TCL CSot has a new display prototype to show off which it is describing as the active-matrix Electrowetting on Dielectric (EWOD) display. Developed in partnership with Guangdong Aosu Liquid Core Micro-Nano Technology, the display is believed to be still in the early stages but seems to have a lot of potential already.

As E-ink Info stated, an electrowetting display comprises of small cells that contain transparent polar liquid-colored oil that sits on top of a hydrophobic surface. The oil filled cells sits in between the top and bottom substrate layer and can be controlled individually by the application of an electric charge to the two layers. This makes the oil to contract or expand depending on the voltage applied. This, in turn, enables it to take up a particular shape which can be images or texts and such.

The active-matrix display that TCL showed off in prototype form is based on an IGZO backplane. The 2.8-inch display has a resolution of 128 x 64 pixels. Electrowetting displays also aren’t anything new but have been there for a while now. It was first propagated by Liquavista which was later acquired by Samsung. Thereafter, it was acquired by Amazon but was shut down in 2018. It is interesting to see the technology to be back in the reckoning once again. Maybe we will soon see a tablet or even a smartphone from TCL featuring electrowetting displays in the not too distant future.