Researchers at the HP Labs in Bristol (UK) have developed a prototype bistable passive matrix LCD display (3cm x 4cm, 128 x 96 x RGB).
The development is targeted at applications such as electronic books and magazines and digital posters and photographs, rather than video displays such as TVs and computer monitors. [...]
The bistability of the display is achieved using a special surface structure embossed in the plastic substrate.
In the HP Labs prototype, the ability of the pixel to remember its state is produced by tiny posts less than a thousandth of a millimeter wide, which are imprinted on to the plastic. These posts hold the liquid crystal in one of two orientations, corresponding to ‘on’ and ‘off’.
The display also has electrodes that are integrated with the printed color filters, further simplifying the device. The electrodes and color filters are made by imprinting shapes on to the plastic, and then using the shapes as templates for the color filter and electrode materials. This gives very precise control of features – such as metal lines five microns wide.
“All of the patterning in the prototype has been carried out by printing-like processes,†said Geisow. “The details of the processes are still being developed, and we expect it will take a few more years of further applied research to properly develop and assess their commercial potential.”
Coverage at The Register.
