Prototypes of paper-like flexible displays expected next year

24 October 2001 Opto-Electronics

E Ink, a developer of 'electronic ink technology' for paper-like displays, has opened a new flexible microelectronics facility in Woburn, Mass. E Ink's Microelectronics Technology Group will develop microelectronics, including flexible transistors, which will enable E Ink to create paper-like display prototypes next year. The new semiconductor facility is the first in the world devoted exclusively to developing flexible transistors for use in electronic displays.

"Despite the current economic climate, E Ink is investing heavily in R&D and is poised for dramatic growth next year," said Jim Iuliano, President and CEO of E Ink. "Our new semiconductor facility will be one of the foremost in the world for the development of flexible displays and moves us closer to 'RadioPaper', E Ink's ultimate vision for a wireless display that looks and feels like paper."

The flexible electronic ink displays are based on new transistor designs and novel materials and processes. Such active matrix displays could be rolled and flexed as easily as paper, say the manufacturers. Using proprietary equipment the group will work with traditional silicon-based, thin-film transistors as well as a variety of printed conductor and semiconductor materials, including organic, plastic transistors.

This year, E Ink won an R&D 100 award from R&D Magazine for its demonstration in November 2000 of the world's first working flexible active matrix display using plastic transistors from Lucent Technologies. In June 2001, E Ink demonstrated the first high-resolution (40 dpi) flexible active matrix display using a novel silicon transistor design that was manufactured on a flexible steel foil.

www.eink.com

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