Grant: Idea to Innovation

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have created novel and unique highly energy efficient display backplane technology. They have also created a novel pixel circuit and fabrication method of reliably implementing microLEDs together with novel thin-film transistor pixel circuits onto flexible substrates. Prototypes of both rigid and flexible integrated thin-film transistor (TFT)-based pixel circuits and microLED display media have been demonstrated using methods from several UW patented and patent pending technologies. By combining the highly energy efficient backplane technology with microLED technology, a new, energy efficient display technology is enabled, one that has especially advantageous applications in the small display market. Battery life is an increasingly important issue for wearable electronics (smart watches), cellphones, and laptops where small form factors limit battery capacity. Manufacturing facilities are also seeking new approaches to increase energy efficiency to reduce manufacturing costs; the UW technology enables energy efficient displays, a ubiquitous interface at every station used by the tool operator. In addition, the displays found in these applications require superior quality images, such as those provided by the microLEDs media, that may also provide additional energy savings advantage over conventional liquid-crystal or organic light-emitting displays.