Prime View International (PVI) joins the e-paper news craze by announcing (http://www.pvi.com.tw/informationlist_en.php) what they claim to be the first flexible active matrix (AM) electrophoretic display made in a volume TFT fab. Sure, it's probably not the first "break-through" story we've heard of in the past few months, though let's not forget that PVI has a proven track record as the world's current sole OEM provider of E Ink panels.

PVI has demonstrated diagonal 9.7”, 6” and 1.9” AM electrophoretic displays. These flexible displays are based on PVI’s proprietary MagicMirror® Reflective Technology as well as the EPLaR process, developed by Philips Research, and for which PVI currently has an exclusive license. The MagicMirror® technology provides extremely efficient and high quality reflective TFT backplane manufacturing, while the EPLaR process allows most PVI’s proprietary a-Si TFT and module processes to be used for making flexible e-paper displays.
Features:

based on PVI’s MagicMirror Reflective Technology and the EPLaR process developed by Philips Research
uses PVI's proprietary a-Si TFT and ePaper module process
enables volume production in the near term
light, slim, unbreakable, "easy to handle" plastic displays


Thanks to Ebook lover and Jason for the hint!

I guess we can expect an OEM version with a flexible display now... Mass production of flexible display might come sooner than we expected (late 2008 for Plastic Logic).

Visited PVI's booth today. They have an interesting range of products and may have found their niche in specialty products.

They seem to be nice folks, too. Was this also your impression, Anchoku?

Heh, if their marketing folks weren't nice, they'd be in really big trouble! :laugh4:

PVI really did have nice people in the booth. This shows they're hungry to prove themselves to companies like E-Ink and Qualcomm. That's always a good thing. Serve those customers. I hope at least one of those non-LC ventures proves profitable enough for PVI to install a larger line. Otherwise, Samsung, LPL and others will steal the volume. Then again, PVI may have its niche in small volume.