Sony Produces Color LCDs on Flexible Substrate

Sony has produced a working prototype of a polysilicon liquid crystal display (LCD) on a plastic substrate. The plastic substrate provides displays that are lighter in weight and more resistant to impact damage, making them suitable for portable devices. Polysilicon transistors are also much faster than the typical amorphous silicon transistors widely used in active-matrix displays; therefore, the drive and processing electronics can be formed alongside the LCD matrix.

Sony sees active-matrix LCDs using thin-film transistors as the key mainstream product for the next four or five years. A spokesman said that polysilicon on plastic substrates will probably give LCDs a new lease on life.

Mass production is planned.

For additional information on materials science, go to www.semiconductor.net/materials.