SI Diamond, Silicon Video, FED makers
It's been about a year since I had any direct contacts with SI Diamond (SIDT), so anything I once knew about the is probably obsolete. All I have heard lately is rumors that many of the people working there may be looking for jobs. Those are RUMORS only.
I am not familiar with Micron's attempts at FEDs. If they have much success in the prototype stage, they should be well-prepared to bring the costs down substantially with volume production. That's what the DRAM business is all about after all.
Silicon Video (privately held, IPO in '97?) has been at the heart of the United States Diplay Consortium (USDC). They may have made the best partnership arrangements of any of the FED hopefuls. And they have certainly taken what I believe to be a direct route to manufacturable product. Because I have entered into a non-disclosure agreement with Silicon Video, I will post only publicly-available information about their business plans.
Their phone number is (408) 229-6150
Recent articles on SVC have appeared in:
Information Display, March 96
Mobile Office, April 96
Time, Feb 19, 96
New Technology Week, Jan 8, 96
Electronic Buyers' News, Jan 2, 96
U.S. Tech, Nov/Dec 95
Design News, Nov 20, 95
San Jose Mercury News, Oct 30, 95
Business Monday (San Jose Mercury News) July 31, 95
Many of these articles repeat the same information:
o prototype 5" modules in '96
o pilot production and ramp up in '97 for 5" modules
o first 12" XGA prototypes in '97
o one million dispays per year in '98
o Prices lower than AMLCDs
o SVC has recently done its fifth round of venture capital financing,
and raised $55 million.
o The market for FPDs is expected to reach $20 billion by 2000.
Personally, I think Silicon Video looks pretty good.
-bob mackey |
