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mirasol ®
Displays A micron-sized innovation goes a long way
mirasol ® Displays’ Key Technology Facts
Inspired by Nature
n mirasol displays mimic color producing phenomena
found in nature.
n Nature’s efficient use of light in butterfly wings, sea shells,
peacock feathers, all use interferometric modulation (IMOD),
the technology behind mirasol displays.
Reflective and Bistable (Low Power)
n Harnessing ambient light instead of generating light saves
substantial power and offers viewing in brightambient
conditions.
n mirasol display’s bistability allows an image to be held on the
screen with near zero power consumption.
Building Blocks
n mirasol displays are built using two conductive plates and a
thin film stack. Incident light is reflected in the air gap
between the two plates.
n Depending upon the size of the gap incident light is
manipulated such that specific wavelengths are reflected to
the eye and seen as the desired color.
n By using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS),
Qualcomm MEMS Technologies can make each subpixel
a very small mechanical system and replicate the subpixel
systems to create a display.
Everything an e-reader Display Should Be
n Most display technologies struggle to deliver all these benefits
in a single device.
n Color – mirasol displays generate color via IMOD technology.
n Video – mirasol displays delivers rapid refresh rates, up to 30 fps.
n Low Power – users of e-readers expect a low power display.
mirasol displays can accommodate color and video without
sacrificing power, a challenge for other e-reader displays.
n Sunlight Readability – e-reader users demand outdoor
viewing and reflective displays like mirasol fit the bill.
Key Benefits of mirasol ® Displays
The Future of e-Reader Displays
n Beautiful color, fast paced video, visibility in direct sunlight
and longer battery lives - on their own, each is an attractive
quality. Brought together, it is unlike anything available today -
an exciting mix that promises rich, multimedia experiences.
Power Savings
n Significant savings compared to existing display technologies.
Extended Usage Time
n Reducing the energy consumption of the display module –
one of the largest consumers of energy in a mobile device –
directly increases the usage time between battery charges.
Outdoor Viewable
n mirasol displays are bright and clear, even in bright sunlight,
because they are reflective.
Green
n Global adoption would result in 94% less CO2 emissions,
58 fewer recharge cycles per handset resulting in a 33%
extension in battery life – a 12,000 ton reduction of Lithium
Ion batteries into landfills per year.*
Recent Awards
mirasol displays have garnered multiple awards for innovation
and specific products, including:
The Wall Street Journal 2009
Technology Innovation Award
Winner Semiconductor Category
Frost & Sullivan Design Innovation
Award Winner North American MEMS
Display Innovation of the Year
2009 Andrew Seybold Choice Award
Winner Most Innovative Mobile
Technology, 0.9” mirasol ® Color Display
Qualcomm MEMS Technologies
mirasol Fabrication Plant
A dedicated mirasol® display fabrication plant in the Longtan
Science Park in Taoyuan,Taiwan has commenced operations.
The Qualcomm facility is the result of a strategic
collaboration with Foxlink. Foxlink plays an integral role in
the operation of the mirasol fabrication facility, which is
dedicated to manufacturing mirasol displays on generation
4.5 glass. Foxlink, one of the world’s leading makers of
communications devices, computers and consumer
electronics for multiple Fortune 500 companies, will
leverage its extensive manufacturing experience to
provide the day-to-day operations of the mirasol plant.
Qualcomm MEMS Technologies gets extensive
knowledge of this emerging technology and its process
engineering expertise from QMT’s dedicated teams in Taiwan
and from the state-of-the-art Qualcomm MEMS Research and
Innovation Center (MRIC) laboratory in San Jose, California.
Both teams drive the development and commercialization of
mirasol display technology and products.
GSMA Global Mobile Award 2009 Finalist
Best Mobile Technology Breakthrough
2008 EDN Innovation Awards Winner
Embedded Technology
2009 CE Innovative Design and
Engineering Award Honoree
Enabling Technologies,
0.9” mirasol ® Color Display.
*For full information on the green benefits of mirasol displays, please see
white paper by Pike Research at http://www.mirasoldisplays.com/green