Encapsulation Tool deposits multi-layer ultra barrier.November 28, 2006 -
Alternating deposit of polymer smoothing/planarizing layers and ceramic barrier layer to create Barix structure, Model G200E thin-film encapsulation system is used in production of OLEDs, photovoltaics, and thin-film batteries. It consists of oxide sputtering chamber and monomer deposition/UV cure chamber connected in linear fashion; substrate is transferred back and forth to produce multi-layer structure. Tool can be connected to glove box or cluster robot via standard interface.
(Archive News Story - Products mentioned in this Archive News Story may or may not be available from the manufacturer.)
Original Press release
Vitex Systems, Inc.
3047 Orchard Parkway
San Jose, CA, 95134
USA
Vitex Unveils Latest Thin-Film Encapsulation Tool - the Guardian 200E
Low-cost Solution will Enable More Organizations to Explore Production of Thinner, Lighter, Displays and Flexible Electronics
SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 8 -- Vitex Systems, Inc., together with Advanced Neotech Systems (ANS), Pyungtaek, Korea, today unveiled a lower cost version of its proven Guardian(TM) thin-film encapsulation system, the G200E. Designed to extend the company's reach into markets where price may be a gating factor, the G200E will enable institutions, universities and industrial development groups to also explore the myriad benefits associated with Vitex's proprietary Barix(TM) encapsulation process. Based on Vitex's flagship Guardian System, the G200E can provide basic thin-thin encapsulation capabilities without sacrificing the quality and performance that has become a trademark of the Guardian platform.
Thin-film encapsulation is a fundamental technology that can be used in the production of OLEDs, photovoltaics, thin-film batteries, organic semiconductors, bio sensors, etc. Specifically, Vitex's Barix technology -- applied via the Guardian tool -- can eliminate the packaging components used within the manufacture of these devices by delivering the moisture/oxygen protection, or barrier, necessary to ensure integrity. It also offers added flexibility and enables new design opportunities. Since different applications (e.g. cell phone vs. photovoltaics) have different lifetime requirements, they require different barrier properties. Vitex's unique ability to customize its technology to address various barrier requirements opens up a number of new markets. At the same time, Vitex and ANS recognized early on that the extensive capital required for thin-film encapsulation made it difficult for some organizations, such as universities, to procure the necessary equipment needed for further research in this area. This prompted the development of the low cost G200E-thereby, expanding the company's potential customer base.
Commenting on the introduction, Vitex's Director of Sales and Marketing Chyi-Shan Suen, noted, "The goal of our latest offering is to increase the affordability of the equipment; thereby, making it available to a broader user group. With the G200E, more organizations will now be able to conduct thin- film encapsulation R&D; gain access to its inherent advantages; effectively produce prototypes; measure device performance in a more realistic environment; and ultimately, accelerate the adoption of this enabling barrier technology across multiple markets."
Vitex and ANS have worked in close collaboration since 2005, setting a significant milestone with the acceptance and delivery of a state-of-the-art Guardian system to Samsung SDI last year. The tool is currently being deployed for the research and development of next-generation OLED displays. "ANS has just signed the license agreement with Vitex last month. However, we have been working together for the past year and a half. We have learned a lot from the first system we built with Vitex," said K.B. Bae, president at ANS. "We are pleased to have this opportunity to continue to work closely with Vitex to broaden our product portfolio to expand our reach to a larger customer base."
The G200E offers many of the core features found in the cutting-edge G200. It offers the basic capabilities to deposit a multi-layer ultra barrier (alternating the deposit of polymer smoothing/planarizing layers and a ceramic barrier layer) in order to create the Barix structure. The G200E consists of two chambers, one oxide sputtering chamber and one monomer deposition/UV cure chamber, connected in a linear fashion. The substrate is transferred back and forth to produce the multi-layer structure. The tool can be connected to a glove box or other system, such as cluster robot, through a standard interface. Enhanced functionalities such as CCD alignment capability, automatic mask change capability, secondary cathode and a high-efficiency monomer confinement sub-chamber, will be offered as options on the G200E.
Barix encapsulation is a low-temperature, thin, flexible, transparent, low-stress process. Testament to its demonstrated success to date, Barix technology has already met the stringent cell phone telecommunication specifications on OLED displays at high yield. Tests have also demonstrated that the Barix process is ideal for the production of solar-cell devices. As stated earlier, the flexibility of this multi-layer barrier allows the user to adjust the structure to meet their specific requirements.
Reflecting its recent shift to a licensing and engineering services company, Vitex reports that it will no longer sell the Guardian tool direct. Rather, ANS will be responsible in marketing, manufacturing, installing and supporting the G200E-although Vitex will support ANS throughout the tool design and manufacturing. Vitex will also continue to supply and develop the materials used in the Barix encapsulation and support customers to optimize and integrate the Barix encapsulation into their various production applications.
About Vitex Systems
Vitex Systems Inc., headquartered in San Jose, Calif., licenses a proprietary encapsulation solution/process, Barix(TM), as well as tool and next-generation flexible barrier substrate, that enable the cost-effective production of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays that are lighter in weight and thickness than any other commercially available displays. Vitex's technology can also be used to address a wider array of organic optoelectronics applications. The company was incubated at Battelle Memorial Institute, the world's largest independent private non-profit research foundation, and was spun off as an independent company in 1999. For more information on Vitex Systems, visit vitexsys.com
About ANS
ANS Inc., headquartered in Pyungtaek, Korea, is a leading supplier of OLED deposition and encapsulation mass production systems. Founded in 1998, ANS delivers high quality OLED mass production machines by virtue of its core competence in areas such as efficient deposition sources, reliable shadow mask alignment, and fully automated software control systems. ANS is developing new deposition sources to achieve even better film uniformity and greater material utilization for large-size glass substrates. The deposition direction can be in any orientation in the process chamber, therefore resolving the glass and mask bending issue. For more information on ANS, visit ansinc.co.kr
Source: Vitex Systems, Inc.
CONTACT:
Chyi-Shan Suen
Vitex Systems, Inc.,
+1-408-519-4410,
csuen@vitexsys.com
Web site: http://vitexsys.com/
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