LCD industry to roll out next generation e-paper displays

Sara Ver-Bruggen - 30 Oct 2009

Netherlands-based Liquavista, which is developing next generation e-paper displays for video and colour, is working with partners in Asia's LCD industry to commercialise its technology.

The display technology can be integrated into existing LCD fab equipment, apart from one step - filling and coupling the electrowetting displays.

Liquavista is working on a method to integrate the process into LCD manufacturing, which should be ready for installation within partners' fabs by mid 2010. Production of the displays should happen by early 2011.

Liquavista is in talks with manufacturers with investments in LCD, LCD and OLED and also LCD and e-paper. The plan is to license the technology to a range of manufacturers. Plastic Logic, the start-up commercialising an e-reader based on an electrophoretic e-paper display driven by a polymer transistor backplane, is also a partner and a potential user of Liquavista's technology.

But for large, established consumer electronics companies such as Samsung Mobile Display access to the technology could give them access to the burgeoning e-reader market, where companies like Amazon are creating demand for e-paper with portable electronic devices for digital books, newspapers and documents.

However, electrowetting displays could also replace LCD screens in smart phones and other personal electronics such as netbooks, with several advantages over LCD technology including readability in sunlight and low power.

Display and consumer electronics companies in Asia are in various states of investment and involvement in new display technologies like OLED and e-paper and want technology that can be integrated into existing LCD lines which have cost millions in investment.

Liquavista was founded in 2006 as a spin-out from Philips Research Labs in Eindhoven. The company is backed by Amadeus Capital, GIMV and Prime Technology Ventures.