Planar Adds U.S. Facility
Planar Systems will add a new in-house facility to provide optical bonding of TFT displays.
Beaverton, Ore.-based Planar Systems will add a new in-house facility to provide optical bonding of TFT displays. The facility will include ISO 9001-quality systems, MIL-spec and FDA-level standards, extensive in-house optical test verification capabilities, a Class 10,000 certified clean room, and other environmental controls.
TFT displays are traditionally mounted with protective cover glass or touch screens, adding layers that can create reflections, glare, and image distortion. Optical bonding uses a silicone or urethane adhesive instead to add the cover glass or touch screen.
“For touch applications, TFT LCDs benefit from optical bonding for many reasons. For example, because this technology allows more light to pass through than conventional overlays, the backlight does not have to be improved to compensate for the loss of brightness,” said John Jacobs, director of Notebook Market Research, DisplaySearch. “Planar’s optical bonding may save TFT LCD manufacturing costs or offer more brightness with the same costs.”
“With nearly 25 years of experience manufacturing high performance flat-panel solutions and along with its new state-of-the-art capability and 2,500-square-foot clean room facility, Planar s uniquely positioned to supply custom bonding services that are differentiated from the small, boutique vendors,” said Doug Barnes, vice president and general manager of Planar’s Industrial Business Unit.
