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Reflexions Newsletter

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Volume 6: Issue 1    May 2010

Welcome to Volume 6, Issue 1 of Reflexions Newsletter. Reflexions brings you the latest information about Kent Displays Reflex™ No Power LCD technology including advancements, new/upgraded products, featured applications, customer success stories, special offers and more!

Boogie Board Writing Tablet Now Available

Boogie Board Writing Tablet Now Available

Launched earlier this year, the Boogie Board LCD Writing Tablet is available for purchase. Complete information about this revolutionary product is available at www.myboogieboard.com.

We’ve said a lot about this paperless writing tablet (formerly eNote) over the last year or so, and we really believe its launch is a major step in reducing everyday paper consumption. We’ve all heard about reducing paper consumption by printing less e-mails and other computer-related activities, but the Boogie Board tablet’s impact can be much greater. Think of all the paper you and your family use to write memos, jot down ideas, make reminders, play games, draw pictures. It may not seem like much, but when you really think about, it adds up. If you replace all the memo pads and sticky notes you use for those activities with a Boogie Board tablet at home, office, school, and car, you’ll save a lot of trees.

The launch of the Boogie Board Writing Tablet also represents a benchmark moment for Kent Displays as a company in multiple ways. First, it is the first consumer product developed and sold by the company (although under the company name Improv Electronics, see below). Second, its writing surface is the first Reflex™ flexible LCD manufactured in volume on our roll-to-roll production line in Kent, Ohio. Electronic skins and eCard displays will soon follow. Third, the writing tablet is not just the first flexible LCD we’ve mass produced but one of the few products on the market to utilize any kind of flexible display.

The Boogie Board tablet introductory price of $29.97 USD is ending soon. Discounted pricing is available through our school pilot program and for volume orders. The Boogie Board can also be customized with your organization’s identity for a corporate gift, contest prize, or promotional item (100 unit minimum).

Kent Displays Forms Improv Electronics For Development, Sale of Consumer Products

In conjunction with the Boogie Board Tablet launch, Kent Displays has formed Improv Electronics as the business entity under which it will be sold. The primary reason for this is to avoid potential confusion in the consumer market had Kent Displays been used. The Boogie Board tablet, and any future products marketed under Improv Electronics, will include a Reflex™ display of some type incorporated into another device. The entire device will be sold into the consumer market, not just the display.

That said, Kent Displays will offer an OEM version of the writing tablet for integration into third party devices (e.g., a computer keyboard). Information for this version appears on the Kent Displays Web site. Look for additional information about this offering, including development kit availability, in the coming months. If you need more information immediately, please contact us at 1-330-673-8784 option 2 or sales@kentdisplays.com.

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook

Follow Boogie Board on Facebook and Twitter

We’ve got a lot planned for the Boogie Board tablet. As the saying goes, we’ve only just begun. New features, new colors, and more accessories are on their way. Numerous options are available to easily obtain the latest information about the tablet:

Kent Displays Wins Printed Electronics Award for Manufacturing

Kent Displays proudly accepted the 2009 Printed Electronics Award for Manufacturing in December. This award provides industry recognition for Kent Displays achievement in implementing our roll-to-roll production line. The successful implementation of this production line is the most critical factor in our ability to bring flexible displays to the market. With this line in place and manufacturing in volume, Kent Displays is strongly positioned to be a market leader in the flexible display industry for years to come.

Kent Displays Wins Nortech Innovation Award for Reflex™ Electronic Skins

NorTech, (the Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition) is a nonprofit Technology-Based Economic Development (TBED) organization that champions growth in Northeast Ohio's 21 county region. NorTech marshals resources and forges collaborations to put economic growth on the fast track by: accelerating technology development and moving innovations from the lab to the marketplace; driving growth in the region's high tech industries (with a current focus on Advanced Energy and Flexible Electronics); and expanding state and federal funding to support early stage technology commercialization and industry building.

The annual NorTech Innovation Awards program is intended to honor the innovations and achievements of companies, entrepreneurs, universities and nonprofit organizations from throughout Northeast Ohio. Twelve companies received the 2010 innovation award including Kent Displays for our Reflex LCD Electronic Skins. Other recipients included NASA, Parker Hannifin, and Cleveland State University. Kent Displays also received a 2006 Nortech Innovation Award for Flexible No Power LCDs.

Reflex LCDs Featured in Products at CES

Two products incorporating Reflex no power LCD technology were featured at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. These products, the Verbatim Insight Hard Drive and an improved Fujitsu FLEPia color eReader, were also featured in recent issues of Reflexions.

To view videos of these products from the CES show floor, click on the links below:

Vol. 5 Issue 3

Feature Story: Reflex LCDs on Top Shelf for Electronic Labels

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Volume 5: Issue 3    November 2009

Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 3 of Reflexions Newsletter (formerly The Liquid Crystal Twist). Reflexions brings you the latest information about Kent Displays Reflex™ No Power LCD technology including advancements, new/upgraded products, featured applications, customer success stories, special offers and more!

Reflex LCDs on Top Shelf for Electronic Labels

Low Cost, No-Power Image Retention, and Superior Optical Characteristics Make Reflex LCDs Increasingly Popular for Electronic Shelf Label Applications

Reflex LCD Electronic Labels
  • No power image retention
  • Excellent readability without backlighting
  • Multiple sizes, color combinations, resolutions and electronics configurations
  • Bar Code Scannable*

Reflex LCD Modules are becoming an increasingly popular display choice for electronic shelf label (ESL) manufacturers. Reflective and bi-stable, and with many options from which to choose, Reflex LCDs will help you overcome the traditional ESL adoption barriers of price and power consumption. Reflex displays require no power to retain an image and only minimal power from a small battery for updates. Reflex LCDs also provide superior optical characteristics for excellent readability (without backlighting) and bar code scanning*: high contrast/brightness, wide viewing angles, and no polarizers or filters.

