I'm very excited about EMAN's new backplane development .
Their PR on 11/6/2014 stated that they had received a grant to "develop an advanced backplane technology for use with eMagin's cutting edge OLED micro displays".
Furthermore , " The $750,000 contract will be executed over the next eleven months" . Given the timing , this should have been competed sometime in the fall of 2015 .
New backplane will achieve a greater than 30% reduction in power :
"This advanced backplane will enable significant performance improvements in the OLED device including more than 30% reduction in power consumption compared to the existing backplane technology," said Andrew Sculley, eMagin CEO.
http://ir.emagin.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96135&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1986808
I believe this new backplane development can be seen in EMAN patent Grant #8975832 published 3/10/15 which describes an SOI (Silicon on Insulator) backplane .
The SOI replaces the current silicon backplane :
"The present invention is an OLED display, which uniquely utilizes a SOI substrate in place of a conventional silicon substrate for allowing the stacked OLEDs to be driven in reverse and thus conveying both positive and negative voltage through the bulk."
A New OLED Architecture :
"the new invention as the present invention utilizes a new OLED architecture "
Reduction of pixel dimension & increase in resolution :
"It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for use in a micro-display that will allow for the reduction of pixel dimensions and enhancement of resolution.
http://www.google.com/patents/US8975832
The development grant & patent seem to closely correspond to Global Foundries new 22nm FD-SOI (Fully Depleted - Silicon on Insulator ) developments & expected volume ramp end of 2016 :
"He said, “We are developing 22nm FD-SOI process technology right now.” The plan is to qualify the process by early 2016 and start volume production by the end of 2016"
Higher performance at lower cost :
"The promise of GlobalFoundries’ 22nm FD-SOI solution, he concluded, is to offer his customers “almost 14nm FinFET performance at almost 28nm cost.” "
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1326954
GF 22nm FD-SOI Developed for wearables & IoT :
“Next-generation connected devices, in markets from wearables and IoT to mobile and consumer, require semiconductor solutions that provide an optimal balance of performance, power and cost,” said Tony King-Smith, EVP Marketing, Imagination Technologies.
http://globalfoundries.com/newsroom/press-releases/2015/07/13/globalfoundries-launches-industry-s-…
Here is some good info regarding Global Foundries new 22nm FD-SOI tech called 22FDX :
http://globalfoundries.com/technology-solutions/leading-edge-technology/22fdx
EMAN's patent is in place for the "new OLED architecture" . The backplane development grant is completed . This corresponds to the new GF 22FDX tech ramping up for mass volume fall 2016 .
As lagniappe , EMAN's offices & manufacturing also are at the Global Foundries site at Hudson Valley Research Park .
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/politics-on-the-hudson/2016/02/09/globalfoundries-ibm-par…
