ST backs microdisplay firm

LONDON – STMicroelectronics NV (Geneva, Switzerland) has formed a strategic agreement with MicroOLED SA (Grenoble, France) for the development and commercialization of organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays and taken a minority stake in the company through an investment of 6 million euro (about $7.5 million). ST did not reveal the percentage size of the stake it has taken in MicroOLED.

OLEDs are suitable for use in microdisplays, with applications in camera viewfinders, video goggles and medical, military and security applications and MicroOLED has produced prototype dispays with 5.4 million pixels on a 0.61-inch diagonal display in bicolor and tricolor formats.

ST added that MicroOLED's technology consumes about half the power of competitive displays while providing twice the pixel density and contrast ratios that are between a factor of 10 to 100 higher. ST said it will use its CMOS processes to develop a roadmap for microdisplays and to integrate drive and control functions.

Eric Aussedat general manager of STMicroelectronics' imaging, BiCMOS ASIC and silicon photonics group said that ST had sought out MicroOLED in recognition of the substantial growth opportunities in electronic view finders and eye-level displays for cameras and other applications.

"By establishing our strategic relationship with ST, and being in a position to leverage their strong manufacturing capabilities, we'll be able to bring the technology to the next step, expand the potential market, and help consumers see the world through amazing low-power micro-displays," said  Eric Marcellin-Dibon, CEO and co-founder of MicroOLED, in a statement issued by ST.


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www.microoled.net

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