Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) dominate the market for flat panel electronic displays due to their size, low-drive voltage and low-power consumption. They have been used in calculators, watches and simple digital displays since the 1970s, but more recently their use has extended to mobile phones, laptop computers, flat panel televisions, smart cards, e-books and electronic signage and shelf labelling. Due to this increase in usage, LCD design increasingly needs to address its carbon footprint.
Researchers at the University of Strathclyde have developed a new bistable LCD technology. Being bistable this monochrome LCD does not require constant power to maintain an image but only to change an image. This therefore represents a huge saving in power consumption compared to many existing LCD technologies and is ideal for remote or solar powered applications. With further development the technology will also be capable of colour display. In addition, because this display is reflective, there is no need for the battery/mains powered backlight that consumes much of the power of a traditional display making it easier to read in direct sunlight. This unique LCD can be manufactured on flexible plastic making it extremely durable and robust and also can be shaped around curved surfaces. The proposed patented design will use a standard and scalable manufacturing process. This technology is ideally suited to a display application where low power, durability, sunlight visibility, and low/medium information content are required. To date this bistable liquid crystal technology has been proven to switch and latch at commercial speeds and the technology team now require a development partner in order to commercialise this technology.
The technology is protected by a patent application filed by the University of Strathclyde as GB 0611141.3. Contact is welcomed from organisations interested in developing, licensing or exploiting this technology.
For further information, please contact Research & Knowledge Exchange Services: e: rkes@strath.ac.uk t: 0141 548 3707 f: 0141 552 4409
This project has received assistance from the Proof of Concept Fund managed by Scottish Enterprise. The Proof of Concept Fund supports the pre-commercialisation of leading-edge technologies emerging from Scotland's universities, research institutes and NHS Trusts.