Financial

PVI will triple its E Ink film and back-end modules capacity by the end of 2010 (in a $1.5 million investment). Their chairman says that global e-reader sales may exceed 10 million in 2010. Over 50 new vendors are expected to launch e-readers this year.

Via E-Reader-Info

TI has collaborated with E Ink to create new chips for E Ink e-readers. The new chips integrate E Ink's e-paper displays with TI power management ICs and OMAP 3 processors - in the world's first power management integrated circuit for E Ink displays. TI has also developed a new software-based display controller.

The companies says that this will result in smaller silicon footprint and cheaper hardware that are more energy efficient than before.

PVI has signed a deal with LG Display, which will be able to make E Ink based panels. LG Displays has invested (in bonds) around $30 million in Hydis, PVI's subsidiary.

Via the Financial Times

Toppan Printing has developed and prototyped a new solution-processed TFT using transparent amorphous oxide semiconductor and a low-temperature manufacturing process. Toppan is using this to drive a flexible e-paper - they say that the new technology will enable cheap, light weight and flexible e-papers. 

Toppan is showing a 2" x 2" prototype, with a 80x60 resolution. The TFT substrate is made of glass, and the semiconductor material is a transparent amorphous oxide semiconductor.

Via Tech-On

Digitimes reports that PVI's board has approved E Ink's acquisition, which should be completed by the end of 2009.

Marvell said it has teamed up with E Ink to create an integrated application processor. E-readers based on the technology are expected to hit the market in the first quarter of 2010.

The first devices include the already announced enTourage Edge, a combination e-reader and netbook; the Alex reader from Spring Design, and an offering from Plastic Logic.

Marvell's platform is based on its new Armada family of processors, announced last month.

The company is also partnering with FirstPaper, which is backed by media giant Hearst Corp, for content and graphics technology.

Weili Dai, Marvell's co-founder and general manager of its consumer and computing business unit, estimated the entry level price point of a e-reader based on the Marvell platform at roughly $150 -- cheaper than devices currently on the market, which range upward from $199.

PVI has turned a profit of almost $2M US in the third quarter of 2009. E-Paper products are over 50% of PVI's total revenue (which are over $125M).

PVI has also disclosed the latest term for its acquisition of E-Ink, with 0.0772 PVI share exchanging for one E-Ink share.

Via Digitimes