Available on glass substrates, and in a variety of standard and custom sizes, Reflex LCDs will integrate seamlessly into your ESL design. Contact us today with your requirements.

* Select color combinations and resolutions.


InfoSign Provides Curbside Bus Status in Barcelona

Have you ever waited for a bus that never seems to come – and had no way of knowing when it would? Riders in Barcelona, Spain will no longer experience that frustration thanks in part to the Kent Displays InfoSign LCD Digital Sign.

Barcelona’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (EMT) tried for years to add an automated, poll-mounted status system to bus shelters, but the cost was prohibitive (about € 15,000 each). Supplying electricity to the system, which required digging up streets, was the biggest cost component.

To overcome this obstacle, the EMT turned to Capmar, a local steel fabricator, and the Istituto Europeo di Design to engineer a wireless status system powered by solar energy. Capmar contacted Kent Displays to source no power information displays (InfoSign) for the system.

The solar-powered status system met EMT’s cost objective at approximately € 3,000 each. In addition to Barcelona, 18 other metropolitan municipalities of the state now plan to install the systems over the next four years. System cost is expected to further decrease with a larger order.

Read CAPMAR Project Overview >

Read Local News Stories 1 | 2 | 3

Verbatim Uses Reflex 128x32 LCD as Label for New Insight Hard Drive

The new Verbatim InSight hard drive looks different than almost any other hard drive currently on the market. In addition to its slim, piano black case, the integrated, always-on LCD is gathering much attention.

Kent Displays is especially fond of the LCD, our Reflex 128x32 glass display. Charlie White of the Web site DVICE also appears fond of it. In his recent review of the drive, he and his co-workers were “so mildly astonished with this feature that we named the drive WTF.” (their name, not ours)

The display shows the drive name as entered in My Computer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and the free space remaining on it. This information remains displayed without power when the drive is disconnected from the computer. The days of guessing what’s on a disconnected drive, or how much space remains, are over!

The Insight hard drive can be purchased at Best Buy and other electronics retailers.

Read Full Review of InSight Drive on DVICE >

EnOcean Integrates Reflex LCDs Into Self-Powered Wireless Sensors

Because of their limited energy budget, self-powered wireless sensors normally don’t have displays to present information numerically or graphically. However, German sensor make EnOcean felt an integrated display would help expand the applications for its world leading line of self-powered wireless sensors. EnOcean came to Kent Displays for a no power display solution. For the temperature sensor above, they chose a Reflex 100x1 segmented display. Both the temperature setpoint and the current temperature values are shown.

EnOcean is a world leader in providing self-powered wireless solutions for buildings automation. EnOcean technology based products are installed into more than 100,000 buildings worldwide.

Go to Reflex Mini LCDs >

eNote LCD Writing Tablet Launch Moved To Late 2009

We’ve written about the eNote LCD Writing Tablet many times, including its anticipated availability in fall 2009. That date has now changed to the end of 2009. The reason for the change was name related.

While we like the eNote name, we really think a product this unique deserves a very unique name. To come up with that name, we engaged one of the top naming and branding companies in the U.S., Igor. With their guidance, we have renamed the eNote LCD Writing Tablet the Boogie Board™ LCD Writing Tablet. The Boogie Board tablet will be sold under the company name Improv Electronics. It will have its own Web site, www.myboogieboard.com (the OEM version of the tablet will remain on www.kentdisplays.com).

So, what makes the Boogie Board tablet so unique? The Boogie Board tablet is the tree-friendly electronic alternative to paper, pencils, and pens! Simply press on the surface with the included stylus or other suitable writing instrument (even your finger) to create an image and then erase with the push of a button. Practice handwriting, arithmetic and drawing (great for young and developmentally challenged students), write memos, make shopping lists, sketch ideas, keep score, and diagram plays. It has so many uses, before you know it, you’ll say goodbye to paper forever!

The Boogie Board tablet easily slips into a briefcase or back pack for use at school, office, car, or even the athletic field. Keep one by the phone at home to leave notes for family members, make to do lists and more.

To be notified as soon as the Boogie Board LCD Writing Tablet is available for purchase, click on the following link.

Boogie Board Tablet Launch Notification >

CTO Khan Profiles Color eReader Display Technology at EmTech

Dr. Asad Khan, Kent Displays Chief Technical Officer, recently participated on a panel of display industry experts discussing the future of eReader displays. The discussion was part of the EmTech conference held at MIT in Boston.

Dr. Khan provided a broad perspective on eReader displays, including the fact Kent Displays was the first to market a color eReader display through a license agreement for the Fujitsu FLEPia eReader.

Like all Kent Displays products, the FLEPia is based on Reflex™ display technology. This technology uses a layer of microcapsules containing cholesteric liquid crystal, which has a helical structure that can be rendered transparent or reflective by switching an applied voltage. The FLEPia produces full color using a stacked color architecture with separate red, green and blue layers. Kent Displays is developing numerous other color eReader display architectures including a spatial architecture with all color crystals placed side-by side on one layer.

Dr. Khan next focused on the bi-stability of all Reflex displays, an essential characteristic of eReader displays. A bi-stable display draws power only when the image changes. No power is required to retain an image. Bi-stability allows an eReader to be used for weeks without recharging. Kent Displays has also demonstrated use of a solar backplane for Reflex displays, which will allow an eReader to continuously recharge without plugging it in to a receptacle.

In summary, Dr. Khan predicted full color displays will soon displace their grayscale predecessors in most eReaders. Which color technology and architecture will become the defacto standard remains to be seen. Regardless, Kent Displays will be at the forefront of reflective, bi-stable color display innovation.

Read more about the eReader discussion at EmTech >

Vol. 5 Issue 2

Feature Story: Make a big statement with our Reflex mini LCDs

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Volume 5: Issue 2    August 2009

Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 2 of Reflexions Newsletter (formerly The Liquid Crystal Twist). Reflexions brings you the latest information about Kent Displays Reflex No Power LCD technology including advancements, new/upgraded products, featured applications, customer success stories, special offers and more!

Make a big statement with our Reflex mini LCDs

The new Reflex 128x32 Graphic LCD Module is the latest addition to our mini LCD module product line. At an overall size of just 33mm x 11mm, this low-cost glass display is perfect for devices with very small form factors or applications with very limited available space such as a USB drive or remote control. The display also features a chip on glass (COG) configuration, serial command and data interface, 118 DPI resolution and white on blue color scheme (custom colors available). Availability of a development kit will be announced.

View 128x32 LCD Module >


Fujitsu eReader Features Color Reflex Technology

Futjitsu Frontech recently launched the first color eReader, named FLEPia, in Japan. The FLEPia uses a Reflex No Power LCD technology licensed from Kent Displays, specifically the 768x1024 plastic graphic display module. The monochrome displays many eReaders currently use are no match for Kent Displays' color displays, which have vibrant color and a crisp image.

See FLEPia eReader >

e-Note LCD Writing Tablet Coming Soon

Be one of the first to get your hands on the new e-Note LCD Writing Tablet, the first paperless writing and drawing solution of its kind! E-Note tablets are scheduled to begin shipping in late September.

With e-Note, you'll no longer need paper, pencils, or pens. e-Note is the environmentally-friendly paper alternative that replaces them all! Simply press on the surface with the included stylus or other suitable writing instrument (even your finger) to create an image and then erase with the push of a button.

Practice handwriting, arithmetic and drawing (great for young and developmentally challenged students), write memos, make shopping lists, sketch ideas, keep score, and diagram plays. e-Note easily slips into a briefcase or back pack for use at school, office, car, or even the athletic field. Leave it by the phone at home to leave notes for family members, make to do lists and more.

Kent Displays and ITRI Sign JDA for Single Layer Full Color LCDs

Kent Displays and Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) recently signed a joint develop agreement for passively driven single layer color reflective cholesteric displays. Both organizations will develop aspects of the display to enable the creation of prototypes for market assessment and demonstration. Application for the displays include digital signage, electronic shelf labels, and handheld devices.

Dr. Asad Khan Named Chief Technical Officer

Dr. Asad Khan has been promoted to Chief Technical Officer of Kent Displays. He replaces Dr. J. William Doane, a pioneer in reflective LCD technology and Director Emeritus of the Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State University. Dr. Doane has moved to the role of Senior Advisor and will remain on Kent Displays' Executive Committee.

In his new role, Dr. Khan has primary responsibility for further development of Reflex No Power LCD technology, the foundation for which was built by Dr. Doane as cofounder of Kent Displays. Focus activities include authoring the development framework for Reflex technology to meet the overall company strategic plan, directing a growing internal team of scientists in the implementation of the framework, and playing the lead role in managing various strategic relationships with suppliers and joint development partners.

Read news release >

Kent Displays Receives Ohio Third Frontier Grant

A $4.9 million award from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission will be used to develop the next generation of electronic skins for portable electronic devices.

The Third Frontier award will be used to further develop Kent Displays' Reflex LCD electronic skins, an ultra thin, plastic display that can be cut to a custom shape and conformed to another surface. Reflex LCD electronic skins are changeable at the touch of a button to match a user's mood, clothing or preference. The skin can also indicate the device status (e.g., incoming call, low battery). These capabilities bring a new level of personalization and differentiation to a wide range of products.

Support from Ohio Third Frontier will enable numerous Reflex electronic skin advancements to enhance commercial viability: performance (optical, environmental, durability), size, conformability (complex shapes) and electronics (conductivity, miniaturization). Funding will also be used to refine and optimize the roll-to-roll production processes for manufacturing Reflex electronic skins.

Read news release >

Explore Our New Web Site

Kent Displays is creating a lot of excitement and we now have a bigger and bolder Web site to reflect it.

However, the Web site changes aren't just skin deep. We also added more content to help you find the right display solution as well as numerous new features and functions:

  • Search: A search box now appears at the top right of every page to help you find specific information without excessive navigation.
  • Sales Representative Directory: A global directory appears in About Us to help you contact the Kent Displays representative in your local area.
  • Request More Info Form: This form appears on the right side of each page to help you easily submit your product interest at any time during your site visit.
  • Applications Section: Explore the many unique uses for Reflex displays. The source of your next big product idea could be in this section.
  • Sortable LCD Module Table: Compare LCD modules to quickly identify the right module for your application. Click on column headings to sort the column contents in ascending or descending order.
  • Expanded News & Events Section: Kent Displays is generating a lot of publicity around our latest Reflex product offerings including LCD electronic skins, LCD writing tablets and eCard displays. You'll find links to all the stories and articles about them in this section, as well as a list of Web sites and blogs that are creating a remarkable "buzz" around them. The section also list events we will be attending where you can hear more about the products creating the buzz.

See home page >

The Buzz from SID DisplayWeek

Speaking of buzz, Kent Displays created a lot of it at the SID DisplayWeek in San Antonio, Texas, USA in early June. A steady flow of vistors stopped at the Kent Display booth to learn more about the latest Reflex products. Many showed great interest in the eCard displays, writing tablets and the FLEPia color eReader display, but Reflex LCD electronics skins stole the show with improved color and integration capabilities. The strong interest in Reflex electronic skins was reflected in the many highly enthusiastic mentions they received on Internet tech blogs during and shortly after the show.

Read news release >

Reflex LCD Module Used in Credit Union eCard Pilot

Kent Displays is very excited about an upcoming Credit Union eCard pilot featuring our Reflex displays. In October, three credit unions will be among the first to test the XCalibur card, a biometric card that can function as a single debit, gift and loyalty card. The card can only be activated by the user or an authorized user. Certain key functions allow the user to pick which account they want to use for a particular transaction. The success of this pilot and numerous others will help usher in the age of eCards/smartcards, and Kent Displays will be an integral part.

Go to article >

Vol. 5 Issue 1

Feature Story: First Roll-to-Roll Production Line in the World

Quarterly Question

Q- What is a liquid crystal writing tablet?

A- A liquid crystal writing tablet, like the e-Note from Kent Displays, allows the user to write on its surface and then electronically erase it with the push of a button. To write, a stylus or any object that will create appropriate pressure (e.g., a finger) can be used. The tablet quickly captures writing from the pressure input. The written image is preserved on the screen until the erase function is performed.

The primary use of liquid crystal writing tablets is an environmentally-friendly, versatile replacement for standalone paper memo and notepads. Lightweight and thin, they can also be integrated into a wide range of other products including:
• office/room entrance signs
• ID tags and labels
• books/binders/organizers
• refrigerator magnets
• toys and recreational products
• vehicle visors and dashboards
• electronics cases (e.g., laptop keyboard)
• large appliances (e.g., refrigerator door)

If you have a question or suggestion regarding Kent Displays' products or technology please submit here. We will select a question from those submitted and publish it along with the answer in a future newsletter.


Calendar

SPIE Photonics West
 January 24-29, 2009
San Jose Convention Center
San Jose, California, U.S.A.
Presentation
Erica Montbach, Development Manager

Flexible Electronics & Displays Conference
 February 2-5, 2009
Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A.
Presentations
Business and Investment Summit
Monday, February 2
Kent Displays Corporate Briefing
Dr. Al Green, CEO
Technical Conference
Tuesday, February 3, 3:30 p.m.
Session 4: Future Display Products
Segment 4.3: Roll-to-Roll, Flexible Displays…Are We There Yet?
Dr. Al Green, CEO

Embedded Systems Conference
 March 30-April 3, 2009
San Jose Convention Center
San Jose, California, U.S.A.
Exhibit
Booth #1911

Asia Display 2009
 April 27-30, 2009
Taipei International Convention Center
Taipei, Taiwan
Presentation
Dr. Asad Khan, V.P. Technology

SID - Display Week 2009
 May 31-June 5, 2009
San Antonio Convention Center
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.
Presentation
Erica Montbach, Technology Development Manager
Exhibit
Booth #265

Notes from the Editor

Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 1 of Kent Displays, Inc. Quarterly Newsletter: The Liquid Crystal Twist. As the world leader in the research, development and manufacture of Reflex™ display technology, it is our hope to bring you interesting and useful information regarding technology advancements, new/upgraded products, featured applications, customer success stories and distributors/representatives.

In the News

First Roll-to-Roll Production Line in the World Commissioned in Kent, OH

In the futuristic movie Minority Report, John Anderton (played by Tom Cruise) utilizes display technology with visual and functional characteristics unavailable in today’s world. Information appears to float in front of him, right before his eyes, and he can manipulate it with hand gestures and arm movements.

The displays featured in the movie don’t actually exist except in the make believe world of the computer that simulated them for the movie. But will they exist in reality by 2054, the time in which the movie is set?

While no one knows the answer for sure, Kent Displays has designed and commissioned a new roll-to-roll production line that represents a benchmark achievement in LCD manufacturing technology that could ultimately lead to the type of displays featured in the movie.

Even though we may need to wait for Minority Report-type displays, our new production line will enable myriad new and unique display applications that will change things right before your eyes – just as they do for John Anderton!

What if you could dynamically change the outside appearance of your cell phone to match your shirt, hat, purse – or mood? What if your credit card could dynamically generate a random account number every use to better protect your financial and personal information? What if you could write and draw on a surface without the need for power or paper, and erase the image at the touch of a button?

Our new manufacturing line will mass produce the display technology that will make it happen!

Built in the U.S.A. and in installed in our Kent, Ohio, U.S.A. facility, the new production line has gone through extensive testing during the recently completed commissioning process to validate its design and operation. The production line produces flexible, no power LCDs (branded as Reflex) by converting a roll of plastic film to a finished display assembly that is thinner than a human hair. This continuous process is much faster (up to 1 display/sec), efficient (automation requires minimal human interaction) and environmentally-friendly (no waste water or chemicals) than typical batch processes that manufacture LCDs on large, separate sheets.

The mass production capabilities of our roll-to-roll line will significantly increase the supply of flexible, no power displays for the ever expanding list of new and unique applications including smart credit cards and electronic product skins, note pads, ID tags, and labels.

Ready to become part of the future? Contact us with your application idea today at sales@kentdisplays.com.

Development/Manufacturing Capabilities Enhanced to Meet Custom Display Needs

Do you have a display module application with special requirements? Kent Displays can help. We have enhanced and improved our development and manufacturing capabilities to produce custom designs on both glass and flexible substrates based on your specific needs.

Have a project with special display requirements? Contact sales@kentdisplays.com.
Vol. 4 Issue 2

Feature Story: 132 x 64 Reflex display with embedded controller and serial interface is added to Kent Displays' list of standard products

Quarterly Question

Q - What is an electronic skin?

A - An electronic skin is a Reflex™ display on the surface of a product permitting personalization of the device by the user.  ego™ displayReflex™ Alter-eGo electronic skins are based on the same technology that is the basis for all Kent Displays products. The attributes of “No power”, sunlight readability, wide viewing angle remain and are now combined with thin, rugged, and lightweight on flat or curved surfaces. A wide range of colors are possible including hue variations of black, blue, green, cyan, red, magenta, yellow and white. As with all Kent Displays products high contrast and bistability are the hallmarks. For more information contact sales@kentdisplays.com.
  
If you have a question or suggestion regarding Kent Displays' products or technology please submit here. We will select a question from those submitted and publish it along with the answer in a future newsletter.


