LEAP Project to increase light output of LEP displays

Cambridge, UK  – Cambridge Display Technology (CDT), the leading researcher, commercial developer, and owner of the fundamental intellectual property for light emitting polymer (LEP) technology located in Cambridge UK has announced the award of a grant from the Department of Trade and Industry in the UK. The grant is for a collaborative project called Light Emission from Active Polymers (LEAP) between the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Sheffield University and CDT, all based in the UK. The project is intended to increase the amount of light generated by an LEP display device that is coupled out through the front surface of the device.

The project partners will first model the effects of different structures such as micro-cavities, aerogels and nano-scale lateral patterning that modify the emission modes of LEP devices. Structures will then be fabricated within the display devices using the results from the initial modeling work. The displays produced in the program will be fully characterised at CDT and NPL, including the measurement of device performance enhancements, uniformity of emission over device area, aging effects and assessment of characteristics such as viewability and contrast.
“The amount of light trapped in current LEP devices is very significant. The challenge is to improve the performance of these displays by capturing the 'lost light' that is trapped at interfaces within the display and is internally absorbed or emerges at the edges.” said CDT's Director of Business Development Dr. Karl Heeks. “To be useful, this must not be accompanied by any reduction in the visibility or colour balance of the display.  Any success in this area will further improve display efficiency resulting in lower power consumption, and increase in lifetimes for OLED displays.”
The OLED market, which is expected to grow to over $2 billion (USD) in revenue by 2006, is expected to initially fill demand for smaller displays in lower volume markets. The total display market consists of a wide range of electronic products that includes mobile phones, personal digital assistants, digital cameras, camcorders, microdisplays, and eventually personal computers, televisions and other consumer products and LEP technology will eventually be usable in all segments.

About CDT

Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) is a privately held company leading the research, development and commercialization of polymer technology for flat panel displays, lighting, and photovoltaics. CDT’s light emitting dendrimer and polymer (LEP) technology is targeted for use in a wide range of electronic display products for information management, communications and entertainment. Features include reduced power consumption, size, thickness and weight, very wide viewing angle, superior video imaging performance and the potential to produce displays on plastic substrates. To date, manufacturing licenses have been granted to Delta Optoelectronics, DuPont Displays, MicroEmissive Displays, OSRAM, Philips, and Seiko-Epson.

CDT is promoting LEP technology development and speeding its commercialization through a global business strategy including co-developments with leading companies in a wide range of display and related technology areas. Founded in 1992, the company is headquartered in Cambridge, U.K. and has a LEP manufacturing development center in Godmanchester, U.K. 

In 2002, CDT was awarded Britain’s most prestigious engineering prize, the Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award for its developments in engineering the rapid commercialization of LEP technology and its contribution to establishing the U.K. as a hot bed for innovation in science and engineering on the world stage.