Kent Displays

Kent, Ohio, April 1 2010: - Kent Displays announced today a $1 Million award from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission’s Advanced Materials Program. The award will be used to develop and advance display materials for flexible liquid crystal films. The advancements of these materials will result in improved performance across the Reflex™ flexible LCD product line. The program will be managed and executed at the company’s headquarters in Kent over the next two years.

Kent Displays’ program collaborators include Akron Polymer Systems, a globally-recognized polymer and materials company, as well as Kent State University, a leading research institution in liquid crystal technology.

This project represents a highly concentrated and coordinated effort to develop materials specifically engineered for the four Reflex flexible LCD product lines: writing tablets (including the Boogie Board™ LCD writing tablet), electronics skins, eCard displays, and eMedia. The benefits of highly engineered materials specifically developed for Reflex flexible LCDs include lower drive voltages and improved temperature/color performance, brightness, contrast and color gamut. These enhancements will significantly impact the marketability and sustainability of the four product lines.

Kent Displays CEO Dr. Albert Green stated, “Funding from Ohio Third Frontier has helped Kent Displays make significant advances in flexible LCD performance and manufacturing. Ohio Third Frontier has also been instrumental in creating a critical mass of technical talent to facilitate creation of a new and solid foundation for Ohio’s economic future and put Kent Displays, the state, and even the United States on the global map in this large and growing flexible LCD industry.”

KENT, Ohio, Jan. 21 -- Kent Displays announced today the forming of Improv Electronics, a new business unit focused on development and sales of consumer electronic products. The products will utilize Kent Displays revolutionary Reflex™ no power LCD technology.

The first product sold under the Improv Electronics name, the Boogie Board LCD Writing Tablet, is now available. This product is the first paperless writing tablet to utilize a pressure-sensitive Reflex LCD for the writing surface. While most other LCDs are made on glass, the Reflex LCDs used in Boogie Board tablets are made of impact-resistant, flexible plastic. They are mass produced exclusively in the U.S. on the world's first roll-to-roll line for fabrication of flexible LCDs.

Because all Reflex LCDs are reflective and bi-stable, the Boogie Board tablet requires no power to generate or retain an image, and only a small amount to erase (supplied by a small watch battery, which will execute over 50,000 erase cycles).  At a retail price of $29.97 USD, the Boogie Board tablet's cost per erase is 15 times less than the per sheet cost of paper in a comparable  steno notepad.

Written and graphic images are created with an included stylus or any other instrument that will apply the desired pressure (even a finger nail). Unlike traditional LCDs that have a poor response to pressure, the Boogie Board's Reflex LCD is highly responsive to variable amounts of pressure. This allows different line thicknesses to be easily created (great for sketching) and provides a writing experience very similar to paper and pencil.

Part of Kent Displays' Push Green™ initiative, the Boogie Board tablet provides a highly-effective vehicle to reduce everyday paper consumption. While most reduction strategies have focused on computer-related activities, an equally significant amount of paper is used for everyday writing tasks such as writing memos, jotting down ideas, making reminders/lists, practicing handwriting/arithmetic (young children), playing games, drawing pictures, and diagramming plays (coaches). The paperless Boogie Board tablet can be used for all these activities, replacing memo/note pads and sticky notes in the home, office, school, car and field. It also replaces chalk, magnetic and dry erase boards. Like all the above writing and drawing mediums, the Boogie Board tablet consumes no electrical energy to produce an image.

OEM versions of the Boogie Board tablet for integration into third party devices (e.g., computer keyboard) will also be sold.

Kent, OH, July 16, 2009: - Kent Displays announced today the naming of Dr. Asad Khan as Chief Technical Officer (CTO). Dr. Khan replaces Dr. J. William Doane, a pioneer in reflective LCD technology and Director Emeritus of the Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State University. Dr. Doane has moved to the role of Senior Advisor and will remain on Kent Displays’ Executive Committee.

Dr. Khan joined Kent Displays in 1995 as a Research Engineer. He has since held roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as the Vice President of Technology and as a member of the Executive Committee. He has published over 60 papers in U.S. and international journals and possesses over 15 U.S. and international patents (with several applications pending).

In his new role, Dr. Khan has primary responsibility for further development of Reflex™ No Power LCD technology, the foundation for which was built by Dr. Doane as cofounder of Kent Displays. Focus activities include authoring the development framework for Reflex technology to meet the overall company strategic plan, directing a growing internal team of scientists in the implementation of the framework, and playing the lead role in managing various strategic relationships with suppliers and joint development partners.

