Kyoto University and Mitsubishi Chemical start license program of CNF related patents

Kyoto University and Mitsubishi Chemical announced to start license program of CNF (Cellulose Nano Fiber) related patents.

CNF is a plant fiber Nanosize material. It has features such as light weight, superior strength, and etc. Therefore, a lot of enterprises and R&D organization are researching and developing this material for practical use.

SCREEN Launches Spin-Off to Promote PCB-Related Equipment Business

SCREEN Holdings has been making preparations to spin off its print circuit board (PCB) related equipment business from SCREEN Graphic and Precision Solutions, a core member of the SCREEN Group. On October 28, 2016, it established a preparatory subsidiary in connection with a company split for this purpose. Procedures for the succession have recently been completed, and SCREEN is pleased to announce that the new company will begin operations on April 1, 2017 as a stand-alone entity under the name SCREEN PE Solutions (SCREEN PE).

Mitsubishi Electric to Expand Lineup of Tough Series TFT-LCD Modules

Mitsubishi Electric announced the coming launch of a new Tough Series TFT-LCD modules-a WVGA model for wide-ranging applications in construction, agricultural vehicles, factories and more. The module comes in 7.0-inch and 8.0-inch versions and features vibration resistance up to 6.8Gs seven times that of conventional modules-an, operating temperature range of -40 to 85 degrees Celsius, and an unprecedented combination of super-wide 170-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles. Sample sales will begin March 31 worldwide.

Japan Display Announces Development of High-Transmittance Color Transparent Display

Japan Display (JDI) announced the development of a 4-inch high-transmittance (80%) color transparent display. The newly-developed display will be demonstrated in a mobile gadget prototype which NTT and Panasonic have been developing collaboratively. JDI is targeting to start mass production of this new display in 2018 fiscal year or later.

The newly-developed display achieves a high transmittance level of 80%, nearly 1.8 times higher than conventional transparent OLED, by applying JDI's new technology that permits the removal of the usual color filter and polarizer layers. The new high transmittance display allows viewers to see the background image and the displayed foreground image clearly and contemporaneously, thereby enabling Augmented Reality (AR) applications in which superimposed images can be easily blended with the background as seen through the display. By fully utilizing this unique, attractive technology, displays can be developed for new applications, such as shop windows, education tools, automotive, etc.

Ube Industries Licenses Future Ink to Begin Providing Samples of N-Type Organic Semiconductor for Printed Organic Integrated Circuits

Ube Industries announced that it has reached a licensing agreement with Future Ink, a start-up launched from Yamagata University, concerning an n-type organic semiconductor material that is soluble in organic solvents. Future Ink will begin providing samples of the n-type organic semiconductor material for a fee in April 2017.

The n-type organic semiconductor material is stable for a long time in air and can be deposited from its solutions. The material achieves a high electron mobility of 3 cm²/V･s or more in transistors, making it highly suitable for this application. This material is suitable for printing device, such as IoT and wearable sensing, RFID tags and displays.

Sharp dissolves joint venture company of CF maker for TFT-LCD

Sharp announced that it has decided to dissolve SD Future Technology (SDFT), a subsidiary of Sharp and a joint venture company with Dai Nippon Printing.

Sharp established SDFT in 2006 as a joint venture company with Dai Nippon Printing, for the purpose of the development of the color filter for the liquid crystal display panel and the transfer of the developed technology to the production line. Sharp judged that the original purpose has now been achieved, it has decided to dissolve SDFT.

Sumitomo Metal Mining Agreement with Jih Lin Technology on Sale of Lead Frame Business Companies

Sumitomo Metal Mining (SMM) and Jih Lin Technology (Taiwan) have reached a basic agreement on the sale of three lead frame manufacturing subsidiaries held by SMM through wholly-owned subsidiary SH Materials to Jih Lin Technology.

SMM has decided to withdraw from the business as announced on November, 2016. In this time, an agreement was reached on the sale of Suzhou SH Precision (Suzhou, China), Malaysian SH Precision (Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia) and SH Precision (Yonezawa-shi, Yamagata) shares, and a legally binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) was concluded on February 7. The sale is expected to take place no later than the end of June 2017.