From scivw@u.washington.edu Thu Oct 20 14:08:36 1994 Return-Path: Received: by stein1.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW94.4/UW-NDC Revision: 2.30 ) id AA09901; Thu, 20 Oct 94 14:08:36 -0700 X-Sender: scivw@stein1.u.washington.edu Date: Thu, 20 Oct 1994 14:08:36 -0700 (PDT) From: "Sci.Virtual-Worlds" To: "Sci.Virtual-Worlds" Subject: Sarnoff display spinoff (fwd) Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: OR Mail*Link( Remote DSRC and IN FOCUS Subject: Time:1:04 AM OFFICE MEMO DSRC and IN FOCUS Date:10/13/94 PRINCETON, N.J., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The David Sarnoff Research Center and In Focus Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: INFS) (Wilsonville, Ore.) announced today that they have formed a new company to domestically produce and commercialize polysilicon active-matrix flat panel displays and projection systems. The new company, which is called Sarif, Inc., will be headed by Steven R. Hix, formerly of In Focus Systems, who will serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. At Sarif's heart is the active-matrix polysilicon technology that the Sarnoff Center has researched and developed over the last ten years with more than $35 million, including funding from the U.S. Government's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), the Wright Aeronautical Laboratory, the National Information Display Laboratory and a number of private companies. The Sarif polysilicon displays will be smaller, higher resolution and brighter than other silicon active-matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) being produced today. "Sarnoff Labs invented LCDs in the 1960s," said James E. Carnes, President and CEO of the David Sarnoff Research Center. "Our strategic vision is to commercialize important technologies, and we are proud to participate in the formation of Sarif, the first commercialization of polysilicon AMLCDs in the U.S." The Sarnoff Center is contributing its patents and trade secrets regarding polysilicon active-matrix LCDs and polysilicon manufacturing processes and techniques to the new company. Sarif's initial product will be a small, highly transmissive, high-resolution color "image engine" for use in projection systems. This market is being fueled by the growing application of multimedia in business and education. The Sarif polysilicon active-matrix displays will also be used in head-mounted displays for industrial and commercial applications. Sarif expects to have production samples of the image engine by late 1995 and reach volume production early in 1996. The Sarif technology takes advantage of existing low-cost manufacturing capacity readily available on domestic IC fabrication lines and avoids the $300-500 million capital expense of setting up an LCD manufacturing plant. According to Hix, Chairman and CEO of Sarif, "By beginning our manufacturing in an existing, proven production environment, we can achieve rapid yield growth, high-performance products and a fast road to low-cost volume manufacturing. "Working with one of Sarnoff's commercial semiconductor partners, we've already successfully produced test displays using quartz wafers on a standard CMOS production line," Hix continued. Sarif has identified several domestic IC facilities that can meet its needs and produce its displays. Hix, 56, who co-founded In Focus Systems and pioneered the $800-million LCD projection market, has stepped down from his role as chairman of the board of In Focus Systems to devote his attention and energy to the new company. "In Focus Systems is pleased to be the initial investor and have a minority interest in Sarif," said John V. Harker, President and CEO of In Focus Systems. "We develop and distribute the industry's broadest set of LCD projection systems and services to facilitate more effective presentations, interactive workgroup communications and classroom education. Having access to the Sarif technology is a key step in our strategy to expand the applications of our LCD projection products and increase our market and technology leadership," Harker added. Dr. Curt Carlson, Vice President of Sarnoff's Information Systems Research Division, the laboratory that developed the polysilicon technology, said that "superior performance coupled with low-cost manufacturability make polysilicon the next-generation display technology, which will impact a wide array of important markets. Sarif has tremendous potential as the vehicle for commercializing polysilicon display technology." The In Focus Systems investment in Sarif will be augmented by continuing funds from ARPA as well as additional funds from corporate and private investors. In the future, Sarif will be able to enlarge the substrate size, allowing the fabrication of more displays on each plate processed. In addition, Sarif intends to pursue other matching funds being awarded through the government's flat panel initiative to encourage domestic manufacture of flat panel displays. The David Sarnoff Research Center, a subsidiary of SRI International, conducts research in consumer electronics, solid state physics, materials science and communications. Sarnoff's expertise includes HDTV, CCD imagers, digital imaging, and interactive systems. Sarnoff continues to work with display companies and the U.S. Government to develop new, innovative display systems. In Focus Systems, Inc. is the leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing projection products and services using LCD technology to present video, audio, graphics and data from personal computers and other electronic devices. The company's headquarters are located at 27700B S.W. Parkway Avenue, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-9215; phone 503-685-8888. CONTACT: Sharon VanSickle, Principal of KVO Public Relations, 503-221-1551, for In Focus Systems; or Heidi Flannery, President of Fi.Comm, 503-221-7407, for In Focus Systems; or Cynthia Gray, Media Relations Manager of the David Sarnoff Research Center, 609-734-3038/(INFS) CO: David Sarnoff Research Center; In Focus Systems Inc.; Sarif Inc. ST: New Jersey, Oregon IN: CPR SU: