TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - iFire Technology Inc. today announced that its small graphics display partner, TDK Corporation of Japan, has successfully developed a blue inorganic electroluminescent (EL) display prototype with brightness in excess of 100 cd/m2. iFire Technology Inc. is a subsidiary of The Westaim Corporation.
TDK made the announcement in Japan as the company prepared to publicly demonstrate the display at CEATEC JAPAN 2001, a technology conference to be held at the Exhibition Hall, Nippon Convention Center (Makuhari Messe). The complete TDK news release is included below.
In February 2000, iFire Technology and TDK entered into a US$25-million partnership. Under the agreement, TDK invested US$7.5 million for a 2.5 per cent stake in iFire Technology, and the two companies agreed to work together to further accelerate the technical development and mass production infrastructure for iFireTM flat panel displays. TDK also received a non-exclusive license to manufacture iFireTM flat panel displays for applications under 12 inches in size. As part of this collaboration, TDK is applying its proprietary device, material and manufacturing technology.
About CEATEC Japan 2001
The Communications Industry Association of Japan (CIAJ), Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) and Japan Personal Computer Software Association (JPSA) are holding CEATEC JAPAN 2001 (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) from Tuesday, October 2 to Saturday, October 6, 2001. Last year, CEATEC JAPAN 2000 attracted a total of 748 companies, including 202 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions around the world. The exhibition drew 172,053 visitors in the five days it was open.
About Westaim
The Westaim Corporation is a technology accelerator that launches exceptional technologies into the marketplace. In addition to iFire Technology Inc., its technology investments include Westaim Biomedical Corp., which has developed an infection control technology for use in the treatment of wounds, and Savvion, a leader in e-business management software. Westaim's common shares are listed on Nasdaq under the symbol WEDX and on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol WED.
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Contact:
Tony Johnston, Senior Vice President
The Westaim Corporation
(403) 234-3103
info@westaim.com
www.westaim.com
www.ifire.com
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and the Company can give no assurance that these expectations are correct. Various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such statements, including financial considerations and those predicting the timing and market acceptance of future products. The Company disclaims any intention or obligations to revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this Cautionary Statement.
TDK Develops Blue Color Inorganic EL Display
—Brightness in Excess of 100 cd/m2 Is Industry’s Highest—
Tokyo, Japan ----TDK Corporation has successfully developed a blue inorganic electroluminescent (EL) display with brightness in excess of 100 cd/m2 – the industry’s highest.*
The blue luminescent display uses the blue phosphor material developed jointly with Dr. Noboru Miura of the School of Science & Technology, Meiji University based on the technology tie-up formed with iFire Technology Inc. of Canada in February 2000. By using the blue phosphor material, TDK was able to manufacture a prototype display.
The newly developed material increased purity of the blue light by obtaining “CIE (0.119, 0.127)” property, which will make full color possible in the future without the use of a filter. It has also been confirmed that the half-luminance period of devices using the new blue phosphor material exceeds 30,000 hours, the level necessary for applications such as televisions.
There were attempts to make color inorganic EL displays in the 1980s, but blue fluorescent material was not successfully developed and no products were brought to market. Today, most inorganic EL displays are monochrome (amber) and they are used for limited applications in automobiles and such like. Inorganic EL displays feature simple structures as well as ease of producing high brightness, high contrast, and high visibility. The successful development of the blue phosphor material is a major advance toward the realization of full color displays.
iFire Technology’s inorganic EL display technologies are based on original technology known as complete fixed electroluminescence created by thick-film processing. In addition to the properties described above, the technology is resistant to vibration, shock, and a broad range of environmental conditions. TDK focused its attention on inorganic EL display technology and utilized its accumulated materials technologies and device manufacturing technologies to proceed with development of products with 12-inch and smaller screens. Following the completion of development of the blue phosphor material described above, development of green and red phosphor materials has already begun in pursuit of the rapid completion of a full color display.
An inorganic EL display that uses the new blue phosphor material will be exhibited as a display product at the CEATEC JAPAN 2001 to be held at the Exhibition Hall, Nippon Convention Center (Makuhari Messe) beginning on October 2, 2001.
* As of October 1, 2001
Specifications of the Inorganic EL Monochrome Display Module:
Module dimensions: 170 × 39 mm
Display area dimensions: 92 × 23 mm
Dot structure: 320 (H) × 80 (V)
Pixel pitch: 0.29 × 0.29 mm
Luminescence color: Blue
Brightness: 100 cd/m2
Power consumption: 5 W (maximum rated)
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