July 2006

news archive

IAAP Announces Record OLED Lifetimes

DRESDEN, Germany - In mid-July, the Institut Für Angewandte Photophysik (IAAP)  of Technische Universität Dresden announced that a team of its scientists had achieved a new world record in operational stability of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), demonstrating lifetime of up to 10 million hours at 100 cd/m² initial luminance.

The OLEDs require a driving voltage of 2.28 V for 100 cd/m² to reach 57% internal quantum efficiency, according to a statement from the IAAP. The high stability of the device comes from a combination of a broad emission zone, efficient exciton confinement, and the combination of well-chosen ultra-stable materials.

"High operational stability is one of the major requirements for both displays and future applications in general lighting," IAAP Professor Dr. Karl Leo said in a press release. "Due to our electrically doped p-i-n device structure, ohmic losses are reduced as far as possible, resulting in very low-voltage, high-efficiency devices. Low losses are also a prerequisite for high operational lifetime. We expect that our new results will be an important step in the commercialization of our technology by our spin-off company Novaled AG."

Panasonic to Sell 103-Inch Plasma TV in U.S. in Q4 2006

SECAUCUS, N.J. - Panasonic Consumer Electronics Co. announced on July 19 that its 103-in. plasma TV, the world's largest, will be made available to the U.S. consumer market in time for the 2006 holiday season. The 103-in. plasma TV is the believed to be the largest such TV in the industry.

"Panasonic didn't create the world's largest plasma TV as a technology demo for a trade show," Panasonic Display Group Vice President Andrew Nelkin said in a company statement. "We created it because, as worldwide sales of plasma TVs continue on a meteoric rise, the market is seeking bigger displays on which people can experience the high-definition (HD) lifestyle."

With a suggested retail price of about $70,000, the TH-103PZ600U will come with an industry-first three-year limited in-home warranty. The 89.3 x 50.2-in. 1080p screen features a contrast ratio of 4000:1 with full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution with 4,096 equivalent steps of gradation.

"Panasonic's 103-in. display represents the pinnacle of our achievement to date and truly redefines the level of ultimate home entertainment available for the most demanding video connoisseur," Nelkin added

Panasonic explained that the TH-103PZ600U will be built to order and will be available from select high-end electronics retailers in December.

Matsushita to Produce LCD TVs in Russia

TOKYO - Consumer electronics manufacturing giant Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.  in mid-July announced that in September, it would begin assembling liquid-crystal-display (LCD) TVs in Kaliningrad, Russia, in an effort to meet growing local demand, according to reports from EE Times and Reuters news service.

The company will produce the TVs under its Panasonic brand name by shipping key components, such as LCD panels, from Japan to an unnamed maker in Russia. Matsushita plans to produce 50,000 sets in Russia this fiscal year; the target for the following year will be 250,000 sets, EE Times said.

Matsushita also recently began plasma TV assembly in Brazil, with plans to strengthen its sales network in India as well, according to the reports.

CDT Sells Ink-Jet Printer to Brazil's Genius Institute for Work on P-OLED Technology

CAMBRIDGE, UK - Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) announced on July 24 that it has sold ink-jet-printing equipment to the Genius Institute of Technology in Brazil, a not-for-profit research-and-development center, to aid its research on ink-jet printing of polymer organic light-emitting diodes (P-OLEDs).

CDT's Litrex 70 printer is capable of printing on substrates up to 200mm square at up to 120 ppi and is ideal for research and development of P-OLED materials and devices, according to a company statement. Genius will use the equipment and CDT's process know-how in its work with various partners, including Brazil's largest consumer-electronics company Gradiente, the Millennium Institute for Polymeric Materials, and the Brazilian National Synchrotron Light Laboratory. CDT and Genius hope to have a development line up and running as soon as possible, the CDT release stated.

"We are delighted to be working with CDT and our partners in the exciting field of P-OLED technology," Genius Institute Director Professor Dr. Cylon Gonçalves da Silva said in the statement. "We believe this is the first step towards future industrial and commercial developments here in Brazil. The financial support for this project by FINEP, the funding agency of the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology, shows the support of the Brazilian Government for the initiative. Genius and Gradiente are committed to maintaining a technology lead in key areas with such great potential for consumer electronics."

"The Genius Institute has an enviable reputation as a center of technological excellence, and as a key strategic player in the development of supply chains for key technology areas," added Dr. David Fyfe, CEO of CDT. "They have recognized the importance of polymer OLEDs in the development of next generation displays and lighting."

CMO Begins Production at New 5G LCD Plant

TAINAN, Taiwan - Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) has begun volume production on its second fifth-generation (5G) liquid-crystal display (LCD) line, which will have an initial capacity of 10,000-20,000 glass substrates per month, an article in the Taiwanese news service DigiTimes reported in late June.

The new line will be capable of processing 50,000-60,000 substrates per month by the end of the third fiscal quarter of this year, with a final maximum capacity of 180,000 per month, the report said. Each 5G substrate can be cut into two 42-in. or 47-in. panels, according to DigiTimes.

Once CMO reaches volume production at its recently expanded 7.5G fab, the new line's 5G substrates will be used in notebook computers and computer monitors, the report said.