Announcements

Hi Tech Fair

  • October 12-17
  • Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center
    Shenzhen China
  • Booth # 3092

IMID/IMDC/Asia Display 2008

  • October 15
  • Dr. Asad Khan: "New Flexible Applications using Reflex™ Display Technology."
  • Kintex
    Seoul Korea

SID Vehicles and Photons 2008

  • October 17
  • Joel Domino: "Flexible Reflex™ Displays and Unique Applications in Automotive Environments.”
  • Dearborn Fairlane Center
    Dearborn, MI

Embedded Systems Conference, Boston

  • October 27-30
  • Hynes Convention Center
    Boston, MA
  • Booth #713

The International Display Research Conference (IDRC 2008)

  • November 5
  • Dr. Albert Green: “Energy Efficient Flexible Reflex™ Displays”
  • Nithya Venkataraman: “Thin Flexible Photosensitive Cholesteric Displays”
  • University of Central Florida
    Orlando, FL

Notes from the Editor

Welcome to Volume 4, issue 2 of Kent Displays, Inc. Quarterly Newsletter: The Liquid Crystal Twist. As the world leader in the research, development and manufacture of Reflex™ display products, it is our hope to bring you interesting and useful information regarding Reflex™ technology, products, distributors/representatives and customers each quarter..

In the News

132 x 64 Reflex™ display with embedded controller and serial interface is added to Kent Displays' list of standard products

The addition of the 132 x 64 Reflex™ display with embedded controller and serial interface to the list of standard products represents an innovative combination of a “No Power” Reflex™ display with its inherently superior optical characteristics and a simple interface. The end result is a product that reduces display integration time and thus product time to market. It is one of the most compact and cost efficient bi-stable graphic displays available. 132x64
The display solution features a Chip-on-Flex (COF) driver IC with LCD controller that generates the unique ChLCD drive waveforms and a DC/DC charge pump. System integration requires only an external microcontroller for sending commands to the LCD controller and external capacitors for use by the built-in charge pump.
Available immediately, the Development Kit is $199.00 and consists of a 132 x 64 display module with onboard controller and development platform module. The JTAG port can be used to program the Development Kit controller for other applications. All cables, AC adapter and battery pack are included.  The 132 x 64 Reflex™ module is $12.60 each at 1,000 pieces and at 10K the cost is $10.80.  Both development kit and modules are available now.

Google Goes Green with the Radish.

Aaron Spangler, an engineer in the Seattle office of Google, got to thinking that his company must be consuming reams and reams of paper everyday. As part of the “20% projects” program for Google engineers, which allows Google employees to spend 20% of their time working on innovative projects, Spangler decided to do something about the problem. With the help of a few of his coworkers the Radish was planted, nurtured and harvested.
The Radish is a portable solar-powered calendar device that resides outside conference rooms and features a Kent Displays 320 x 240 (QVGA) display. The “No Power” Reflex™ QVGA display permitted Spangler and team to eliminate the battery, a major environmental disposal concern, from the Radish as the energy required to power the Radish is harvested by a photovoltaic cell charging a “super capacitor.” The Radish has helped Google reduce the amount of paper consumption as well providing a very convenient and attractive  signage for calendar posting outside conference rooms.
For more about the Radish using KDI’s ReFlex technology see Spangler’s video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyHaImmmkGs

Contact sales@kentdisplays.com to find out how Kent Displays' ReFlex™ displays can help your products become "green."
Vol. 4 Issue 1

Feature Story: Launch of Reflex displays

Quarterly Question

Q- What are the advantages of Reflex™ displays?

A- The six primary advantages are:
Thin – as thin as 30 microns.
Flexible – can be used on most curved surfaces.
Rugged – designed and built to last.
No power – no power is required to maintain images.
Sunlight readable – no need to shade your display to get a good view in direct sunlight.
Wide viewing angle – like viewing ink on paper.
  
If you have a question or suggestion regarding Kent Displays' products or technology please submit here. We will select a question from those submitted and publish it along with the answer in a future newsletter.


Announcements

Embedded Systems Conference – Silicon Valley 2008

Kent Displays will be exhibiting at the Embedded Systems conference. Meet us there at booth #2531 from April 14 -18, 2008, at the San Jose Convention center in San Jose, California.

Radtech UV & EB 2008 Technology Expo and Conference

Kent displays will be presenting a technical paper at the Radtech 2008 from May 4-7, 2008, at the Lakeside Center in Chicago, Illinois. • UV Cured Flexible Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Displays, Schneider et al.

Society for Information Displays International Symposium 2008

Kent Displays will exhibit at SID 2008 and also be presenting three technical papers.

  • Novel Pulsed Drive Scheme for Improved Gray-Level Uniformity of Large-Area Cholesteric Displays,
    Marhefka et al.
  • Novel Optically Addressable Photochiral Displays,
    Montbach et al.
  • A Flexible Touch-Sensitive Writing Tablet,
    Schneider et al.

Meet us there! Find us in booth #243 from May 18-23, at the Los Angeles Center in Los Angeles, California.

Notes from the Editor

Welcome to the latest edition of The Liquid Crystal Twist, official newsletter of Kent Displays. In this issue, we are proud to announce the launching of Reflex™, a new brand that represents 15 years of innovative technology. Accompanying this new brand is an updated web site at kentdisplays.com that reflects the company’s continuing innovation and creativity as we move toward a new era of more commercial applications.

Kent Displays remains the world leader in the research, development, and manufacture of cholesteric liquid crystal display products. We invite you to read about our accomplishments and also receive information about our technology, products, representatives and customers. You will learn that the applications of our Reflex™ displays are endless.

In the News

Launch of Reflex™ displays

Kent Displays recently launched Reflex™, a new brand to its long proven cholesteric liquid crystal displays (ChLCD). Successfully used in a variety of display applications for 15 years, this new direction signals the company’s vision to bring its Reflex™ displays to broader commercial and advanced display applications. The new brand name is derived from the fact that all Reflex™ displays are reflective and inherently flexible in nature. They are ideal for portable devices that demand long battery life, a wide viewing angle, and paper-like viewing in all ambient lighting conditions. These displays operate on virtually no power, and can be as thin as 30 microns. Read the complete news release here.

