Business and technology briefs

24 Jul 2002

Xybernaut raises $5m of equity capital

Xybernaut Corporation has raised more than $5m in capital through a $4m private placement of common stock with institutional investors and an exercise of approximately $1m of previously issued warrants. Xybernaut also announced that discussions were well advanced on an alliance with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop, manufacture and sell Xybernaut wearable computer products.

CDT wins grant to develop polymer-based solar cells

Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) has been awarded a grant from the UK Department of Trade and Industry for plastic solar cell R&D. Polymer solar cells have a very similar device structure to CDT's light-emitting polymer (LEP) displays. Whereas LEP displays emit light when an electrical charge is applied, CDT researchers have been able to reverse the process and generate electricity when light shines on a polymer-based cell.

Dow increases OLED production capacity

Dow Chemical's Advanced Electronic Materials business is increasing its production of polymer OLEDs. The first phase will be completed during Q4 of 2002 and construction of the final phase of the expansion will take place later this year with production by Q3 of 2003. The first commercial grades of red and green Dow polymers are now available and the company expects to commercialize a blue material by the end of the year.

Three-Five Systems invests in ColorLink

Three-Five Systems of Tempe, Arizona, has invested $5m in ColorLink, a manufacturer of color management technologies for liquid-crystal-on-silicon microdisplays based in Boulder, Colorado. Three-Five has also announced a licensing and development agreement with Advanced Digital Optics to produce a low-cost, compact light engine. In the past, Three-Five has focused on selling only the microdisplay components on which the light engine is based. Under this agreement, it will now also market the complete light engine to television and monitor manufacturers.

SGI and Nokia to work on 3D mobile standard

Silicon Graphics Inc and Nokia have signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of a 3D standard suitable for all embedded mobile terminals based on the OpenGL graphics standard.

TPV plans new LCD plant in China

TPV Technology, the second-largest producer of PC monitors in the world, has announced it is to invest $20m in a new LCD production plant on mainland China. This will raise the company's production capacity from 3.5 million units to 8 million by 2004.

Global Display expands into the Far East

Global Display Solutions (GDS) has acquired Taiwan-based Fair Electronics for £1m. Fair is a manufacturer of LCD and CRT display monitors and will give GDS a foothold in the Far East.