Light Blue Optics Announces Exclusive Development Partnership with Displaytech Inc.
**Displaytech to design and manufacture microdisplay exclusively for LBO**
**Microdisplay enables highly efficient, low cost, miniature projection systems**
CAMBRIDGE, UK, April 25, 2007 -- Light Blue Optics (LBO), the industry-leading developer of miniature holographic laser projection systems, today announced an exclusive development partnership with microdisplay manufacturers, Displaytech Inc. Under the agreement, Displaytech will develop and manufacture an ultra-compact, highly efficient and low cost microdisplay device, exclusively for LBO.
The development partnership with LBO leverages Displaytech's unrivalled experience with fast switching Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal on Silicon (FLCOS) technologies. Displaytech has shipped over 16 million devices to some of the world's premier consumer electronics companies, and has over 100 granted, licensed and pending patents to its name.
Founded in 2004, LBO has developed an innovative miniature projection technology that uses laser light sources and patented holographic techniques to deliver large, full-colour, high-quality video images that remain in focus at all distances – even on curved or angled surfaces. As this novel approach to projection is based on holography, it allows for easy miniaturisation and requires no moving parts, enabling the delivery of highly robust devices ideal for automotive and hand-held mobile applications.
Only LBO's patented technology simultaneously delivers a unique combination of features and benefits, including:
- Compact size
- Robust design with no moving parts
- Focus free operation
- Low power consumption
- Ultra-wide throw angle
- Simple, low cost manufacture
Dr Adrian Cable, LBO's co-founder and Chief Technology Officer said, "Displaytech have all the attributes needed to meet our requirements: world-class development skills, unrivalled FLCOS experience and a proven supply chain. Their fast, efficient and compact microdisplay device with integrated electronics is the ideal component for our miniature projection devices, and we're delighted to be working in partnership with them."
Displaytech's CEO, Dick Barton, said "LBO is a highly driven leading-edge technology company, with strategic goals that complement our own. We're looking forward to bringing over twenty years of experience in FLCOS technologies to this exciting new market for miniature projection devices."
Light Blue Optics' CEO, Dr Chris Harris said, "Our partnership with Displaytech builds on both companies' core competencies—LBO's command of holographic laser projection technology and Displaytech's proven track record of bringing quality, low cost microdisplays to high volume markets. We believe that this is the beginning of a highly productive, long-term relationship that will enable LBO to become the world's leading supplier of miniature projection systems."
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Notes to Editors:
Light Blue Optics (www.lightblueoptics.com)
Light Blue Optics (LBO) is a dynamic, privately-owned company, developing miniature projection systems.
LBO's patented holographic laser projection technology delivers large, full colour, high-quality video images that remain in focus at all distances. The technology's efficiency, small form factor, robustness and cost advantages make it ideally suited for deployment in multiple markets including automotive, digital signage and consumer electronics.
LBO is funded by a group of investors including 3i plc, the FTSE 100 listed global venture capital firm.
For more information, please contact:
Tamara Roukaerts
Marketing Manager, Light Blue Optics
+44 (0)1223 428525
tamara.roukaerts@lightblueoptics.com
Displaytech Inc. (www.Displaytech.com)
Displaytech, Inc. dramatically improves display-based products by providing high switching speed FLCOS as microdisplays that deliver brilliant, real-life, digital images enabling next-generation consumer electronics and storage products by providing FLCOS as a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM). Founded in 1985, Displaytech has shipped over 16-million devices to some of the world's premier consumer electronics companies including Kodak, Olympus, JVC, Hitachi, Konica Minolta-Kyocera and Hewlett-Packard. The company has over 100 granted, licensed and pending patents and has received numerous honors and awards including being ranked as one of the fastest growing technology companies in North America by Deloitte and Touche in 2005.