Recent awards

Kent Displays is proud to be the recipient of State and federally funded research program awards.

  • Kent Displays was awarded a $100,000 grant from Nortech for the research and development of flexible printed conductors. This work will involve the use of novel materials deposited in numerous ways to increase the flexibility of our Reflex™ based products. Kent State University will be a close collaborator in this work.
  • Kent Displays was awarded at $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for Small business Technology Transfer Research (STTR Phase II) for development of optically switchable chiral materials and their use in and applications to Reflex™ display products. Kent State University will be a close collaborator in this work.

Reflex™ used in healthcare products

Kent Displays is aggressively pursuing healthcare markets with the recent launch of its Reflex™ brand of displays for use in metered drug delivery devices. This unique application will dramatically improve the drug delivery and efficiency of such devices. With large legible digits conforming to the curved shape of such devices, the displays are clearly visible and easy to read by most patients. This and other such unique products are being introduced in the healthcare industry.

Dr. Khan appointed to the Technology Leaders’ Group at Nortech

Dr. Asad Khan, Vice President of Technology at Kent displays was recently appointed to the Technology Leaders’ Group at Nortech. Nortech is a local economic development organization focused at shaping Northeast Ohio’s technology future. The Technology Leaders’ Group focuses on technology development through investment from the Fund For our Economic Future. It is the only regional group focused on multiple technology areas. The group continues to be a collaboration of the leaders of the most promising technology areas of Northeast Ohio.

Reflex™ and high technology fashion

Senior Kent State University Fashion and Technology course students are working with Kent Displays to incorporate the latest Reflex™ display technology into advanced fashion products. These exciting new fashion concepts will debut at the Kent State Fashion Show on April 25, 2008.
Vol. 3 Issue 3

Feature Story: Kent Displays Names Dr. Albert M. Green as Chief Executive Officer

Quarterly Question

Q- What is the operating temperature range of ChLCD products?

A- In general the operating temperature range of Kent Displays’ ChLCD products is 0 to 60C. Image retention without power is possible to temperatures below -20C however, the update rate below 0C is slow. The storage temperature specification is -30 to 80C. Other operating temperature ranges are possible, consult Kent Displays sales for additional information.
  
If you have a question regarding Kent Displays' products or technology please submit your questions . We will select a question from those submitted and publish it along with the answer in a future newsletter.

Announcements

Beyond SBIR Phase II Conference Arlington, VA

Kent Displays will exhibit (Booth 222) at the Beyond SBIR Phase II Conference: Bringing Technological Edge to the Warfighter at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, VA August 21st to 23rd 2007.

Embedded Systems Conference 2007 Boston, MA

Kent Displays will exhibit (Booth 813) at The Embedded Systems Conference Symposium at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA September 19th to 20th.  Exhibit Hall hours are 2 to 7 PM on Wednesday September 19th and 11 AM to 6 PM on Thursday September 20th. Our standard products as well as our latest innovations will be on display. Stop by and register to win a USB Flash drive with a “No Power” ChLCD. Winner need not be present.

Editor's Notes

Welcome to Volume 3, issue 3 of Kent Displays, Inc. Quarterly Newsletter: The Liquid Crystal Twist. As the world leader in the research, development and manufacture of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display products, it is our hope to bring you interesting and useful information regarding ChLCD technology, products, distributors/representatives and customers each quarter.

In the News

  • Dr. Albert Green named CEO of Kent Displays.  
  • Kent Displays inaugural FlexMatters Accelerator partner.

Kent Displays Names Dr. Albert M. Green as Chief Executive Officer.

“We are very pleased to have Dr. Green join the Kent Displays team and provide additional leadership to our company,” said Joel Domino, president of Kent Displays.  “Dr. Green’s experience and knowledge will help Kent Displays advance our technology and provide innovation and technology solutions to exploit our exciting advances in flexible displays for a variety of commercial and government customers.”

“The talented leadership team and superior technology produced by this company makes the decision to join Kent Displays an exciting one,” said Dr. Green.  “I look forward to working with my new colleagues to expand the business into areas that match the exciting potential of KDI’s liquid crystal display technology.  As the information explosion continues, the display industry is challenged to provide more and better ways to display that information.  KDI is ideally positioned to meet these challenges and I intend to provide strong, focused leadership that will exploit the technical advances and continue the company’s expansion into the rapidly growing flexible and conformal display market.”

Prior to joining Kent Displays, Dr. Green was vice president and manager of the Applied Sciences Division at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).  SAIC’s Applied Sciences Division is focused on assessing leading edge technology and innovation for government and commercial customers in a variety of areas such as advanced materials, nanotechnology, energy, and space sciences.  During his tenure of 13 years at SAIC, Dr. Green held several key positions including senior scientist, program manager and business unit chief scientist.  Dr. Green holds a PhD in physics from Stanford University and a BS in physics from the University of Chicago.  He also holds over 25 patents in the areas of display technologies and advanced materials. 

New Ohio Research Park Features FlexMatters Accelerator – Kent Displays, Inc. inaugural partner.

As the anchor tenant of the Kent State Centennial Research Park the FlexMatters Accelerator will work with local Ohio companies to develop and produce devices that are typically rigid on flexible polymer substrates. This collaboration will lead to production of liquid crystal-based flexible displays, eyewear, electronics and other devices.

The initial phase of this project is funded by a portion of the Ohio Third Frontier Research Commercialization Project for the Flexible Liquid Crystal Film Manufacturing Alliance. Led by Kent Displays, the alliance joins AlphaMicron, Akron Polymer Systems and Sheldahl with Kent State and the University of Akron to develop and produce flexible liquid crystal displays and eyewear. For further information see: http://www.flexmatters.org/category/general/ .

