Consortium gives lift to flat-panel industry

The U.S. Display Consortium in San Jose, Calif., is pushing 33 projects to boost domestic manufacturing capability for flat-panel displays. These projects, which involve companies such as Polaroid of Norwood, Mass., Display Inspection Systems of Wixom, Mich., and Litton Data Systems in San Diego, seek to build the U.S. infrastructure and supply base for new process equipment, important materials, and components for flat-panel displays, says M. Robert Pinnel, the consortium`s chief technical officer. Among consortium-sponsored projects are efforts to establish an automated in-line optical films processing facility, develop advanced inspection tools with black beam interferometry technology, and develop new backlights for cockpit avionics. - J.K.