OLEDs AND E-PAPER. Disruptive Potential for the European Display Industry

DG ENTR and JRC/IPTS of the European Commission have launched a series of studies to analyse prospects of success for European ICT industries with respect to emerging technologies. This report concerns display technologies (Organic Light Emitting Diodes and Electronic Paper - or OLEDs and e-paper for short). It assesses whether these technologies could be disruptive, and how well placed EU firms would be to take advantage of this disruption In general, displays are an increasingly important segment of the ICT sector. Since the 1990s and following the introduction of flat panel displays (FPDs), the global display industry has grown dramatically. The market is now (2009) worth about ¿ 100 billion. Geo-politically, the industry is dominated by Asian suppliers, with European companies relegated to a few vertical niches and parts of the value chain (e.g. research, supply of material and equipment). However, a number of new technologies are entering the market, e.g. OLEDs and electronic paper. Such emerging technologies may provide an opportunity for European enterprises to (re-)enter or strengthen their competitive position. OLEDs are composed of polymers that emit light when a current is passed through them. E-paper, on the other hand, is a portable, reusable storage and display medium, typically thin and flexible. Both OLEDs and e-paper have the potential to disrupt the existing displays market, but it is still too soon to say with certainty whether this will occur and when. Success for OLEDs depends on two key technical advances: first, the operating lifetime, and second, the production process. E-paper has a highly disruptive potential since it opens the door to new applications, largely text-based, not just in ICTs but also in consumer goods, pictures and advertising that could use its key properties. It could also displace display technologies that offer text-reading functions in ICT terminals such as tablet notebooks. There are three discrete segments in the OLED value chain where any discontinuity could offer EU firms the opportunity to play a more significant part in the displays sector: (1) original R&D and IPR for devices and for the manufacturing process and material supply/verification; (2) bulk materials for manufacture and glass; and (3) process equipment:. For the e-paper value chain, we can see that the entry of EU suppliers is perhaps possible across more value chain segments than for OLEDs. Apart from the ones mentioned for OLEDs, there are opportunities to enter into complete devices and content provision. In terms of vertical segments, the point of entry in OLED FPDs for Europe is most likely to be in the mass production of smaller FPDs for mobile handsets. In conclusion, OLEDs and e-paper have the potential to disrupt current displays market and in so doing they may enable EU companies to enter at selected points in the value chain to compete with the Asian ICT industry.JRC.J.4-Information Societ

Review of Display Technologies Focusing on Power Consumption

Producción CientíficaThis paper provides an overview of the main manufacturing technologies of displays, focusing on those with low and ultra-low levels of power consumption, which make them suitable for current societal needs. Considering the typified value obtained from the manufacturer’s specifications, four technologies—Liquid Crystal Displays, electronic paper, Organic Light-Emitting Display and Electroluminescent Displays—were selected in a first iteration. For each of them, several features, including size and brightness, were assessed in order to ascertain possible proportional relationships with the rate of consumption. To normalize the comparison between different display types, relative units such as the surface power density and the display frontal intensity efficiency were proposed. Organic light-emitting display had the best results in terms of power density for small display sizes. For larger sizes, it performs less satisfactorily than Liquid Crystal Displays in terms of energy efficiency.Junta de Castilla y León (Programa de apoyo a proyectos de investigación-Ref. VA036U14)Junta de Castilla y León (programa de apoyo a proyectos de investigación - Ref. VA013A12-2)Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Grant DPI2014-56500-R

New driving schemes of cholesteric liquid crystal display for high speed and uniform gray-scale performance

Cholesteric LCD (Ch-LCD) is a special kind of electronic paper display. For quite a long time, lacking of fast and effective driving schemes is a primary limitation for the enhancement of its performance. In this thesis an improved dynamic driving scheme (DDS) with the ability of driving the Ch-LCD not only into the on-off state but also into several distinct gray scales has been proposed through newly designed waveform patterns. Besides, new driving scheme called as multi-selection method (MSM) is proposed for the first time to enlarge the gray scale number. In order to further enhance the gray scale’s uniformity, a fast static driving scheme with about 2ms/line is also proposed. Multiline driving scheme for Ch-LCD has been achieved and incorporated in the enhanced DDS. All of the driving schemes have been validated by using a newly designed discrete driver system including a Vertex 5 FPGA for pattern generation. Results are quite good and consistent with the expectations.Für eine lange Zeit war das Fehlen eines effektiven Treiberschemas ein Haupthindernis für die Anwendung der Cholesterischen LCDs. Als Verbesserung führen wir ein verbessertes dynamisches Treiberschemata (genannt Enhanced Dynamic Driving Scheme) ein, das ermöglicht, das Ch-LCD nicht nur in den Ein- oder Aus-Zustand, sondern auch in mehrere verschiedene Graustufen anzusteuern. Um die Anzahl der Graustufen durch das Enhanced DDS zu erhöhen, haben wir eine neue Multi-Selection-Method (MSM), vorgeschlagen. Um die Gleichmäßigkeit der Graustufen in einer hohen Ansteuergeschwindigkeit zu verbessern, schlagen wir ein Fast Static Driving Scheme, vor, das auf dem Übergang von einem stabilen Zustand in einen anderen stabilen Zustand, aber nicht über einen meta-stabilen Zustand, basiert ist. Ein weiteres Verfahren ist das Multiline Addressing Verfahren, für das Enhanced DDS entworfen, um die vier Kombinationen der angesteuerten Zuständen zu erzielen. Um die Treiberschemata in dieser Arbeit zu validieren, wurden vier diskrete Treiber-Platinen entworfen und hergestellt

