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FlexTech News
PD-LD Inc. Achieves Three-Fold Improvement in Enhancement of Holographic Glass for Projection Displays
Aug 20, 2008
The FlexTech Alliance (formerly known as the U.S. Display Consortium, or USDC), the only organization headquartered in North America devoted to developing the electronic display and the flexible, printed electronics supply chain, today announced completion of a program for improved laser illuminators for projection displays. PD-LD Inc., through a $504,000 contract from the FlexTech Alliance, recently delivered sample Volume Bragg Grating ® (VBG ®) elements, which will allow for efficient and stable conversion of infrared light into visible light. Currently, laser illuminators need a high-efficiency output coupler to control light wavelength and bandwidth. Headquartered in Pennington, N.J., PD-LD is a collection of world-class optical experts, expertly suited to satisfy customer requirements.
PD-LD’s approach to achieving higher efficiency was based on developing improved VBGs with higher transparency in the red, green and blue, coupled with higher reflectivity in the near infrared (NIR). This was accomplished by enhancing the quality of the glass used for production of VBG elements. The improved glass led to overall increased power of the laser illuminator. “Before we could form the Bragg grating, a number of physical changes had to occur, such as a controlled nano-cluster formation of metallic silver growth of sodium fluoride on the clusters,” revealed Dr. Boris Volodin, R&D director at PD-LD . The 3X improvement in holographic glasses makes them sufficient for the most demanding display applications. The unique VBG was originally developed by PD-LD in 2000.
“During the course of this project, PD-LD conducted extensive research into methods for improving the performance of holographic glasses,” stated the FlexTech Alliance’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Mark Hartney. “The FlexTech Alliance’s Technical Council is very pleased to see that improvements in the glass performance are possible, and that the material is ready to be replicated and produced in volume. PD-LD met the highest level set in the beginning of the project as a result of the significant improvements in the glass.”
The FlexTech Alliance program is a collaborative effort of private industry and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, located in Adelphi, MD.
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