Vol. 3 Issue 2

Feature Story: SID to Award Slottow Owaki Prize to Dr. J. William Doane CTO of Kent Displays, Inc.

Quarterly Question

Q- What is the thinnest ChLCD possible?

A- Glass used for the manufacture of LCD products is available in a number of standard thicknesses including 0.5 mm, 0.55 mm, 0.77 mm and 1.1 mm. Two substrates are necessary (a top and bottom piece of glass) and therefore the display thickness is 2X.
Kent Displays, Inc. standard products use either 0.77 mm or 1.1 mm glass and therefore the glass displays are 1.54 and 2.2 mm thick respectively.
  
However, with the advent of ChLCD products on plastic substrates in Q4 of 2007 a 2.2 mm display or even a 1.0 mm display will look thick in comparison as plastic ChLCD products will have an overall thickness of 0.27 mm.

We believe Kent Displays has manufactured the world's thinnest functional full color LCD with a display thickness of 60 microns.  That is not a misprint: The display thickness is 60 microns. Just how thin is 60 microns? See for yourself as it will be on display at SID 2007 in Long Beach, CA May 22nd - 24th.

If you have a question regarding Kent Displays' products or technology please submit your questions . We will select a question from those submitted and publish it along with the answer in a future newsletter.

Announcements

Society of Information Displays International Symposium 2007

Kent Displays will exhibit at The Society of Information Display's 2007 International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California May 22-24 booth number 1633. Our standard products as well as our latest innovations will be on display.

KDI Presentations include:

"Single Substrate Coatable Multicolor Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Displays." Irina Shiyanovskaya, PhD.

"Recent Progress in Color Flexible Reflective Cholesteric Displays. " Asad Khan, PhD.

"Flexible Displays: What, How, When, and Where." Asad Khan, PhD.

Exhibitor Forum: "Advancements in Black & White ChLCD Products" by Nick Miller

International Display Manufacturing Conference and Exhibition
Title: Paper Like Displays.
Presenter: Asad Khan, PhD.
July 2-6, 2007
Taipei, Taiwan

Editor's Notes

Welcome to Volume 3, issue 2 of Kent Displays, Inc. Quarterly Newsletter: The Liquid Crystal Twist. As the world leader in the research, development and manufacture of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display products, it is our hope to bring you interesting and useful information regarding ChLCD technology, products, distributors/representatives and customers each quarter.

In the News

SID to Award Slottow Owaki Prize to Dr. J. William Doane CTO of Kent Displays, Inc.

The Society for Information Display (SID) will award the first ever Slottow Owaki Prize for Display Education to Dr. J. William Doane Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Kent Displays, Inc. The award recognizes Dr. Doane for his outstanding contributions to education in the field of information display through his direction of 24 Ph.D. students in the area of liquid crystals.

As the director of world-renowned Liquid Crystal Institute (LCI) at Kent State University from 1983-1996, he led the effort during that time to establish the National Science Foundation Center for Advanced Liquid Crystalline Optical Materials (ALCOM). According to Chris King, SID’s 2007 Awards Chair “Professor Doane is being recognized for his leadership of the LCI and the NSF Science and Technology Center. Under his direction, these institutes became the leading university-based display programs in the United States."

Congratulations Dr. Doane!

320 x 80 ChLCD with on board controller and SPI is added to Kent Displays' list of standard products.

The addition of the 320 x 80 “No Power” ChLCD with on board controller and Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) to the list of standard products represents an innovative combination of a “No Power” ChLCD with its inherently superior optical characteristics and a simple interface. The end result is a product that reduces display integration time and thus product time to market.

The single board display solution features an embedded controller that generates the unique ChLCD drive waveforms, provides automatic temperature compensation while using a minimal number of host I/O resources. The interface is used to control all display operations from the downloading of images to the triggering of display updates.

The two board Development Kit is $199.00 and consists of 320 x 80 display module with onboard controller and development platform module. The JTAG port can be used to program the Development Kit controller for other applications. All cables, AC adapter and battery pack are included. Available July 2007.

The 320 x 80 ChLCD module is $46.25 each at 1,000 pieces. Availability is August 2007. Contact sales for more information.

Kent Displays announces new Manufacturers’ Representative in Italy and adds Representative for Australia & New Zealand.

We are pleased to announce the addition Brelco S.r.l of Biassono, Italy (near Milan) to our list of manufacturers’ representatives. As a member of Eurodisplays with over 20 years experience in the sales, distribution and support of display products of all types, Brelco’s experience and technical expertise will insure a strong presence in the Italian market.

The addition of Arrow Asia Pac Ltd to Kent Displays manufacturers’ rep network solidifies Kent Displays presence in Australia and New Zealand. According to Stephen Tang, Product Manager at Arrow Asia, “Kent Displays ChLCD product line will fill a need not possible with conventional LCDs or other display technologies.” All Kent Displays representatives are equipped with sample products and would welcome the opportunity to demonstrate the superior optical properties of our "No Power" ChLCD. Seeing is believing; contact Kent Displays or the appropriate manufacturers’ representative for a product demonstration.

Embedded Systems Conference – San Jose, CA USB Flash drive drawing winners:

Michele Malinowski of BadgerMeter, Inc.
Eric Macintosh of MindTribe Product Engineering
Kevin Lacey of Carematix, Inc.

Vol. 3 Issue 1

Feature Story: State of Ohio awards Kent Displays, Inc. $8 Million Third Frontier Grant

Quarterly Question

Q- Why are Kent Displays products called Cholesteric LCD products?

A- The first liquid crystals observed to reflect colored light were a derivative of cholesterol and hence the name “cholesteric”. Kent Displays products are based upon cholesteric liquid crystal (LC) material. Also called Chiral Nematic liquid crystals, the material has the property of reflecting a certain color/wavelength of light determined by the physical properties of the material.