Human Factors Compatibility Concerns in the Selection of Display Technologies for Computer and Data Terminals

Human factors considerations are often overlooked in the selection of electronic computer displays. When cost is used as the only determining factor, the resulting product may not be commercially successful because of an inadequate display. To help avoid this situation, designers and users should be aware of the various factors involved in proper display selection. These factors were developed by a synthesis of existing scientific and industrial literature on the subject and are explained in this paper. The first factor is a basic knowledge of the structure, characteristics, and function of the human visual system. The theory of sight, anatomy of the eye, visual perception, and photometric and nonphotometric parameters are covered. The human factors elements of visual response comprise the second factor. The adverse effects of display use as well as ergonomic standards, fonts, color, modes, and the use of status indicators are discussed. The last factor concerns displays. The various available and projected technologies along with comparisons, and applications are presented. Display evaluation criteria are listed to provide guidelines for proper selection

Eurodisplay 2019

The collection includes abstracts of reports selected by the program by the conference committee

A moonlighting enzyme imposes second messenger bistability to drive lifestyle decisions in E. coli.

Bacteria preferentially colonize surfaces and air-liquid interfaces as matrix embedded communities called biofilms. Biofilms exhibit specific physiological properties, including general stress tolerance, increased antibiotic recalcitrance and tolerance against phagocytic clearance. Together this largely accounts for increased biofilm persistence, chronic infections and infection relapses. One of the principle regulators of biofilm formation is c-di-GMP, a bacterial second messenger controlling various cellular processes. Cellular levels of c-di-GMP are controlled by two antagonistic enzyme families, diguanylate cyclases and phosphodiesterases. But despite the identification and characterization of an increasing number of components of the c-di-GMP network in different bacterial model organisms, details of c-di- GMP mediated decision-making have remained unclear. In particular, how cells shuttle between specific c-di-GMP regimes at the population and single cell level is largely unknown and moreover how these transitions are deterministically made in time and space, given that bacterial networks of diguanylate cyclases and phosphodiesterases show a high degree of complexity. Here we describe a novel mechanism regulating c-di-GMP mediated biofilm formation in E. coli. This mechanism relies on the bistable expression of a key phosphodiesterase that acts both as catalyst for c- di-GMP degradation and as a transcription factor promoting its own production. Bistability results from two interconnected positive feedback loops operating on the catalytic and gene expression level. Based on genetic, structural and biochemical analyses we postulate a simple substrate-induced switch mechanism through which this enzyme can sense changing concentration of c-di-GMP and convert this information into a bistable c-di-GMP response. This mechanism may explain how cellular heterogeneity of small signaling molecules is generated in bacteria and used as a bet hedging strategy for important lifestyle transitions

Characterization and applications of new electrochromic devices: comparison with other electrically controllable transmittance technologies

