INDUSTRY NEWS

Philips signs big deal

Philips Flat Display Systems of San Jose and Rainbow Displays (RDI) of Endicott, NY, will work together to develop large flat panel displays (FPDs) using a breakthrough display technology called tiling. Tiling combines several small displays to make a single, large FPD without visible seams. As part of the business arrangement, Philips will take a minority stake in RDI. Philips says RDI's tiling expertise attracted its attention. RDI is the display industry's first tiling company to make a high-quality 38.6-in. diagonal display prototype featuring four 19.3-in. panels with no visible seams, according to Philips. The manufacturer says the market for large-scale FPDs is expected to increase from $150 million in 1999 to $5 billion by 2005. Tiling technology is one possible solution to several of the challenges posed by large-scale FPD manufacturing. These problems include cost control, resolution, brightness, and overall visual quality, Philips says.

Three-Five expands Japan pact

Three-Five Systems of Tempe, AZ, and Mitsui & Co. of Tokyo have expanded their exclusive sales and distribution agreement. Mitsui will sell Three-Five's advanced displays in Japan under the terms of the pact, which expands a previous agreement the companies signed in August 1999. The pact covers the U.S. manufacturer's LCiD, LCaD, and LCoS products. The last item is a thumbnail-sized microdisplay with a resolution as good as that of HDTV, according to Three-Five. The agreement gives Three-Five the flexibility to enter into cross-licensing agreements with third parties to exchange key technologies.

Three-Five also recently announced that i2Go.com of Atlanta has chosen Three-Five's LCiD technology for its new portable digital audio device. Called the eGo, the device is an MP3 player that allows users to listen to digital audio files downloaded from the Internet. The player is the first designed specifically for use in cars, and Three-Five says the order represents a "design win" for the firm as it seeks new markets.

Adept finds Asian integrator

Kingroup Automation Industry will act as an integrator for Adept Technology's line of FPD robots in Taiwan. Kingroup will use the supplier's AdeptAtlas robot for the FPD automation systems it sells to display manufacturers in Taiwan. The Class 10 AdeptAtlas robots come in two versions. Both the single- and dual-arm models accommodate substrates up to 600 x 720 mm.

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