Kent Displays' CEO Dr. Albert Green stated, “We have been exceptionally fortunate to have the services of two internationally–recognized LCD industry leaders in the CTO role, Dr. Doane and now Dr. Khan. As one of Kent Displays’ longest‐tenured employees, Dr. Khan offers keen insight into the company’s history and vast experience in the display industry. This knowledge, combined with an extensive technical background, makes him the ideal individual to lead the development of Reflex technology for new and unique applications such as smart cards, electronic skins and writing tablets. We have great confidence in his ability to provide the necessary direction to take Reflex technology into these new frontiers and many others.”

Kent, OH, May 27, 2009: - Kent Displays announced today it will feature its Reflex No Power LCDs at the upcoming SID Display Week in San, Antonio, Texas (booth #265). Kent Displays is a sponsor of the event, which will be held May 31-June 5 (exhibit floor June 2-4).

All Reflex LCDs retain an image without power and offer superior optical characteristics including sunlight-readability and wide viewing angles. These features, coupled with the flexibility, durability and exceptional thinness of plastic substrates provide a more versatile, sustainable medium than traditional paper and backlit LCDs, opening the door to a myriad of new display applications from electronic paper to electronic skins – and beyond!

To manufacture plastic LCDs, Kent Displays recently installed and commissioned a new roll-to roll production line at its headquarters in Kent, Ohio. A first of its kind in the LCD industry, the line is now in pilot production and fulfilling initial customer orders for LCD Writing Tablets. The roll-to-roll line will also produce LCDs for electronic skins, smartcards and other applications requiring flexibility, durability, and/or exceptional thinness.

Following a recent award of $4.9 million from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission, Kent Displays will focus aggressively on developing the next generation of Reflex LCD electronic skins — ultra thin, plastic displays that can be cut to a custom shape and conformed to the surface of a cell phone case or other personal electronic device. The company’s first generation electronic skins display eight different colors, changeable at the touch of a button to match a user’s mood, clothing or preference. The user can also select a menu option to change the skin color based on device status (e.g., new voice mail). These capabilities bring a new level of personalization and differentiation to a wide range of consumer products.

Kent, OH. - May 7, 2009 - Kent Displays announced today a $4.9 Million award from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission’s Research Commercialization Program. The award will be used to develop the company’s next generation of electronic skins for portable electronic devices such as cell phones and laptop computers. The commercialization program will be managed and executed at the company’s headquarters in Kent over the next three years.

Kent Displays’ program collaborators include plastic substrate producer DuPont Teijin Films and electronic chip designer Solomon Systech Ltd., as well as two leading research institutions in liquid crystal technology and polymer science: Kent State University and the University of Akron, respectively.

The Third Frontier award will be used to further develop Kent Displays’ Reflex™ LCD electronic skins, an ultra thin, plastic display that can be cut to a custom shape and conformed to another surface. The display is reflective and requires no power from the host device to retain an image. The company’s first generation electronic skins display eight different colors, changeable at the touch of a button to match a user’s mood, clothing or preference. The user can also select a menu option to change the skin color based on device status (e.g., new voice mail, meeting reminder). These capabilities bring a new level of personalization and differentiation to a wide range of products.

Support from Ohio Third Frontier will enable numerous Reflex electronic skin advancements to enhance commercial viability: performance (optical, environmental, durability), size, conformability (complex shapes) and electronics (conductivity, miniaturization). Funding will also be used to refine and optimize the roll-to-roll production processes for manufacturing Reflex electronic skins.

Kent Displays’ CEO Dr. Albert Green stated, “Kent Displays is extremely excited to receive Ohio Third Frontier funding to develop the next generation of Reflex electronic skins. Ohio Third Frontier is essential to the future of the State of Ohio. It is an important catalyst for the state’s emerging high technology sector and creating and retaining jobs within it. This sector is redefining the state’s economic base beyond traditional manufacturing and services to meet the needs of a rapidly-advancing, technology-based society. Support through Ohio Third Frontier is a key enabler of commercializing products like our Reflex electronic skins that meet these needs. We are confident that with this support Kent Displays and the state have a secure future.”

Humphrey Leung, CEO of Solomon Systech, added that “We are proud to collaborate with Kent Displays on this very important commercialization project. Significant technology advancements often require a synergistic relationship between multiple participants, public and private. Ohio Third Frontier facilitates this type of environment. The commercialization programs it funds not only help to make new technology a reality, they yield broad, far-reaching effects that benefit many. From business growth and job creation throughout the supply chain, to products that improve the way we live, it is true example of a win-win situation.”

