Gamma Dynamics

Electrofluidic displays: Fundamental platforms and unique performance attributes

smothersanthony — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:16:19 +0000

Electrofluidic displays transpose brilliant pigment dispersions between a fluid reservoir of small viewable area and a channel of large viewable area. Recent progress in the technology, a new multi-stable device architecture, and a novel approach for segmented displays that can display pigment without the optical losses of pixel borders is reported. The fundamental aspects of electrofluidics that make it compelling for the next generation of e-paper products is reviewed.

S. Yang (SID Student Member)

J. Heikenfeld (SID Senior Member)

E. Kreit

M. Hagedon (SID Student Member)

K. Dean (SID Senior Member)

K. Zhou (SID Member)

S. Smith

J. Rudolph (SID Life Member)

View the full article at www.sid.aip.org/.

DOI # 10.1889/JSID19.9.608

IDW 2011, Nagoya, Japan

smothersanthony — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:08:35 +0000

E-Paper is now established, growing in volume despite increased competition from LCDs. The application space for e-Paper is larger than what it can currently satisfy. This presentation reviews leading technologies for satisfying monochrome, color signage, and color-video e-Paper. In addition, a recent breakthrough in electrofluidic displays will be introduced and compared to existing e-Paper.

Learn more by reading Prospects for Emerging e-Paper Technologies, and a New Breakthrough in Electrofluidic Displays.

SID Symposium, Los Angeles, California

smothersanthony — Mon, 02 May 2011 03:39:46 +0000

Electrofluidic displays have been demonstrated with multi-stable states that enable on, off, or grey-scaled pixel states with zero holding power. We demonstrate operating principles and characterize optical, electrical and environmental performance. We also report other electrofluidic developments including device operation from -30°C to 70°C and 30 millisecond switching speeds at 25°C.

For more information read visit the Society for Information Display. Article ID: SID 19.0.608, 2011.

Flextech Alliance 2011

smothersanthony — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:28:05 +0000

Flexible Electronics and Displays Conference and Exhibition
February 7 – 10, 2011 in Phoenix, AZ.

The event drew international experts from industry, academia and R&D to share the latest advances in flexible, printed electronics and displays. Dr. Kenneth Dean, CTO of Gamma Dynamics, presented a paper, Electrofluidic Pixel Technology for Flexible Displays.

e-Paper based on ‘electrofluidics’ can now hold an image without electrical power.

John Rudolph — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:00:10 +0000

Cincinnati, OH: Displays for consumer electronic devices such as e-Readers, smart phones, and tablet PCs never quite meet all the demands of all the users all the time. Some lack color and video capability, others use too much battery power, while others are nearly unreadable pool-side. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati and a small start-up company, Gamma Dynamics LLC have described a break-through new approach creating electrofluidic displays that can hold an image without power consumption. Such breakthroughs are essential in the quest for creating more user and environmentally friendly electronics. And unlike the display in the Amazon Kindle, the technology can boast >70% white reflectance (close to paper which is 80%) and potentially video-speed operation. Electrofluidic displays are a variant of electrowetting displays, a technology that has been in development for 10 years, and until now, required electrical power to hold an image on the screen.

The new breakthrough works by moving a colored fluid (similar to inkjet fluid) between the front and the backside of a reflective sheet. The space above and beneath this special sheet is similar in geometry enabling the fluid to remain stationary in any position without an applied voltage, as scientifically predicted by Laplace pressure. The team of engineers and scientists had realized this patent-pending concept several years ago, but what was lacking was a way to make it manufacturable. Manufacturability using the same equipment used for manufacturing LCDs is essential, because a new LCD factory now costs around $2 B. New technology needs to conform to the existing infrastructure. Fortunately, the Univ. of Cincinnati and Gamma Dynamics were able to team with DuPont engineers who are developing a new film that can be laminated and optically imaged to form holes, spacers, and other key features. As a result, the team was able to create complex features using equipment similar to that used for making simple printed circuit boards. Each pixel is about the same width as a human hair. The collaborative partnership does not end there. The team also works with Cincinnati’s Sun Chemical corporation on adapting inkjet fluids so they could be moved inside the tiny pixels. The movement of the fluids is best illustrated as shown on the cover of Applied Physics Letters (Oct. 4^th, 2010). Voltage is used to move colored fluid between an upper viewable cavity, and a lower hidden cavity, and importantly, the voltage can be removed and the fluid can sit in any intermediate position, otherwise known as grayscale pixel operation.

The Novel Devices Laboratory has been developing fluid-based devices for displays and other applications for industry and the military for about five years. Recently, the University of Cincinnati won a State of Ohio Third Frontier award to create the Ohio Center for Microfluidic Innovation (OCMI) which will expand the university and local industry capability in commercializing micro/electrofluidic technologies, including biomedical devices.

Gamma Dynamics LLC was created in 2009 to specifically commercialize the electrofluidic display technologies aimed at consumer electronic devices, and commercial advertising and labeling applications. The company has its headquarters in Cincinnati and has laboratory operations in both Cincinnati and at the ASU Flexible Display Center in Tempe, Arizona. Gamma Dynamics is the exclusive licensee of the University of Cincinnati electrofluidic display technology and is working with leading display makers from around the world. Gamma Dynamics has been awarded several SBIR awards from the National Science Foundation for development of electronic display and electronic window technologies. Electronic windows are designed to manage visible light and infrared heat from the sun independently, based upon consumer preference and need for energy control.

View the Applied Physics Letters full article.

View University of Cincinnati Press Release.

Flexible electrofluidic displays paper presented at SID 2010

John Rudolph — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:49:36 +0000

We have developed a novel electrofluidic technology for displays that employs brilliantly colored, well-saturated pigments in solution, modulated by electrowetting physics. We discuss the operating principles of the display and demonstrate progress in key areas needed for realizing products, including fabrication on flexible substrates and performance from -28°C to 80°C.

Click here for paper.

Click here for presentation.

Upcoming Conferences

grizzljt — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:40:42 +0000

Gamma Dynamics will next be at the Flexible Electronics and Displays 2010 and the SID 2010 conferences.

Following SID 2010, Gamma Dynamics will begin posting downloadable presentations covering the company, markets, and technology status.

Gamma Dynamics gains exclusive license for EFDs at UC

grizzljt — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Gamma Dynamics executes option for exclusive license of the University of Cincinnati’s patent portfolio on electrofluidic displays.

Gamma Dynamics Awarded $300k in new grants

grizzljt — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 08:48:58 +0000

Gamma Dynamics is awarded two SBIR Phase I grants ($300k total) to support development of new electrofluidic display products.

Cincy Innovates!

grizzljt — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:37:15 +0000

Winner of the $10,000 first-place award in the patent category of CincyTech’s first Cincinnati Innovates competition. The competition featured 273 contestants.

Cincinnati Innovates.