Philips rolls out flexible displays

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By Alun WIlliams

Posted on 26 Jan 2004 at 12:38

Roll up for the Philips flexible display, coming our way within the next couple of years, according to the Dutch electronics giant.

Using organic electronics technology, Philips has created what it describes as 'the world's thinnest, most flexible, active-matrix display'. Just as importantly, the company believes it has the manufacturing processes in place to achieve mass production within a few years.

Using a thin sheet of plastic, the displays combine active-matrix polymer electronics with a reflective 'electronic ink' front plane. It is possible to remove power and maintain a static display, which means it is ideal for the low-power consumption needed by small, mobile devices.

In an example of use demonstrated by Philips, you scroll out the screen from a small pen-sized device.

The central point is that Philips sees rollable displays as a solution to the contradictory demand for ever larger displays in ever smaller mobile devices. Flexible screens can potentially reconcile the conflict.

'There are other approaches to flexible displays, but only organic electronics is close to being industrially feasible. Organic electronics offer a unique combination of high flexibility and low temperature processing no other technology can match,' said Bas van Rens, general manager of Polymer Vision, the venture created by Philips to drive this technology

You can find an interesting video (a .wmv file) of the new display on Philips' website. More information about Philips' use of polymer can be found at www.polymervision.com.

The story follows on from the work of Fujitsu Labs and the use of flexible 'electronic paper' that can change its displayed content electronically - Fujitsu brings electronic paper a step closer.

See also:

Fujitsu brings electronic paper a step closer

Polymer Vision

Nature Materials article