September 14, 2006 – Vitex Systems Inc., San Jose, CA, a developer of equipment and films used for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, says it has sold a license agreement for its proprietary “Flexible Glass” technology to an unnamed optical films manufacturer.
The company’s Flexible Glass engineered substrate is created by coating a thin-film barrier (branded as “Barix”) directly onto a continuous roll of transparent, plastic base film, using roll-to-roll processing techniques. It provides an ultrahigh barrier for flexible OLED displays and organic optoelectronics applications such as photovoltaics and solid-state lighting, but could also provide bendable or flexible substrates for electronic devices, making them up to 50%-90% thinner and more lightweight, according to the company.
Earlier this year, Vitex changed its business model away from manufacturing, to focus on licensing IP for its thin-film encapsulation technology, including a monomer condensation and ceramic deposition system (named “Guardian”) to deposit alternating layers of polymer and ceramic films (called “Barix”). The move also prompted the closure of Vitex’s Windsor, CT pilot production facility, where it had manufactured the Flexible Glass technology.
Vitex director of sales and marketing, Chyi-Shan Suen, noted that the company also recently won an volume-production order for its Guardian G200 thin-film encapsulation system, utilizing monomer condensation and ceramic deposition. “This marks a big endorsement surrounding Vitex’s core competencies, and demonstrates the growing interest toward our new licensing business model,” he stated.