TechWatch: OLED and InkJet printing

I will attempt to post a series of new blog entries to keep an eye out on emerging technologies that hold some special kind of promise. The intent is that with a better understanding of what is emerging, us peace workers, those of us interested in social uplift, can become eager to adopt these new technologies. The intent is the we can thereby create a "pull" so these technologies chart an early course to socially beneficial causes - instead of the usual pattern of peace waiting for "hand me downs" and "trickle downs" after the military, after big business have had their fill and are ready to throw "crumbs". So read on and imagine how some of the emerging technologies featured here can help us.

And, oh, more importantly share your thoughts by posting or leaving a comment.

To start the series, we begin by asking what does Inkjet technology have to do with large flat panel display. The link above is to EPSON company which is a leader in inkjet technology that is now going into flat panel displays. How come?

The advances in inkjet printing have made it possible to (a) reduce the droplets they emit to "picoliters" i.e. very very small; (b) use liquid forms of Polysilicon polymers that are useful in constructing electronic parts; (c) working with great precision and rapidity, these inkjet printing methods (think, liquid deposition method), using polysilicon on silicon or glass substrates (in place of conventional printing ink over paper) - they can do "nano manufacturing". Inkjet printing can now do imprinting at 100 nanometers, 50 nm at at its very best 35 nm patters.

So EPSON is using its advanced inkjet technology in manufacturing flat panel displays. These flat panel go beyond the usual LCD and Plasma display methods. LCD involves crystals that can be rotated by passing current through them and they change color. They need back lighting to make the color come through. LCD displays are power hungry. To use LCD in daylight (outdoor uses) needs greater amount of backlighting. Plasma uses plasma-phase (very much like gas) that glows. Now comes in a new method called OLED which stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode. OLED is a polysilicon based sheet. When current passes through it emits light. OLED does not require backlighting. OLED is itself a light source. EPSON is interested in this because it can manufacture OLED flat panel displays by inkjet printing method.

OLED has great implications for home lighting in developing areas. They are cheaper to make and cheaper to use than LCD or other display techniques. Can this be used in the $100 Laptop? (Read about it)

Does polysilicon printing and OLED have implications for healthcare, education?