3M Invests in Pixel Qi to Improve Sunlight Readable LCD Displays

3M and Pixel Qi have just announced that the two companies have entered into an agreement that will enable the latter to introduce its sunlight readable LCD display technology in volume consumer markets as well as digital signage and touch applications.

In order to achieve this goal, 3M will invest an undisclosed sum in Pixel Qi to strengthen the company's engineering and sales capabilities.

Pixel Qi displays have been used in a limited amount of products, such as the Notion Ink Adam, the OLPC XO notebook and some recently announced products by Sol Computers, and are designed to improve legibility in direct sunlight.

They do this by carrying a special reflective mode that uses some of the light the LCD panel is exposed to for providing backlighting to the images shown on screen and can improve both the legibility of the displays, when exposed to high ambient lighting environments, as well as their power consumption.

"Pixel Qi's full-function color screen technology, for the first time, gives consumers an outdoor-readable video display with exceptional battery life, usable anywhere, anytime,” said Mary Lou Jepsen, co-founder and CEO of Pixel Qi.

“It's a first in the industry. In our collaboration with 3M, we have the ability to accelerate this into mass adoption," concluded the company's rep.

The agreement between 3M and Pixel Qi will also allow the latter to improve the technology included in its displays as 3M’s Optical Systems Division is well for its specialized films used inside liquid crystal panels to optimize the light throughput.

“By addressing the energy consumption and sunlight readability challenges in one package, Pixel Qi provides a ground-breaking solution for the next generation of displays,” said Jim Bauman, vice president, 3M Optical Systems Division.

“The combination of Pixel Qi's low energy, reflective display technology with 3M's innovative technologies will create exciting products for the mobile, handheld, tablet and other display markets," continued Mr. Bauman. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed by the two companies.