來自臺灣地區(qū)的工研院(ITRI)影像顯示科技中心主任程章林(Janglin Chen)預估，彩色卷軸式顯示器(rollable color display)最快在2015年就能問世，并可望催生一系列全新的便攜式產(chǎn)品。臺灣工研院的軟性顯示器在日前打敗了超過590位競爭對手，贏得了Dow Jones所頒發(fā)的創(chuàng)新金獎(gold innovation award)。
包括程章林在內(nèi)的眾顯示器技術(shù)研究專家，目前仍在尋找一種機制，能讓消費者把智能型手機或是平板裝置尺寸之顯示器，卷進一個只有胖胖的蠟筆那么大的系統(tǒng)中；但到目前為止，軟性顯示器大多只能彎折，無法被緊密地卷起來、又不讓顯示器材料受損。
“我們在實驗室里已經(jīng)能讓軟性顯示器彎折1萬5,000次、而且其性能不會衰減，但如果要制作能夠讓消費者卷起來、且頻繁使用的顯示器裝置，還需要更強韌的設(shè)計。”程章林表示。臺灣工研院的軟性顯示器技術(shù)已經(jīng)授權(quán)給面板大廠友達(AUO)，后者準備為預定2011年推出的明基(BenQ)電子書閱讀器供應顯示器；而該種顯示器將在友達現(xiàn)有的3.5代液晶面板廠生產(chǎn)。
程章林指出，其他競爭廠商包括Polymer Vision與Plastic Logic所采用的有機材料軟性顯示器，需要以低溫制程生產(chǎn)，臺灣工研院的軟性顯示器則在彩度與對比性能上，號稱能達到與傳統(tǒng)相同尺寸的TFT LCD顯示器相同水平：“這能為設(shè)計者開啟設(shè)計一系列新型玩具、醫(yī)療感測裝置或是其他產(chǎn)品的新思維。”
他指出，利用新技術(shù)，工程師能開發(fā)出模仿紙張?zhí)匦缘碾娮语@示器，例如能纏繞在手臂或是腿部的便攜式X光顯示器。而雖然理想中的卷軸式顯示器還需要至少五年的時間才能問世，臺灣工研院目前已著手研發(fā)采用其可彎折顯示器技術(shù)的OLED顯示器與觸控屏幕。
目前臺灣工研院正與友達合作，試圖找到一種能讓OLED隔絕氧氣與濕氣的塑料材料；此外臺灣工研院也與一家不透露名稱的觸控屏幕技術(shù)供貨商合作，正在開發(fā)觸控版本的軟性TFT LCD顯示器，預計產(chǎn)品將在一至兩年后問世。
工研院的可彎折軟性顯示器。
Researcher: Rollable displays unfold in 2015
Rick Merritt
Rollable color displays could become available as early as 2015, according to a leading researcher in the field. The displays are expected to enable a new class of mobile products.
That's the rough estimate of Janglin Chen, general director of the display technology center at Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute. ITRI's flexible display beat more than 590 submissions to win a gold innovation award sponsored by Dow Jones this week.
Researchers like Chen are still looking for a mechanism that would let consumers roll a smartphone- or tablet-sized display in and out of a system the size of a fat crayon. Today's flexible displays are bendable but cannot be rolled so tightly or often without damaging the materials.
"For bending, we can do this 15,000 times in the lab without deterioration of the screen's performance, but to make a device that's rollable by consumers who are more abusive requires a more sturdy design," said Chen who demonstrated a prototype in a video interview.
ITRI has licensed its technology to Taiwan's AU Optronics which is preparing to make displays that will appear in e-readers from BenQ in 2011. The displays will be built in an existing Generation 3.5 LCD fab.
The technology uses a plastic material that can withstand the high temperatures of TFT LCD processes. The approach requires two new manufacturing steps—a coating at the beginning and a de-bonding at the end. ITRI has licensed its technology to a Taiwan equipment maker who is creating the manufacturing equipment.
Competing approaches from companies such as Polymer Vision and Plastic Logic use an organic material that requires low temperature manufacturing techniques, said Chen. ITRI's displays have the same color and contrast capabilities as similar sized conventional TFT LCDs.
"This opens up the mindset for the designer for new kinds of toys, medical sensors or other products," said Chen.
Engineers could use the technology to develop electronic displays that mimic the features of paper. For example, designers could build a portable x-ray display that could be wrapped around an arm or leg, he said.
Although rollable displays are still at least five years off, ITRI is working on versions of its current bendable technology for Organic LED displays and touch screens.
ITRI researchers are working with AU Optronics trying to find a plastic material that could protect OLEDs from oxygen and moisture. Separately, ITRI is working with an unnamed touch-screen technology provider on a touch-screen version of the TFT LCD flexible display with products expected in one to two years. |
