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Qualcomm unveils MEMS display for e-readers
By siliconindia
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Tuesday, 24 November 2009, 18:49 IST |
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London: Chip maker Qualcomm has shown off a 5.3-inch full-color non-volatile Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-based display. The company claims a slightly larger version, with a 5.7-inch diagonal size, will also be found in an e-reader product by fall 2010. The display features 1,024 x 768 pixel resolution and around 220 pixels per inch.
"We have a brand partner for the e-reader space to be announced in the first quarter of 2010," said Cheryl Goodman, Director of Marketing for Qualcomm MEMS Technologies. The Mirasol technology, which Qualcomm acquired in 2004, does not require a back-light and is reflective, making use of ambient light, reports EE Times.
The technology is based on a MEMS structure combined with thin film optics to create interferometric modulation. The color display is thin and bi-stable so that power is only consumed when changing the status of display. This can be a boon for e-reader type products where it can achieve power savings. The display technology is also capable of running video at 30-frame per second.
In the past Qualcomm has provided 3G wireless modems to Amazon for use in the Kindle wireless reading device. In February 2009, Qualcomm announced an agreement with LG Electronics to begin the development of Mirasol-enabled handsets. The Mirasol technology is in use in some cell phones, but only as monochrome and small displays. Qualcomm has a dedicated display fabrication plant in the Lungtan Science Park in Taoyuan, Taiwan, that is operated on behalf of Qualcomm by Taiwan's Cheng Uei Precision Industry.