UMC begins making OLEDs for Scottish firm
The production drive follows investment by Taiwan-based UMC in developing a bespoke CMOS process for making the organic light emitting polymers (OLEDs) that MED uses to produce the displays MED chief executive officer Bill Campbell said: "This is the first step in our plan to start volume production for our customers.
The fact that UMC, one of the world's leading contract manufacturers of semiconductors, has committed resources and production capacity is a strong validation of our technology and prospects."
Henry Liu, head of UMCs new business development group, said: "We are happy to cooperate with MED to deliver the process technology needed to help bring their promising microdisplay ICs to market. MED is a leader in their field, and we are pleased to work with them as their foundry service provider."
MED's microdisplays are aimed at consumer devices such as viewfinders for digital cameras, night viewers and mobile phones. According to market data from DisplaySearch, OLED display technology such as MED uses is set to challenge the ubiquitous LCD technology over the next few years. OLEDs are expected to achieve a compound annual growth of 110% and reach a market value of US$2.2 billion by 2006.
