Fluidic Self Assembly For Active Matrix Displays

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Fluidic Self Assembly For Active Matrix Displays
Alien Technology Corporation
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Alien Technology Flexible Displays

• Objective Change the rules of display
  manufacturing
• Simple interface
• Reduced system complexity
• Combined display and electronics manufacturing in
  one process
• Improved reliability (fewer interconnections)
• Non-breakable plastic
• Result Reduced cost
• Approach
• Conventional silicon foundries to fab circuits
• Proprietary etching to form silicon NanoBlockTM
  ICs
• Proprietary FSA process to distribute NanoBlock
  ICs on flexible substrate
• Conventional roll-to-roll (web) display
  manufacturing
• .

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Technical Capabilities

• Proprietary, patented process to separate
  electronics fabrication from display fabrication
• Allows Alien to leverage existing foundries
• Allows Alien to design display electronics in
  single crystal silicon
• Allows Alien to drive any and all display
  materials
• Permits, for the first time, active electronics
  on plastic substrates
• 4 patents issued, 1 allowed, 22 more filed/in
  process
• Lowers display factory capital investment from
  1 billion to under 100 million
• Modular factory capacity increase (25 million
  increments)

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Technology
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Flat Display Process Flow
CMOS Wafers
Micromachine Blocks
Complete Display (standard)
FSA
Glass Panel or Plastic Panel
Generate Holes
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Manufacturing Flow
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NanoBlockTM ICs On A Dime
185 Micron NanoBlock
77 Micron NanoBlock
Photo by Ron Wilson
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Receptor formation
High Throughput Accurate Receptor Sites on
Flexible Substrate
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FSA/Web Process

• Continuous, fluid assisted in-line FSA

FSA Fluid
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Connected NanoBlockTM ICs
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NanoBlockTM IC on Flexible Substrate
Nanoblock circuit
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Display Cross Section (Concept)
Aluminum Wiring
Electro Optic Material (PDLC, LEP, OLED, etc.)
SiO2/ Polyester/ ITO
Polymer Dielectric/ Planarization Layer
Polymer-Based Flexible Substrate
Nanoblock IC
Note Not to scale
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Products
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Product Roadmap
New 2000 Production (300 Mil) (80 Mil) (105
Mil) (15 Mil) (500K)
2000 Micro Smart Cards Pagers
Cellular Phones Palm
Pilots PDA Handhelds
Personal Videos Transportation
Computers 2005 Wall-Hung Display
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Amber Display with PDLC
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First Products Smart Card Displays
Photos Courtesy GEMPLUS
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Conclusion

• Alien is not a niche manufacturer...
• Alien is going after major display markets...
• A little bigger, a little more resolution, a
  little more value-added each year...
• Alien is not inventing, but combining modern
  manufacturing with IP...
• Alien has the cost advantages, the features the
  IP protection...
• Alien has
• management experience
• sustainable advantages
• and scalable manufacturing processes
• Alien Technology.can become the next
  Intel