Rollable displays at IFA 2005

Philips will demonstrate rollable displays for use in the mobile devices at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin, Germany, which opens tomorrow.

The Readius is the world's first prototype of a functional electronic-document reader that can unroll its display to a scale larger than the device itself. With four grey levels, the monochrome, 5-inch QVGA (320 pixels x 240 pixels) display provides paper-like viewing comfort with a high contrast ratio for reading-intensive applications, including text, graphics, and electronic maps. Using a bi-stable electrophoretic display effect from E Ink Corp., the display consumes little power and is easy to read, even in bright daylight. Once the user has finished reading, the display can be rolled back into the pocket-size (100 mm x 60 mm x 20 mm) device.

Philips does not intend to commercialise this concept as a product in the market. Instead, it is demonstrating the fitness of its rollable displays for use in the mobile devices of tomorrow.

Along with Deutsche Telekom AG, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Philips is one of the 1189 exhibitors of this year's IFA (2 - 7 Sept.). The number of exhibitors has risen 15 per cent compared with the last event in 2003. Intel, the world's largest semiconductor manufacturer, is taking over an entire hall (7.2) for its display of outstanding products for information technology, networking and communications.

Ingram Micro is launching its V7-Videoseven brand for LCD televisions in Hall 1.2. Canon is returning to the Berlin Exhibition Grounds after an absence of several years, with the latest in digital imaging on an outdoor display covering some 1,400 m(2).