SDI with a significant competitive
advantage."
OLED displays
are attractive for many applications, but their broad
adoption has been impeded by a key manufacturing challenge:
the organic material's sensitivity to moisture and oxygen.
Vitex's barrier solution tackles this problem head-on. Its
proprietary thin-film technology creates a moisture and
oxygen barrier that is potentially as effective as a sheet
of glass, without the added bulk, a Vitex statement said.
Employing Vitex's Barix encapsulation, display manufacturers
can deposit a thin-film coating directly on top of the OLED
material on a glass substrate, eliminating the need for a
glued-on metal can or extra sheet of glass. The resulting
display is thinner and lighter, and delivers high
reliability at a significantly reduced manufacturing cost,
the company said.
Information: www.vitexsys.com.
XtremeSpectrum
Demonstrates Ultra-wideband Technology for Wireless HDTV
Links at FCC
Washington,
DC, February 13 - One year after the Federal Communication
Commission's (FCC's) approval of ultra-wideband (UWB)
technology for commercial applications, XtremeSpectrum
provided a live UWB technology demonstration at the FCC's
headquarters here. The demonstration was hosted by the
Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) and was attended
by FCC Chairman Michael Powell, FCC Commissioners, and key
Commission staff, as well as members of the press.
The UWB
technology was used to wirelessly broadcast multiple
high-definition television (HDTV) streams to multiple
large-screen displays, showcasing UWB's ability to
wirelessly broadcast multiple channels simultaneously. The
demonstration enabled the Commission to experience UWB in a
true communications application, which, like many other
consumer-oriented communications applications, is now
permitted under FCC rules.
The
demonstration used XtremeSpectrum's ultra-wideband chipset
Trinity to wirelessly transmit the video while co-existing
with an 802.11b system, an 802.11a system, a microwave oven,
a cellular phone, and a cordless phone-all in simultaneous
operation during the demonstration.
"Since
the FCC's unanimous approval one year ago, commercial
ultra-wideband has moved from concept to market reality, and
this demonstration showcases the tremendous benefits
ultra-wideband brings to the consumer market," said
Martin Rofheart, CEO of XtremeSpectrum. "Chairman
Powell and his Commissioners are the reason that
ultra-wideband is being commercialized today, and the
opportunity to demonstrate our technology to the Commission
is extremely rewarding."
XtremeSpectrum
began sampling its semiconductor chipsets in Q3 2002 and
currently has customers developing displays, set-top boxes,
and digital cameras.
Information: www.xtremespectrum.com.
Dow
Completes First-phase Expansion of LEP Production Facility
Midland,
Michigan, February 12 - The Advanced Electronic Materials (AEM)
business of The Dow Chemical Company recently completed the
first phase of an expansion to its commercial manufacturing
facility for Lumation™ light-emitting polymers (LEPs) at
its Michigan Operations site in Midland, Michigan.
This first
phase of the expansion is a multi-reactor facility that
expands Dow's capacity to produce a broad portfolio of
materials and products, including numerous LEP colors and
formulations. Dow expects to bring the second phase of the
multi-million dollar expansion online in the second half of
2003. The second phase will further increase production
capacity, positioning Dow to meet global demand for LEPs for
the next decade, said Jim O'Brien, technical project
director for the AEM Display Technologies group.
Information: www.dowlumation.com.
Micronic
Receives Order For TFT-Display Pattern Generator
Taby, Sweden,
February 10 - Micronic Laser Systems AB today announced an
order for a LRS11000 multi-beam laser pattern generator for
production of advanced photomasks used in TFT-display
manufacturing. The order was placed by a major customer in
Asia, a world-leading photomask producer. Delivery will take
place Q2, 2003.
"The
order shows an increase in the need for high-end photomasks
within the TFT segment," said Sven Lofquist, Micronic's
president and CEO.
Information: www.micronic.se.
Philips to
Refocus TV Manufacturing in Europe
Eindhoven,
The Netherlands, January 31 - Royal Philips Electronics
today announced plans to establish a European configuration
center in Dreux, France, for the assembly of flat TVs in the
existing Philips TV factory. At the same time, it is
Philips' intention to transfer part of the production of CRT
TV sets to the existing Philips factory in Szekesfehervar in
Hungary. A capacity adjustment in the Dreux TV operations is
therefore expected.
The plan will
be worked out in more detail in the coming weeks in Dreux to
analyze the consequences and the timing of implementation of
these changes, in close consultation with the workers'
representatives.
Information: www.philips.com/newscenter
Fujitsu
Siemens Bundles Pivot® Pro Software
Pleasanton,
California, February 4 - Portrait Displays, Inc. announced
today that its proprietary Pivot Pro software is included
with 15-, 17- and 18-inch rotational LCD premium-line
displays from Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Europe's leading
computer company.
Information: www.portrait.com.
Photon
Dynamics Appoints New Senior VP for FPD Business
San Jose,
California, February 4 - Photon Dynamics, Inc. announced
today that it has named Jeffrey A. Hawthorne as the
company's new senior vice president to manage the Flat Panel
Display business. Mr. Hawthorne has held various positions
for Photon Dynamics since 1991, including vice president for
development from 1994 to 2001. Most recently he was
president of the Image Processing Systems Division. Mr.
Hawthorne holds a B.S. degree in Engineering Physics and
M.S. degree in Optical Engineering. He replaces Bernard T.
Clark, who has resigned.
Information: www.photondynamics.com.
Dow AEM
Increases Developmental LEP Prices up to 200 Percent
Midland,
Michigan, January 31 - The Advanced Electronic Materials (AEM)
business of The Dow Chemical Company is increasing prices of
its LUMATION™ light-emitting polymers (LEPs).
Effective
March 1, 2003, list pricing will increase by up to 200
percent for all LUMATION LEP developmental materials,
resulting in a standardized price across all material
colors. This increase applies to developmental materials
only; Dow will continue to negotiate commercial supply
agreements independently.
"Dow is
investing substantially in pLED [polymer LED] research and
materials development," said Dave Kyle, senior
marketing manager for the AEM Display Technologies group.
"This price increase enables Dow to continue investing
in the development of materials which will advance
commercialization in the organic light-emitting diode (OLED)
industry." The first red, green and blue LUMATION LEPs
are now available, enabling the manufacture of
first-generation monochromatic and full-color pLED displays.
Information: www.dowlumation.com.
