Novel LC mixtures keep displays on

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Feb 19, 2003

ZBD Displays has developed novel advanced LC mixtures for use with its grating aligned zenithal bistable displays.

ZBD Displays has developed novel advanced LC mixtures for use with its grating aligned zenithal bistable displays.

The breakthrough was achieved through a joint development program with Merck KGaA, the world's leading supplier of liquid crystal (LC) mixtures for flat panel displays, initiated by the companies 18 months ago.

Backed by an extensive patent portfolio, ZBD's display technology allows images to be kept on a display indefinitely without the use of any power and without image degradation, even under severe mechanical stresses.

This characteristic offers enormous power savings for handheld devices, extending battery life and enabling the size and weight of the devices to be substantially reduced.

The new LC mixtures developed by Merck and ZBD are capable of producing fast update speeds using low voltage commercial drivers over a wide temperature range.

As a result of these advantages, ZBD's application portfolio is now extended from e-books, electronic readers, electronic shelf-edge labels, smart cards and PDAs to mobile phones and smart watches.

"Merck's broad experience in the design of liquid crystal mixtures, combined with our team's understanding of the physics behind the technology, has produced LC mixtures which substantially strengthen ZBD's competitive advantage and ensures we are able to meet the specifications for a wider variety of portable electronic devices", said Henri-Luc Martin, CEO, ZBD Displays.

Martin continued, "We consider the ongoing joint development programme with Merck to be an important contributor to extending the reach of our technology into new applications and market segments".

Hans-Juergen Lemp, Head of Marketing and Sales, Liquid Crystals Division, Merck KGaA, commented, "Through the development and continuous improvement of liquid crystal mixtures, we are helping a promising technology to come to fruition.

This collaboration is consistent with our strategy to offer a broad and differentiated portfolio of mixtures to our customers and we are encouraged by the progress already made by our Southampton, UK based research team working in partnership with ZBD".