Chiral (chiral simply means twisted) Nematic (derived from the Greek meaning thread) liquid crystal molecules can be visualized as molecular sized “baseball bats” where the chiral dopant causes the “baseball bats” to rotate in a helix similar to either a slinky or DNA. This helical structure then reflects light creating the planar state of the cholesteric liquid crystal. The wavelength of the light reflected by the liquid crystal material is directly proportional the pitch of the helix.

If you have a question regarding Kent Displays' products or technology please submit your questions . We will select a question from those submitted and publish it along with the answer in a future newsletter.

Announcements

Photonics West SPIE Conference
Title: New Developments in Flexible Cholesteric Liquid Crystals Displays.
Presenter: Dr. Tod Schneider et al.
Jan 20-25, 2007
San Jose, CA

Photonics West SPIE Conference
Title: Recent Advances in Flexible Ink Jet Printed Conductive Polymer Electrode Cholesteric Displays.
Presenter: Dr. Erica Montbach et al.
Jan 20-25, 2007
San Jose, CA

Flexible Displays and Microelectronics 2007 Conference and Exhibit
Title: Advances in Ultra Thin Flexible Color Cholesteric Displays
Presenter: Dr. Asad Khan et al.
February 6-8, 2006
Phoenix, AZ

Digital Imaging Marketing Association (DIMA) 2007
Presenter: Joel Domino
March 6, 2007
Las Vegas, NV

9th Annual Flat Panel Displays Conference
Presenter: Joel Domino
March 7, 2007
La Jolla, CA

The price of USB Flash Memory products continues to drop.

usb drive

See for yourself at www.nopowerdisplays.com.

Editor's Notes

Welcome to Volume 3, issue 1 of Kent Displays, Inc. Quarterly Newsletter: The Liquid Crystal Twist. As the world leader in the research, development and manufacture of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display products, it is our hope to bring you interesting and useful information regarding ChLCD technology, products, distributors/representatives and customers each quarter.

In the News

State of Ohio awards Kent Displays, Inc. $8 Million Third Frontier Grant.

Kent Displays, Inc. leads a project team that has been awarded an $8M Research and Commercialization Project (RCP) grant by the State of Ohio’s Third Frontier Project. Major collaborators in this project include AlphaMicron and Kent State University. The award was announced by Governor Bob Taft during a press conference held on December 15th at Cleveland State University.

The RCP was designed by the Ohio Department of Development to support technology based economic development through research and commercialization activities in Ohio. The newly awarded state grant will help Kent Displays and its collaborators accelerate the establishment of a manufacturing cluster in Ohio to commercialize flexible liquid crystal display and eyewear products and devices. The project will achieve the following:

  • Installation of manufacturing facilities that will be compatible with commercially available plastic substrates and simple production processes, making Northeast Ohio a global leader in the production of such devices.
  • Build a business accelerator at Kent State University to attract supply chain providers including display materials, flexible substrates, and manufacturing equipment.
  • Establish an industrial cluster in Northeast Ohio to manufacturer flexible displays and eyewear that will produce jobs and other economic development opportunities for the region and state.

“We are very pleased to receive this Third Frontier grant. This project is a true collaborative effort and could not have been achieved without the support of our academic and industry collaborators. We look forward to taking our work to the next level and advancing Northeast Ohio as the center for commercialization of flexible liquid crystal products, thus having a major impact on the global display industry,” said Joel Domino, President of Kent Displays.

Momentum on this initiative has been building in the region for the past few months with the establishment of FlexMatters, an initiative focused on building an industrial cluster in Northeast Ohio for the research, development and production of flexible displays, electronics and photo-voltaics. As part of this project, FlexMatters has already begun to attract companies to the region including, Sheldahl, a Minneapolis-based supplier of flexible substrates for liquid crystal products. Sheldahl, a partner in the RCP initiative, is currently in the process of moving some of its activities to Kent in order to join this growing flexible display cluster.

Organizational changes at Kent Displays equip the company for its transition to world’s first volume flexible display manufacture.

Kent Displays has positioned itself to become the first volume manufacturer of flexible liquid crystal displays in the world.  The organizational changes effective 2 January 2007 will equip the company with the talent necessary to meet the challenges and opportunities created by the flexible ChLCD market. We are pleased to announce the following personnel changes:

  • Dr. Asad Khan has been promoted to Vice President, Technology.  In this position Research & Development, Engineering and Manufacturing operations will report to Dr. Khan.
  • Donald Davis has been promoted to the position of Manager, Display Manufacturing. Previously Don was Senior Process Engineer.  In his new position he will be responsible for establishing flexible cell production as well as managing the significant growth of this project.
  • Dr. Erica Montbach has been promoted to Manager, R&D.  Erica had previously been a Senior Research Scientist and her new duties include directing R&D at Kent Displays.
  • Keith Bellamy has been promoted to the position of Manager, Engineering.  In this position Keith will be responsible for the direction and coordination of all engineering efforts at the company.   Previously Keith had been Engineering Program Manager.
  • William Emanuele, Manager, Module Manufacturing will continue to manage the glass assembly production business and facility operations.  He will work closely with Display manufacturing to support the planned growth in flexible display manufacturing.
  • Additionally Tess Hasenstaub, Manager, Quality Control & Quality Assurance, will now report to Kent Displays President Joel Domino.

“These changes will allow KDI to effectively manage the progression of moving our Research and Development efforts in making flexible ChLCD’s from the prototype stage to full commercial production of flexible ChLCD products by the middle of 2007” said Joel Domino, President of Kent Displays.

University of Akron Awarded a State of Ohio Grant for a Research and Commercialization Program – Kent Displays is a subcontractor.

The University of Akron has been awarded an $8M grant for a Research and Commercialization Program for the “Commercialization of Functional Polyimide Films and Nanocomposites” under the State of Ohio’s Third Frontier Program. Kent Displays is proud to announce that it is one of the sub-contractors to the program working on development of advanced flexible photovoltaics for display and other applications. Kent Displays will receive $400,000 over the next three years as part of the program.

 

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