USDC AWARDS CONTRACT TO ETCHED IN TIME TO EVALUATE PLASMA ETCHING SOURCES FOR FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS AND DISPLAYS

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 13, 2008 — The U.S. Display Consortium (USDC), a public/private partnership chartered with developing the flexible electronics and displays industry supply chain, today announced a contract with Etched in Time, Inc. (EITI), to perform evaluations on developing and comparing plasma-etching sources for large-area panels used in the manufacture of flexible displays and electronics. The $365,000 cost-shared award will provide EITI the opportunity to leverage their expertise in source etching product development acquired from their experience in the semiconductor capital equipment industry.

Under the USDC agreement, EITI will focus on improving key specifications of etch tools currently in production. These improvements will address the etch innovations needed for the broad array of applications in flexible electronics, including solar panels. To make the transition to large-area electronics, improved uniformity and feature profiles, e.g., sidewall angles, are critical, as well as minimizing ion damage of dielectrics and achieving higher etch rates. “Our goal in the USDC contract is to provide a pathway for customers to etch a variety of materials and a methodology for etching in a linear large-area system suitable for future roll-to-roll (R2R) processing,” stated Bob Henderson, president of Etched in Time. “EITI also expects to identify areas where high density, low damage plasma generation for etching of new materials might be able to replace existing silicon nitride used for antireflection and passivation on current solar cells,” he added.

“I am very pleased that Etched in Time has been awarded this competitive contract from USDC, to advance the technology in the manufacture of flexible displays and electronics,” said Rep. Harry Mitchell (AZ-5).“Incredible advances in technology are taking place right here in our backyard, and EITI is a shining example of that. We have a lot to be proud of here in Arizona.”

“USDC and members of our Technical Council are excited about the potential evolution of Etched in Time’s plasma sources,” commented Dr. Mark Hartney, USDC’s CTO. “When the six-month assessment is completed, EITI plans to deliver a radial and a linear source for on-going studies of dielectric material etching to the Flexible Display Center at Arizona State University.”

Contacts:

Kay Mascoli
US Display Consortium
(408) 993-8111
kmascoli@usdc.org

Marie Labrie
MCA
(650) 968-8900
mlabrie@mcapr.com

Bob Henderson
Etched in Time
(480) 967-9333
bob.henderson@etchedintimeinc.com

About the U.S. Display Consortium
USDC is an industry-led public/private partnership providing a common platform for flat panel display and flexible electronics manufacturers and developers, integrators, and the supplier base. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., the consortium’s primary mission is to identify and manage R&D projects and share results with USDC member companies. The USDC also provides a communication channel among industry, government and the financial communities; sponsors forums to broaden the impact of technological developments; and educates consumers on the importance of emerging technology. More information about the USDC can be found at www.usdc.org and www.fpoelectronics.org

About Etched in Time, Inc.
Etched in Time, Inc. (EITI), headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., is an engineering and equipment company specializing in semiconductor flat panel and solar equipment manufacturing. With over 30 years of wafer process and related equipment development expertise, EITI provides companies with cost effective design and build for quicker time to market for process tools in the new emerging field of flexible electronics. Projects include PVD sputtering, Plasma etch/strip, and robotically controlled Flux Dispense systems. EITI also produces robots for wafer handling and PC based control systems on linear etch platforms for R2R processing required for manufacturing. More information about Etched in Time, Inc. can be found at www.etchedintimeinc.com.