CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, March 27, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) (Nasdaq:OLED) and Sumation(r) are pleased to announce new growth in lifetime metrics for red, green, blue, and white P-OLED materials.
Data results from spin coated devices using a common cathode and solution processable materials developed in 2006 demonstrate that lifetimes(a) of 24,000, 35,000, 10,000, and 5,200 hours for red, green, blue, and white, respectively, have been achieved from an initial luminance of 1000 candelas per square meter, or cd/sq.m. This is equivalent(b) to over 150,000, 198,000, 62,000, and 27,000 hours from an operating brightness of 400cd/sq.m for these materials.
The latest figures represent a 5x, 11x, 6x, and 5x improvement for red, green, blue and white materials, respectively, compared to lifetimes reported at the end of 2005. In the case of blue, lifetime has been increased by 2.5x in the short time since the last announcement in November 2006.
David Fyfe, chief executive officer of CDT commented, "Since establishing the Sumation joint venture with Sumitomo in late 2005 we have achieved rapid progress in P-OLED material lifetimes, a critical component to commercial adoption. Given the results we have achieved, it now makes sense for us to quote lifetime data from 1000 cd/sq.m, as is becoming standard in the OLED industry. At current lifetime levels, P-OLED technology could meet the requirements for micro and small displays."
Dr Susumu Miyazaki, chief executive officer of Sumation added, "We're very pleased with the progress we have made in increasing P-OLED lifetimes and are currently proceeding with production ramp-up of these materials. Commercial quantities of materials will be available to our customers in the near future."
Notes to editors:
(a) When 'lifetime' is discussed here, it refers to the time taken
for the display/pixel to fall to half its initial stated
luminance. Lifetime estimates are based on accelerated testing
of simple test devices at several very high initial luminance
levels, and use of these data to calculate predicted lifetimes
at lower brightness levels. Translation of this single pixel
data into performance in a full colour display system depends on
a number of factors and requires a complex calculation and
knowledge of the precise system design parameters such as
aperture ratio, brightness, ink formulation and relative pixel
areas.
(b) Acceleration factors to convert lifetime from one brightness to
another have been determined for red, green and blue materials
using various initial luminances between 6000 cd/sq.m and 800
cd/sq.m and found to be equal to 2, 1.9, and 2 for red, green
and blue, respectively. These acceleration factors were used to
predict lifetimes at 400 cd/sq.m. It should be noted that due to
the long lifetimes at 400 cd/sq.m, lifetime predictions at this
brightness are susceptible to greater errors than the lifetimes
quoted at 1,000 cd/sq.m.
About CDT
Cambridge Display Technology is a pioneer in the development of polymer organic light emitting diodes (P-OLEDs) and their use in a wide range of electronic display products used for information management, communications and entertainment. P-OLEDs are part of the family of OLEDs, which are thin, lightweight and power efficient devices that emit light when an electric current flows. P-OLEDs offer an enhanced visual experience and superior performance characteristics compared with other flat panel display technologies such as liquid crystal displays, and have the key advantage that they can be applied in solution using printing processes. Founded in 1992, the company is headquartered in Cambridge, UK and listed on the US NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol 'OLED'. In 2005, CDT and Sumitomo Chemical established a joint venture called Sumation(r) which develops, manufactures and sells P-OLED materials to the display industry. More information on CDT can be found at: www.cdtltd.co.uk
About Sumation
Sumation is a 50:50 joint venture between Cambridge Display Technology Ltd. and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. Sumation was formed in November of 2005 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Sumation develops, manufactures and sells P-OLED materials to the display and lighting industry. More information on Sumation can be found at: www.sumation.co.uk
Safe Harbor
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" and their presence may be indicated by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "seek," "will" and "may," as well as the negative thereof and similar expressions. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Cambridge Display Technology, Inc. and its subsidiaries will be those anticipated by management. Among the factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from expectations or estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements are the following: the outcomes of the Company's ongoing and future research and development activities, as well as those of its licensees; the Company's ability to form and continue strategic relationships with manufacturers of P-OLED materials and displays; the successful commercialization of products that include the Company's P-OLED, Total Matrix Addressing (TMA) or related technologies by its licensees; the willingness of the Company's manufacturers and licensees to continue to develop, manufacture and sell commercial products integrating the Company's technology; the future demand for products using the Company's P-OLED, TMA or related technologies; the comparative advantages and disadvantages of any competing technologies; the Company's ability to maintain and improve its competitive position following the expiration of its fundamental patents; the adequacy of protections afforded to the Company by the patents that it owns or licenses and the cost to the Company of enforcing these patents; the Company's ability to obtain, expand and maintain patent protection in the future and to protect its unpatentable intellectual property; developments in and expenses associated with settling or otherwise resolving matters currently in litigation, including an outstanding judgment against one of our subsidiaries; and the Company's future capital requirements and its ability to obtain additional financing when needed. Readers should also consider the additional factors described under the captions "Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's 10-K and 10-Q reports filed with the SEC. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.