Kent, OH. - August 19, 2008 - After a protracted international legal battle, one of the basic liquid crystal patents held by Kent State University and licensed by Kent Displays has withstood a legal challenge by several parties across Europe and the Pacific Rim.

The European Patent Office where the patent challenge was heard, took place in Munich, Germany. The court found in favor of Kent Displays and Kent State University in late July. That action upholds the patent, as the intellectual property of the two entities in Kent. The patent is key to Kent Displays’ Reflex™ Technology, which enables displays that don’t require any power to maintain an image, have paper-like viewing angles and incomparable viewing quality in bright sunlight.

Dr. Albert Green, CEO of Kent Displays says, “It is gratifying to know that we were able to convey the integrity of the patent as written, in front of the European Tribunal.”

The patent, invented by Drs. John West and Deng-Ke Yang of Kent State University, previously had been challenged in U.S. courts. The challenge to the United State patent entangled Kent Displays and Kent State in legal proceedings in U.S. District Court in Texas from 1996 until the patent was upheld in 2001. This ruling now confirms the validity of the corresponding European patent.

Dr. John West, currently the vice president for research and dean of graduate studies at Kent State, says the recent win proves that Kent State’s Liquid Crystal Institute leads the world in its discipline. “With much credit to our partner Kent Displays, it is obvious that our collaborative work sets the standard in the liquid crystal field,” West says.

Kent Displays has an active roster of licensees around the world that are commercializing the Reflex™ Display™ technology in a variety of end uses. Customers and licensees of Kent Displays’ Reflex™ displays can be assured that Kent Displays will continue to defend it intellectual property vigorously. Kent State has exclusively licensed Reflex™ technology to Kent Displays for all display uses.

Kent, OH. - May 19, 2008 - At SID 2008, Kent Displays will be exhibiting a variety of cholesteric liquid crystal display modules and electronic skins products, trademarked as Reflex™ and eGo™ respectively. The company will also introduce plastic substrate displays that will be manufactured in Kent, OH on a new roll-to roll production line. This roll-to roll line is a world first and will increase the supply of flexible, low power displays for unique product applications such as credit cards, curved surfaces, product tags and other ePaper applications. The Reflex™ and eGo™ products will be exhibited in Booth #243 at the Society for Information Display International Symposium 2008 in Los Angeles, CA being held May 18-23, 2008.

“For 15 years our technology has helped manufacturers and our teaming partners remain in the forefront of market trends,” said Dr. Albert Green, the company's chief executive officer. “Today, we are challenging ourselves to develop applications that can change the way display technology is used. Launching Reflex™ displays as our new brand simply confirms that we have the capability and the creativity to contribute more innovation to the display industry.”

The brand name Reflex™ is derived from the fact that all Reflex™ displays are reflective and inherently flexible in nature. They are ideal for portable devices that demand long battery life, a wide viewing angle, and paper-like viewing in all ambient lighting conditions including bright sunlight. These displays can operate on virtually no power, and can be as thin as 30 microns.

Kent Displays is currently developing a variety of flexible display products for portable devices that demand paper-like viewing, displays on curved surfaces, long battery life, sunlight readability and wide viewing angles. The company also offers a line of customizable electronic skins (eGo™) for mobile computing devices, and electronic writing tablets (eTablet™) for many markets. Standard and custom products are currently being planned and under development.

In 2008, Kent Displays also will be installing the world's first roll-to-roll production line for the manufacture of flexible, plastic substrate LCD displays. Currently, all displays in the market are cut from large sheets, and processed separately. This innovative roll-to-roll production line will enable Kent Displays to efficiently and rapidly produce large quantities of LCDs.

Chicago Museum of Science and Industry showcases Kent Displays’ Reflex™ display technology

Chicago, IL (Mar 21, 2008) – Kent Displays announced today that several of its Reflex™ display products are showcased in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry’s The Glass Experience exhibition which opened last week. Visitors will be able to interact and view displays that highlight the company’s cornerstone cholesteric liquid crystal display technology.

“The exhibition allows us to share with the general public the kind of technology that they will use in the future,” said Dr. Albert Green, CEO of Kent Displays. “Our next step is to enable general consumers to use the Reflex™ technology on a day-to-day basis in many creative and innovative ways. We are proud to work with the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry whose main mission is to educate and inspire its visitors to think outside of the box.”

At the exhibit, visitors will be able to learn about how Kent Displays’ Reflex™ display technology makes it possible for an electronic display screen to maintain an image indefinitely without any power. Attendees will be able to interact with displays that have properties similar to that of paper: reflective with wide viewing angles and no energy needed to maintain an image.