Kopin Opens Hong Kong Subsidiary

HONG KONG - Microdisplay developer Kopin Corp. on July 19 announced the grand opening of its Hong Kong subsidiary Kopin (HK) Ltd., which will provide technical assistance to its partner video eyewear manufacturers in the Hong Kong/China region and serve as an application-development center for video eyewear, the company said.

Kopin (HK) is located at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park near the company's Pearl River Delta manufacturing base.

"Hong Kong allows us to work closely with our customers in China while creating innovative solutions in a good environment for intellectual-property development," Kopin President and CEO Dr. John C.C. Fan said in a company statement. "The Photonics Center of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park includes government-sponsored laboratories and many companies with complementary expertise to our display technology. They can offer solutions of display-driver electronics, backlight, image-enlarging optics, digital wireless transmission, video CODEC, and display analysis equipment. I believe this cluster of technology partners will dramatically speed up our application development work."

One purpose of the new Kopin subsidiary is the development of next-generation mobile video technologies-such as 3D stereo viewing, integrated MPEG-4 video playback and storage, and wireless RF links to enable cable-free connectivity between video devices and eyewear products-that augment the company's Digital iVision™ technology in collaboration with technology companies and customers, the company said.

"The mobile video market in China will see a big boost in the next two years because mobile TV broadcasting will start before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games," said Kenny Chow, General Manager of Kopin (HK). "This driving force makes many companies enthusiastic about our offering of Binocular Display Module (BDMTM) products, which enable them to produce a mobile TV receiver with eyewear as a portable set. People will be able to enjoy live Olympic events anywhere with big-screen pictures. The establishment of Kopin (HK) will allow us to capitalize on this and other business opportunities."

Planar Acquires Clarity Visual in Bid for Digital Signage Market

BEAVERTON, Ore. - In a move to strengthen its position in the specialty display market, Planar Systems Inc. announced on July 19 it had acquired digital-signage system manufacturer Clarity Visual Systems for approximately $46 million in cash and Planar stock. Clarity, a provider of command and control digital displays and digital-signage hardware and software systems, services markets such as transportation and traffic control, security and defense programs, energy, broadcast and telecommunication.

"Planar's financial strength has provided the flexibility to pursue attractive growth opportunities that integrate our flat-panel-display technology and go-to-market expertise with the specialized skills and product focus of a company like Clarity," Planar President and CEO Gerry Perkel said in a company statement. "This acquisition fits very well with our new strategic direction, focusing on specialized display-market segments that allow Planar to deliver more value to our customers and sell higher-margin solutions. Clarity brings these attributes to Planar and provides us with an excellent group of employees to augment the existing talent at our company. In addition, we believe the acquisition of Clarity increases Planar's future revenue-growth trajectory as well as our future profitability."

Clarity and its related Coolsign brand have sold more than 5,000 signage systems including specialized signage monitors and networking software to market segments such as retail banking, indoor public vendor advertising, casinos and hospitality, according to the statement issued by Planar. Planar plans to combine its own initiatives in retail signage and kiosk systems with Clarity's market position in digital signage to address the industry's growing need for display-network-management software and specialty displays, the company said.

"Clarity's competitive advantage is in its ability to create innovative, customer-focused solutions for the delivery and display of networked visual information, as well as the talent and commitment of its workforce," Clarity President and CEO Paul Gulick said in a press release. "I believe the combination of Clarity's market leadership in networked display solutions with Planar's flat-panel specialized display solutions will allow the combined company to uniquely address growth markets around the world."

Once Planar's acquisition of Clarity is finalized in the fourth quarter of 2006 or first quarter of 2007, Gulick will become Planar's vice president and chief technology officer. Clarity's vice president of sales and marketing, Kris Gorriaran, will become vice president and general manager of the newly acquired business group.

LG.Philips will Build Chinese Plant

SEOUL, South Korea - Liquid-crystal display manufacturer LG.Philips LCD will build a new LCD module plant in Guangzhou, China, according to a June Reuters report.

The company has not revealed the size of the investment in the new facility, nor has it released a timeline, according to the report. This will be the company's third overseas module production plant. Recent fab construction includes the expansion of an existing module plant in Nanjing, China and the start of construction on a new module plant in Wroclaw, Poland earlier in the month.

White Electronic Designs Receives $4.3 Million Purchase Order for Max-Vu™ Technology

PHOENIX, Ariz. - White Electronic Design Corp. (WEDC) announced in June it had received a $4.3 million order for display screens using its Max-Vu™ technology from a leading laptop and tablet personal-computer manufacturer. Max-Vu technology uses a specifically formulated silicone window bonded directly to the computer screen to increase a liquid-crystal display's (LCD) durability, contrast, and viewability while reducing glare in high-brightness environments.

"The Max-Vu lamination technology increases contrast by 5 to 10 times in high-ambient lighting conditions, dramatically cuts down on glare, and adds increased mechanical resistance to impact," WEDC Chairman and CEO Hamid Shokrgozar said in a company statement. "The integration of Max-Vu technology into mobile PCs and tablet PCs will enable these devices to be used in more places and in more demanding applications. We are very pleased that our technology has the ability to add significant performance value to a new class of computing devices with exceptional growth potential."

WEDC added in a press release that Max-Vu is an ideal solution for applications that require high contrast in high ambient light and in extreme environments such as outdoor navigation, GPS systems, and embedded control systems. The technology can be applied to products ranging in size from PDAs through 40-in.-plus LCDs.