Qualcomm acquires display startup, plans advance screen technology
Recently Qualcomm has acquired the MEMS (Micro-electromechanical systems) display startup Pixtronix. However Qualcomm till now has not revealed any kind of information regarding the price paid by the company. It is however believed by EE Times that the deal was between $175 million and $200 million.
Earlier, Pixtronix was known for its low cost display technology which was based on the MEMS shutters. This would make a useful complement to Qualcomm’s own MEMS based Mirasol display technology.
With the help of a technology a high speed switching is available and is suitable for applications ranging from full speed video to the e - reader operation. Pixtronix had also claimed earlier that their display offers a greater viewing angle than even 170 degrees. They also provide more contrast ratio and 24-bit color depth and also at a cost of low power consumption from those equivalent to the size and resolution of liquid crystal displays.
Although the display has not been made available in the market yet put Pixtronix had developed diagonal display prototype with Chimei Innolux, a TFT-LCD manufacturer.
With this acquiring of the company it can be expected that now Qualcomm will be applying this technology further. They are applying this technology in some form for its MEMS based Mirasol displays, which form rudimentary tiny bi-chrome 1.2inch screen. The 5.7inch color screen featured in Kyobo’s e-reader is a Mirasol display.
These Mirasol displays excel in harnessing the light and thus can be called as saves power while using during sunlight.