The U.S. Display Consortium Announces Contract
with GE Global Research For Flexible Substrate Materials & Coatings
The U.S. Display Consortium (USDC), a public/private partnership chartered with developing the flat panel display (FPD) industry infrastructure, today announced a $2.0M project with GE Global Research in Niskayuna, NY.
The program objective is for GE Global Research to develop and evaluate a plastic substrate film and transparent coating system that will provide a high resistance permeation barrier to oxygen, moisture and chemicals in the manufacturing and during lifetime use of flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays and backplane microelectronics. The project is 50/50 cost-shared between GE Global Research and the USDC.
"Continuing investments in R&D for flexible displays and microelectronics is necessary in order for these technologies to become viable," stated Michael Ciesinski, USDC president. "The USDC technical team evaluating this project is very impressed with the scope of the GE proposal for substrate coating and development. I am confident that our project with GE will provide rapid advancements in flexible substrate technology for OLEDs and other display technologies, eventually leading to lower-cost manufacturing for commercial and defense applications. "
Substrates are the base layer for fabrication of any electronic flat panel display and typically are made from ultra-thin glass (currently 0.7mm or less). The use of a plastic material could enable new markets that require lighter-weight, more rugged and flexible FPDs in a far greater number of formats. Among the major drawbacks in manufacturing displays on flexible substrates are the porous nature and exposure temperature limits of existing plastics, which the USDC award to GE will address.
The GE project will last approximately two years and will result in a plastic substrate technology comprised of a GE Plastics high-heat polycarbonate substrate film and a unique coating package. "Substrate development is a key technological milestone for the advancement of OLEDs, not only in displays, but as a source of illumination-quality light," said Anil Duggal, leader of GE's advanced technology program in Solid State Lighting. "We're looking forward to advancing the state of the art in OLEDs by working with the other industry experts that USDC is able to bring to this project," he added.
The USDC program is a collaborative effort of private industry and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, located in Adelphi, MD. "This is great news for the Capital District, as it continues to move to the forefront in technological research,"
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said. "GE Global Research is an important asset for the region, and their project with USDC will help to enable new commercial and military communications products."
Congressman Mike McNulty (D-Green Island, NY) praised the agreement as "further evidence that high technology research is a principal element of the Capital Region's economic infrastructure."
For more information, please contact:
US Display Consortium
Heidi Hoffman
84 W. Santa Clara Street, Ste. 790
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 993-8111
heidi@usdc.org
GE Global Research
Jim Healy
PH: 518-387-6284
Email: healyj@research.ge.com
About the U.S. Display Consortium
The U.S. Display Consortium is an industry-led public/private partnership providing a common platform for flat panel display and flexible microelectronics manufacturers and developers, FPD users, and the supplier base. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., the consortium’s primary mission is to fund supply-chain projects and share the results with USDC member companies. The USDC also provides a communication channel among industry, government and the financial communities for display issues; sponsors workshops to broaden the impact of technological developments; and educates consumers on the importance of displays in providing access to information technology. More information about the USDC can be found at www.usdc.org
GE Global Research is one of the world's most diversified industrial research labs, providing innovative technology for all of GE's businesses (NYSE: GE). Global Research has been the cornerstone of GE technology for more than 100 years, developing breakthrough innovations in areas such as medical imaging, energy generation technology, jet engines and lighting. GE Global Research is headquartered in Niskayuna, New York and has facilities in Bangalore, India, Shanghai, China and Munich, Germany. Visit GE Global Research at www.research.ge.com.
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