Running through September 1, 2008, The Glass Experience features innovative and interactive glass artifacts while revealing the science, craftsmanship and beauty that is the world of glass and glassmaking. Visitors can locate the Kent Displays’ exhibited items in the section on “The Future of Glass,” with its focus on innovative ways artists and scientists are exploring the limits of glass.

Company Celebrates 15 Years of Innovative Technology with New Commercial Applications

Kent, Ohio (Feb 6, 2008) – Kent Displays, Inc., today launched Reflex™, a new brand to its long proven cholesteric liquid crystal displays (ChLCD). Successfully used in a variety of display applications for 15 years, this new direction signals the company’s vision to bring its Reflex™ displays to broader commercial and advanced display applications.

“For 15 years our technology has helped manufacturers and our teaming partners be in the forefront of market trends,” said Dr. Albert Green, the company’s chief executive officer. “Today, we are challenging ourselves to develop applications that can change the way display technology is used. Launching Reflex™ displays as our new brand simply confirms that we have the capability and the creativity to contribute more innovation to the display industry.”

The new brand name is derived from the fact that all Reflex™ displays are reflective and inherently flexible in nature. They are ideal for portable devices that demand long battery life, a wide viewing angle, and paper-like viewing in all ambient lighting conditions including bright sunlight. These displays can operate on virtually no power, and can be as thin as 30 microns.

Kent Displays is currently developing a variety of flexible display products for portable devices that demand paper-like viewing, displays on curved surfaces, long battery life, sunlight readability and wide viewing angles. The company also offers a line of customizable electronic skins (eSkins) for mobile computing devices, and electronic writing tablets (eTablets) for many markets. Standard and custom products are currently being planned and under development.

In 2008, Kent Displays also will be installing the world’s first roll-to-roll production line for the manufacture of flexible LCDs. Currently, all displays in the market are cut from large sheets, and processed separately. This innovative roll-to-roll production line will enable Kent Displays to efficiently and rapidly produce large quantities of LCDs.

“When we complete the installation of our roll-to-roll production line, it will have come full circle for us,” said Dr. Green. “We are pioneers in this industry, and it is incredibly exciting to see the future come to fruition here in our facility. Our customers will benefit greatly from this, and we are looking forward to entering new markets with the ability to produce displays in much larger quantities.”

Kent, Ohio (May 16, 2007) – Kent Displays Inc. (KDI) a leader in commercialization of “No Power” LCDs announced today the appointment of Dr. Albert M. Green as chief executive officer. He will be joining the company in early June.

“We are very pleased to have Dr. Green join the Kent Displays team and provide leadership to our company,” said Joel Domino, president of Kent Displays. “Dr. Green’s experience and knowledge will help Kent Displays advance our technology and provide additional innovation and technology solutions to exploit our exciting advances in flexible displays for a variety of commercial and government customers.”

Kent Displays specializes in the commercialization of advanced display technologies and is the exclusive worldwide licensee for Kent State University's Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display (ChLCD) technology developed at the Liquid Crystal Institute for sign and display applications. Headquartered in Kent, Ohio, the company was created in 1993 to further develop and commercialize ChLCD. The technology is ideal for portable devices that demand long battery life, a wide viewing angle and paper-like viewing in all ambient light including bright sunlight. Kent Displays is currently installing the world’s first roll-to-roll production line for the manufacture of flexible LCD’s.

“The talented leadership team and superior technology produced by this company makes the decision to join Kent Displays an exciting one,” said Dr. Green. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues to expand the business into areas that match the exciting potential of KDI’s liquid crystal display technology. As the information explosion continues, the display industry is challenged to provide more and better ways to display that information. KDI is ideally positioned to meet these challenges and I intend to provide strong, focused leadership that will exploit the technical advances and continue the company’s expansion into the rapidly growing flexible and conformal display market.”

Prior to joining Kent Displays, Dr. Green was vice president and manager of the Applied Sciences Division at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). SAIC’s Applied Sciences Division is focused on assessing leading edge technology and innovation for government and commercial customers in a variety of areas such as advanced materials, nanotechnology, energy, and space sciences. During his tenure of 13 years at SAIC, Dr. Green held several key positions including senior scientist, program manager and business unit chief scientist. Dr. Green holds a PhD in physics from Stanford University and a BS in physics from the University of Chicago. He also holds over 25 patents in the areas of display technologies and advanced materials.

Kent, Ohio (January 3, 2007) – Kent Displays Inc. (KDI) the world leader in commercialization of “No Power” LCDs announces a substantial new structure of its operations. During 2007 KDI has positioned itself to become the first volume manufacturer of flexible liquid crystal displays in the world. To meet the market requirements the company announces the following personnel changes:

Dr. Asad Khan has been promoted to Vice President, Technology. In this position Research and Development, Engineering, and Manufacturing operations will report to Dr. Khan.

