Qualcomm's MEMS display gains e-reader design win

LONDON — Qualcomm Corp. has shown off a 5.3-inch full-color non-volatile MEMS-based display and claims a slightly larger version, with a 5.7-inch diagonal size, will be found in an e-reader product to deploy in fall 2010. The display features 1,024 by 768 pixel resolution and around 220 pixels per inch.

"We have a brand partner for the e-reader space to be announced in the first quarter of 2010," said Cheryl Goodman, director of marketing for Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, speaking at Qualcomm press day held in London.

The Mirasol technology, which Qualcomm (San Diego, Calif.) acquired in 2004, does not require a back-light and is reflective, making use of ambient light.

The technology is based on a MEMS structure combined with thin film optics to create interferometric modulation. The color display is thin and bi-stable so that power is only consumed when changing the status of display. This is a boon for e-reader type products where it can achieve great power savings. The display technology is also capable of running video at 30-frame per second.

In the past Qualcomm has provided 3G wireless modems to Amazon for use in the Kindle wireless reading device. Qualcomm announced an agreement with LG Electronics Inc. to begin the development of Mirasol-enabled handsets, in February 2009.

The Mirasol technology is in use in some cell phone products but only as monochrome and small displays.

Qualcomm has a dedicated display fabrication plant in the Lungtan Science Park in Taoyuan, Taiwan, that us operated on behalf of Qualcomm by Taiwan's Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co. Ltd.

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