Foldable computer and TV screens come closer to reality

Washington, October 3 : Computers that can be folded up to be put in the pocket and televisions sets that can be bended to view may soon be a reality, thanks to the efforts of researchers from Sony and the Max Planck Institute.

Published in the New Journal of Physics, a study conducted by the researchers heralds the beginning of a technological revolution for screen displays.

It demonstrates, for the first time, the possibility of bendable optically assessed organic light emitting displays, based on red or IR-A light upconversion.

The researchers say that such a technology can also lead to the mass-production of moving image posters for display advertising, and newspaper display systems that let readers to upload daily news to an easy-to-carry display contraption.

Sony announced the development of flexible OLED display screens in 2006, but the designs could not reach the market due to glitches like size and resolution limitations, and the difficulty of structuring the organic compounds so as not to be distorted when bent.

The researchers insist that the new technology for optically excited organic emissive displays does not have this problem, and gives further opportunities for new applications.

Through the use of a new structure and unique combinations for the organic compounds within viscous polymeric matrix, according to the researchers, there need not be any size or resolution limitations for the new screens.

The researchers conclude: "To the best of our knowledge we demonstrate for the first time a versatile colour all-organic and transparent UC-display. The reported displays are also flexible and have excellent brightness."

ANI