Press Release
E INK AND LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES RECEIVE R&D 100 AWARD FROM R&D MAGAZINE FOR WORLD'S FIRST ELECTRONIC PAPER
Cambridge, MA. - September 19, 2001 – E Ink Corporation and Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) today announced they have won R&D Magazine's 2001 R&D 100 Award for their development of the world's first sheets of electronic paper, a new class of display that has the look and feel of conventional printed paper.
E Ink and Lucent entered into a joint development agreement in October 1999 to co-develop a flexible, plastic electronic display made entirely with a process similar to ink-on-paper printing. One year later the two companies jointly demonstrated working prototypes built on thin sheets of plastic, an important step in the march towards electronic paper and next-generation displays.
The prototypes consist of a 25-square-inch display area made up of several hundred pixels. The displays were constructed using two ground-breaking developments: E Ink's electronic ink and Lucent's active-matrix drive circuits printed on plastic, which were developed by Bell Labs, Lucent's research and development unit. The transistors in these circuits are made of plastic materials and are fabricated with a low-cost printing process that uses high-resolution rubber stamps. Their switching properties are similar to typical thin film transistors made with silicon and conventional fabrication methods, but they are mechanically flexible, rugged and lightweight. The electronic ink enables the display's paper-like qualities: extraordinary brightness and contrast under a wide range of lighting conditions; easy viewing from all angles; low power consumption; and plastic film construction.
"Our collaboration with Lucent was a significant milestone toward creating RadioPaper™, E Ink's ultimate vision for a dynamic high-resolution electronic display that combines a paper-like reading experience with the ability to access information anytime, anywhere," said Jim Iuliano, president and CEO of E Ink Corporation. "In the coming years we expect our electronic ink will have broad usage in many applications, from point-of-purchase signs in retail stores, to replacement displays for pagers, cellular phones and PDAs, to thin, portable electronic books and newspapers."
"Electronic paper was the first demonstration of a realistic application for plastic transistors in a flexible device. Over time, we see plastic transistors finding use in a variety of low cost electronic information appliances," said Tom Uhlman, president of Lucent's New Ventures Group. "The display represents a significant scientific advance over previous work in plastic electronics and paper-like displays, which, until now, has been limited solely to simple demonstrator systems capable of working only in specialized laboratory conditions."
The editors of R&D Magazine selected the recipients of this award from entries initially reviewed and screened by outside experts, including professional consultants, university faculty and industry researchers. Recipients of the R&D 100 Award were selected based on technological significance and substantial improvements in new or existing technologies. A complete report including all 100 Award recipients will be published in the September 2001 print and electronic issues of R&D Magazine.
Past R&D 100 Awards have included products with household names such as Polacolor film (1963), the flashcube (1965), the automated teller machine (1973), the halogen lamp (1974), the fax machine (1975), the liquid crystal display (1980), the printer (1986), the Kodak Photo CD (1991), the Nicoderm antismoking patch (1992), Taxol anticancer drug (1993), lab on a chip (1996) and HDTV (1998).
About Lucent Technologies
Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and delivers networks for the world's largest communications service providers. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent relies on its strengths in mobility, optical, data and voice networking technologies as well as software and services to develop next-generation networks. The company's systems, services and software are designed to help customers quickly deploy and better manage their networks and create new, revenue-generating services that help businesses and consumers.
About E Ink Holdings
Founded in 1992 by Taiwan's leading papermaking and printing group YFY (1907.TW), E Ink Holdings Inc. "E Ink" (8069.TW) is the pioneer of TFT and ePaper business in Taiwan. Its corporate philosophy aims to deliver revolutionary products, user experiences, and environmental benefits through advanced technology development. This vision has led to its continuous investments in the field of ePaper display as well as its 2008 acquisition of Hydis Technologies, manufacturer of the world's best wide viewing angle LCDs and its 2009 acquisition of E Ink Corp., the worldwide leader in ePaper. Listed in Taiwan's GreTai Securities Market and the Luxembourg market, E Ink is now the world's largest supplier of displays to the eBook market. For corporate information, please visit www.einkgroup.com; for EPD information, please visit www.eink.com / tw.eink.com; and for FFS information, please visit www.hydis.com.