Rambus acquires Uni-Pixel backlighting display IP

SEATTLE — Rambus has acquired a portion of Uni-Pixel's intellectual property portfolio relating to dynamic backlighting, field sequential color displays, and Time Multiplexed Optical Shutter display technology for $2.25 million.

In addition, Uni-Pixel has entered into an engineering services agreement with Rambus for future collaboration and technology development.

Backlight technology based on TMOS display technology can be applied to current LCD display panels to create a more efficient and cost-effective device.

TMOS can potentially lower the LCD bill-of-materials and manufacturing costs by as much as 40-60 percent, while improving display performance and power characteristics, according to Uni-Pixel.

"The alignment with Rambus leverages strong business and technical synergies around the licensing, development and manufacturing of advanced micro-optics, backlight systems and display technologies," said Reed Killion, president and CEO of Uni-Pixel, in a statement.

"This acquisition recognizes the significant contributions Uni-Pixel’s innovative technology can make to our solutions for LCD displays" said Jeff Parker, senior vice president of the Lighting and Display Technology group at Rambus.

Uni-Pixel’s business model was to license the TMOS display and backlight technology to existing panel and backlight manufacturers.

It will continue to supply current and future licensees with what it calls Clearly Superior Performance Engineered Film.

Uni-Pixel is presenting a paper at the Society for Information Display here this week detailing a film printing process that does not rely on the use of lithography or etch steps.

Rambus's Marc McConnaughey, Vice President of Strategic Development, is on a SID panel discussing "The Future of Lighting & Backlighting."