Micron acquires assets of Displaytech; gains FLCOS microdisplay technology
June 2, 2009--Micron Technology (Boise, ID), provider of memory, storage, and imaging semiconductor chips including CMOS technology, acquired the assets of Displaytech--including its ferroelectric liquid crystal on silicon (FLCOS)-based microdisplay products, technology, and intellectual property. Micron is also a partner with IMEC on its CMOS scaling program (see www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/360110).
Displaytech will now operate under the Micron name and will operate under Micron's silicon and systems business unit; however Micron will maintain the Displaytech name as a brand for the FLCOS-based products. Now as part of Micron, the Displaytech business functions will remain focused on maintaining the momentum established by the Displaytech team, while maximizing the strengths inherited as part of the Micron organization.
Displaytech's board of directors recognized in mid-2008 that in order to grow the business and introduce new products that address the emerging microdisplay markets, Displaytech needed to become a global company. While looking to engage with a global company, Micron was also looking to deliver new and differentiated product categories that leverage its expertise in semiconductor research and design. Micron's global presence and its extensive R&D in memory design strongly aligned with Displaytech's business needs, helping to position Displaytech as a leader in the emerging microdisplay markets.
The acquisition is part of Micron's broader strategy of delivering differentiated products that leverage its expertise in semiconductor research and design. Displaytech's FLCOS technology provides a great opportunity for R&D synergies. FLCOS technology leverages the CMOS process technology--which Micron has a long history of expertise with.
With more than 21 million microdisplays shipped in the market, Displaytech's FLCOS technology is being used across a wide variety of consumer products including electronic viewfinders for digital cameras and camcorders, as well as pico projectors.
For more information, go to www.micron.com.
--Posted by Gail Overton, [email protected]; www.laserfocusworld.com.