Kent Displays, a producer of flexible e-paper displays made from cholesteric liquid crystal display (ChLCD), is to launch a new product using its technology in 2011.
The product will be a gadget designed by Kent Displays' own electronics house Improv Electronics. Further details are not available at this time.
The thin, flexible, bistable and colour-changing 'electronic skin' was originally developed with the mobile phone industry in mind, to enable customisation of handsets. Using the technology, phones could be programmed to change colour to alert the owner to an incoming call or message.
Production
Mobile phone applications for the skins are at least two years from commercialisation, so Improv Electronics is bring to market its own product using the technology in Q1 2011. This will enable the company to manufacture the skins in small production volumes, gauge consumer and market response, and establish some modest revenue streams with potential to grow.
The company has taken this same approach with its first product launch using the flexible ChLCD technology, comprising a digital memo pad that can be written on and erased, introduced in January 2010. The education sector has shown interest in the pad and second version is due out next year.
Kent Displays was founded in 1993 to commercialise ChLCD technology developed at the Liquid Crystal Institute (LCI) of Kent State in Ohio.
Other spin-offs commercialising technology originating from LCI include AlphaMicron, which has developed a technology for ski and motorcycle visors change to a tinted state, or back to their original state, at the press of a button.
+Plastic Electronics Volume 3, issue 3, will include a series of special features on the markets for printed electronics and paper, including the future of e-paper, smart packaging and new products in toys, games and gift cards.
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Kent Displays
Kent Displays was founded in 1993 to commercialise ChLCD technology developed at the Liquid Crystal Institute of Kent State
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