Electrochromic (EC) materials are able to change their optical properties, such as color, in a persistent and reversible way under the action of a voltage pulse or a small constant value. Nowadays, electrochromic devices (ECD) are, with suspended particle devices (SPD), polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) and micro-blinds, the four electrically controllable smart windows technologies. Not only used for optical appearance purposes, the use of such technologies could reduce the cost of heating, air-conditioning and lighting by the energy savings that can be accomplished in buildings and vehicles, places where modern people use to spend around 90% of their time. These variable transmittance technologies allow the optical switching from a transparent or bleached state to a colored, darken or in another case to translucent state by different operation principles. In all the cases these technologies require the use of transparent conductors. Other applications of these technologies, besides windows are found on mirrors and displays. ECDs for architectural applications incorporate solid EC films and consist of a thin multi-layer assembly that is typically sandwiched between two panes of glass. Coloration of solid anodic films rely on upon electrochemical oxidation or cathodic films upon electrochemical reduction, involving transfer of ions into and out of the EC films, which requires a component where ions can be stored. Among the materials showing electrochromism effect it can be found transition metal oxides (TMOs), Prussian Blue (PB) systems, viologens, conductive polymers and rare earth metals. Regarding the 2nd smart windows technology in the list, SPD incorporates an active layer that contains needle-shaped dipole particles that are uniformly distributed in an organic fluid or film. The active layer is laminated of filled between two transparent conductors on polyester. The change in the optical properties is caused by the motion and orientation of dispersed particles relative to a fluid under the application of an AC electrical potential of high amplitude. Smart windows LC technology has already been used in buildings and several LC glass products are available in the market. PDLC, the LC glazing, consists of two outer layers of polyester that are coated with a transparent conductor and a polyester matrix that contains the LCs. When no voltage is applied, the LC molecule chains are randomly scattered and LC system is translucent opal white, showing a milky appearance. When a voltage is applied, the molecules align with the lines of the electric field and the film appears almost transparent. In this work, different samples of new ECDs, SPDs and PDLCs were electro-optically characterized. ECD and PDLC samples were developed by CIDETEC, the Center of Electrochemical Research and Development of San Sebastian (Spain). -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Los materiales electrocrómicos (EC) son capaces de cambiar sus propiedades ópticas, como el color, en una forma persistente y reversible bajo la acción de un pulso de pequeño valor de voltaje constante. Actualmente, los dispositivos electrocrómicos (ECD) son, junto a los dispositivos de partículas suspendidas, los cristales líquidos dispersos en polímero (PDLC) y las micro-persianas, las cuatro tecnologías de ventanas inteligentes eléctricamente controlables. No siendo únicamente utilizadas con la finalidad de apariencia óptica, el uso de estas tecnologías podría reducir el coste de calefacción, aire acondicionado y de iluminación, debido al ahorro energético que se puede llevar a cabo en edificios y vehículos, lugares donde la gente de hoy en día suele emplear alrededor del 90% de su tiempo. Estas tecnologías de transmitancia variable permiten la conmutación óptica desde un estado transparente o aclarado, a un estado coloreado, oscuro o, en otros casos, translúcido, mediante diferentes principios de operación. En todos los casos estas tecnologías requieren la utilización de conductor transparente. Entre otras aplicaciones de estas tecnologías se pueden encontrar espejos y pantallas. Los ECDs para aplicaciones arquitectónicas incorporan capas EC sólidas y consisten en una delgada estructura de sándwich de multicapas rodeadas de dos paneles de cristal. La coloración de las capas anódicas y catódicas tiene lugar debido a un proceso electroquímico de oxidación y de reducción, respectivamente, en el cual existe una transferencia de iones hacia dentro y hacia fuera de las capas EC, las cuales requieren de un componente donde los iones son almacenados. Entre los materiales que muestran el efecto de electrocromismo se pueden encontrar los óxidos de metales de transición, tales como los complementarios WO3 (óxido de wolframio) y NiO (óxido de níquel), catódico y anódico respectivamente, los sistemas de Azul Prusiano, viológenos, polímeros conductores y metales de tierras raras dentro de la Tabla Periódica. Dentro de la segunda tecnología de ventanas inteligentes, los SPDs incorporan una capa activa que contiene partículas bipolares con forma de aguja uniformemente distribuidas en un fluido o película orgánica. La capa activa es laminada entre dos conductores transparentes y poliéster. El cambio de las propiedades ópticas es causado por el movimiento y orientación de las partículas dispersas relativo al fluido, bajo la aplicación de una señal alterna de potencial eléctrico de gran amplitud. La tecnología de ventanas inteligentes basada en cristales líquidos (LC) ha sido ya utilizada en edificios, estando algunos productos actualmente disponibles en el mercado. Los PDLCs, o acristalamientos de LC, consisten en dos capas exteriores de poliéster que están cubiertas de un conductor transparente y una matriz de poliéster que contiene los LCs. Cuando no se aplica voltaje, las cadenas de moléculas de LC están aleatoriamente dispersadas y el sistema muestra una apariencia opaca translúcida blanquecina. Cuando se aplica una señal alterna de potencial eléctrico de mediana amplitud, las moléculas se alinean con las líneas del campo eléctrico y la apariencia de la película se muestra casi transparente. En este trabajo, diferentes muestras de nuevos ECDs, SPDs y PDLCs han sido caracterizadas electro-ópticamente. Las muestras de ECDs y PDLCs fueron desarrolladas por CIDETEC, un Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Electroquímico situado en San Sebastian (España). Las muestras de SPDs fueron suministradas por la empresa Cricursa S.A. Cristales Curvados de Barcelona (España)

Data systems elements technology assessment and system specifications, issue no. 2

The ability to satisfy the objectives of future NASA Office of Applications programs is dependent on technology advances in a number of areas of data systems. The hardware and software technology of end-to-end systems (data processing elements through ground processing, dissemination, and presentation) are examined in terms of state of the art, trends, and projected developments in the 1980 to 1985 timeframe. Capability is considered in terms of elements that are either commercially available or that can be implemented from commercially available components with minimal development

Printable organic and inorganic materials for flexible electrochemical devices

Portuguese Science Foundation - project Electra PTDC/CTM/099124/2008 and the PhD grant SFRH/BD/45224. financial support: Professor E. Fortunato’s ERC 2008 Advanced Grant (INVISIBLE contract number 228144), “APPLE” FP7-NMP-2010-SME/262782-2 and “SMARTEC” FP7-ICT-2009.3.9/25820