Donald Davis has been promoted to the position of Manager, Display Manufacturing. Previously Don was Senior Process Engineer. In his new position he will be responsible for establishing flexible cell production as well as managing the significant growth of this project.

Dr. Erica Montbach has been promoted to Manager, R&D. Erica had previously been a Senior Research Scientist and her new duties include the direction of the R&D department at KDI.

Keith Bellamy has been promoted to the position of Manager, Engineering. In this position Keith will be responsible for the direction and coordination of all engineering efforts at KDI. Previously Keith had been Engineering Program Manager.

William Emanuele, Manager, Module Manufacturing will to continue to manage the glass assembly production business and facility operations. He will work closely with Display manufacturing to support the planned growth in flexible display manufacturing.

Additionally Tess Hasenstaub, Manager, Quality Control & Quality Assurance, will now report to KDI President Joel Domino.

"These changes will allow KDI to effectively manage the progression of moving our Research and Development efforts in making flexible ChLCD's from the prototype stage to full commercial production of flexible LCD's by the middle of 2007" said Joel Domino, President of Kent Displays.

Kent, Ohio (March, 2006) – Kent Displays, Inc. has launched an internet presence at www.nopowerdisplays.com marketing retail products using its ChLCD technology. The initial offering consists of three different sizes of Carry Computer's Didigo USB SmartDrives the offerings are set to expand in the near future.

We are providing this site not only as a medium to support our customers but also as a medium by which people can acquire some cool technology that incorporates the advantages of Kent's "No Power" Displays," says President Joel Domino. The SmartDrives incorporate a ChLCD providing an 11 character identifier as well as a 4 digit memory remaining and pie chart. Due to the use of Kent's technology the display can be read easily even in direct sunlight and will never become crippled due to a battery needing replaced - it doesn't have one!

Kent, Ohio (December 15, 2006) – Kent, Ohio - Kent Displays Incorporated (KDI), the LCD manufacturer of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display products leads a project team, that has been awarded an $8 M Research and Commercialization Project (RCP) grant by the State of Ohio’s Third Frontier Project. Major collaborators in this project include AlphaMicron and Kent State University. The award was announced by Governor Bob Taft during a press conference held earlier today at Cleveland State University.

The RCP Program was designed by the Ohio Department of Development to support technology based economic development through research and commercialization activities in Ohio.

Kent Displays, a spin off from Kent State University, was created to further develop and commercialize Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display (ChLCD) technology, taking advantage of their low-power requirement and reflective features to create greatly improved displays for portable devices.

The newly awarded state grant will help Kent Displays and its collaborators accelerate the establishment of a manufacturing cluster in Ohio to commercialize flexible liquid crystal display and eyewear products and devices. The project will achieve the following:

• Installation of manufacturing facilities that will be compatible with commercially available plastic substrates and simple production processes, making Northeast Ohio a global leader in the production of such devices.
• Build a business accelerator at Kent State University to attract supply chain providers including display materials, flexible substrates, and manufacturing equipment.
• Establish an industrial cluster in Northeast Ohio to manufacturer flexible displays and eyewear that will produce jobs, and other economic development opportunities for the region and state.

“We are very pleased to receive this Third Frontier grant. This project is a true collaborative effort and could not have been achieved without the support of our academic and industry collaborators. We look forward to taking our work to the next level and advancing Northeast Ohio as the center for commercialization of flexible liquid crystal products, thus having a major impact on the global display industry,” said Joel Domino, President of Kent Displays.

Collaborators that have provided support and leadership for this RCP include: AlphaMicron, Akron Polymer Systems, Sheldahl, Kent State University, the University of Akron, Ohio Polymer Strategy Council, Team NEO, NorTech and the Fund for Our Economic Future.

Ohio’s strong industrial base in plastics and printing, and leading research strengths in liquid crystals, polymers and polymer engineering make our region a natural home for this emerging industry,” said Dr. Bahman Taheri, CEO of AlphaMicron.

Momentum on this initiative has been building in the region for the past few months with the establishment of FlexMatters, an initiative focused on building an industrial cluster in Northeast Ohio for the research, development and production of flexible displays, electronics and photo-voltaics. As part of this project, FlexMatters has already begun to attract companies to the region including, Sheldahl, a Minneapolis-based supplier of flexible substrates for liquid crystal products that’s a partner in the RCP initiative. Sheldahl is currently in the process of moving some of its activities to Kent and in order to join this growing flexible display cluster.