AUO Unveils Flexible E-Paper Technology

Taipei, Oct. 27, 2009 (CENS)--AU Optronics Corp. (AUO), the largest thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panel manufacturer in Taiwan, recently announced a series of innovative e-paper technology applications, including the world's largest 20-inch e-paper module and AUO's first 6-inch flexible e-paper.

With aggressive technology development, AUO plans to offer flexible e-paper samples in 2010 to provide consumers power-efficient, convenient green options for reading. Other e-paper technologies would also be showcased at the FPD International 2009, scheduled for October 28-30 in Yokohama, Japan.

After debuting a 6-inch touch function e-book at the Display Taiwan 2009 in June, AUO has launched its first 6-inch flexible e-paper technology this month to capture considerable attention in the e-paper industry. Adopting Sipix's exclusive Microcup technology, this flexible e-paper incorporates a plastic substrate to simulate repeated bending of conventional paper.

The panel makers says that the flexible e-paper has all the desirable characteristics of conventional paper, such as 16 gray levels etc., while not using power when being read and only consuming power when images are updated. Using the roll-to-roll manufacturing process allows for volume production with higher output and cost-competitiveness. The size of the e-paper may be made-to-order and AUO expects to distribute samples to customers in 2010 and start volume production at the same time.

Also AUO has announced the world's first 20-inch EPD (Electrophoretic Display) module, also the largest EPD currently ready for mass production, as well as claiming it to be the best choice for public information display due to not needing backlight. It is also extremely power efficient, burning less than 2W.

Other EPD applications to be shown at FPD International 2009 include 2-inch Electronic Shelf Label (ESL), and 6-inch & 9-inch touch function built-in e-book displays.