Chad:
Fresh off business wire. IBM to partner with EMA.
eMagin Announces OLED Development Agreement with IBM; Move Signals Major Step Toward Development of Wearable PCs and Other Near-eye Applications Using Virtual Imaging Technology
BUSINESS WIRE - April 05, 2000 08:00
HOPEWELL JUNCTION, N.Y., Apr 5, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- eMagin Corporation (AMEX:EMA), a leading developer of virtual imaging technology, today disclosed an agreement with IBM for joint development of organic light-emitting diode technology for virtual imaging applications.
Under terms of the agreement, IBM and eMagin will share information and work together to accelerate the development of organic light emitting diode (OLED)-on-silicon technology. This technology will be incorporated into microdisplays for possible use in future products, such as wearable computers and handheld portable Internet appliances.
OLED microdisplays are small flat panel displays that are optically magnified to produce virtually large images of data or video. For example, a 0.6-inch diagonal microdisplay could produce a virtual image equivalent to a 19-inch computer screen or a 60-in television. OLEDs are seen as a promising technology for virtual imaging systems due to their large field of view, low power consumption, and potential for low cost manufacturing processes.
Because the technology being developed by eMagin and IBM is built directly on silicon integrated circuits, many computer and video electronic systems functions could potentially be embedded, which would result in a very compact integrated system with lower overall system costs.
"This alliance broadens our platform for growth," said Susan Jones, Executive Vice President and co-founder of eMagin. "Blue chip technology partners such as IBM provide us with a great opportunity to continue to develop a core product line that addresses extremely attractive markets." eMagin, a licensee of Eastman Kodak's fundamental OLED patents, holds over 80 of its own patents issued and pending in flat panel display technology as well as in related fields of optics, active matrix, and systems integration. eMagin was the world's first company to demonstrate an OLED-on-Silicon video display.
"IBM's research in organic electronics shows great promise for the development of new low-cost, low-power devices," said Randall D. Isaac, Vice President, Systems, Technology, and Science, IBM Research. "Our joint work with eMagin will help accelerate progress in organic LED technologies for displays."
IBM is a global leader in flat panel display technology and manufacturing, and brings the resources of its worldwide research operations, including its programs in organic electronics, to the development efforts. Stanford Resources, a leading market research firm, recently predicted that developments in OLED technology are driving a high-growth forecast for this new display, from $3 million in 1999 to $717 million in 2005.
The joint development is being co-managed by Dr. Webster Howard, eMagin's Vice President of Technology; Dr. Erik Harris, Director of Subsystems Technologies and Application Laboratory, IBM Research; and Dr. Walter Riess, Manager of Display Technology at the IBM Zurich Research Laboratory.
About eMagin:
A leading developer of virtual imaging technology, eMagin combines integrated circuits, microdisplays, and optics to create a virtual image equivalent to the real image of a computer monitor or large screen TV. These miniature, high-performance, virtual imaging modules provide access to information-rich text, data, and video which can facilitate the opening of new mass markets for wearable PCs, Internet appliances, portable DVD-viewers, digital cameras, and other emerging applications. eMagin's microdisplays are based on fundamental OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology licensed from Eastman Kodak leveraged with eMagin's own intellectual property portfolio. eMagin also holds significant intellectual property in field emission technology for direct view flat panel displays. eMagin's corporate headquarters and microdisplay operations are co-located with IBM on its campus in East Fishkill, N.Y. Wearable and mobile computer headset/viewer system design and full-custom microdisplay system facilities are located at its wholly owned subsidiary, Virtual Vision, Inc., in Redmond, WA. In conjunction with a private placement financing led by Citigroup Investments, Inc. and Verus International, eMagin began trading on the American Stock Exchange on March 17, 2000 under the symbol EMA. Further information about eMagin and its virtual imaging solutions can be accessed at www.emagincorp.com.
More information about IBM and its advanced displays and other OEM technologies can be found at: ibm.com.
This release contains "forward-looking statements," as defined under the Federal Securities Laws, regarding the intents, beliefs or current expectations of eMagin or its officers with respect to various matters. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to eMagin and the eMagin assumes no obligation to update these statements. It is important to note that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including those described in eMagin Corporation's most recent filings with the SEC.
Distributed via COMTEX. |
