[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Liquid_Fiber1.jpg” caption=”Lori Diamond, director of MUSC, Cristian Nunez and Nimesh Bahl, both from Liquid Fiber Displays, stand in front of the new fiber optic sign in the MUSC. Below, Adrian Kitai, a professor in both the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, and Engineering Physics, holds a four-inch square light module used in the sign. Photos by Susan Bubak.”]Students and event organizers at McMaster will have a new, high-profile way to promote activities across campus starting this month.

An innovative electronic display billboard, based on optical fiber technology developed in the Faculty of Engineering, has been installed above the main-floor elevators in the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC).

In addition to events, the sign will also be used to post campus announcements such as storm cancellations and schedule changes.

Installation of the 13″ high x 70″ long (480 x 90 pixel) animated electronic sign that displays text and graphics is the result of a win-win collaboration between an enterprise team from the Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation program and MUSC, with the support of several others at McMaster.

“We've wanted to install an electronic display sign in the Student Centre for some time,” said Lori Diamond, director of the McMaster University Students Centre. “But everything we looked at was too expensive or required outside advertising. Then we were told about a group from the engineering entrepreneurship program that was commercializing a new type of display technology and looking for a place to test the prototype. We met and the rest just took off from there.”

Adrian Kitai, a professor in both the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, and Engineering Physics, has developed a technology that combines a uniquely woven optical fiber array with current LCD (liquid crystal display) and LED (light-emitting diode) display sign technology. The hair-thin optical fibers replace over 90 per cent of the blue, green and red LEDs required by conventional LED displays.

The result is a high-resolution, high-brightness light module approximately four inches square with excellent colour reproduction capability. And at a significantly lower cost to manufacture and operate. LEDs are expensive components accounting for 70 to 80 per cent of sign costs.

The light module also provides for a seamless appearance when fitted together to create larger displays. The display sign in the Student Centre is made up of four panels connected horizontally. Each panel is made up of 12 of the four-inch modules.

Seeing the potential benefits of the technology, Kitai applied for and received an NSERC Idea-to-Innovation award for $117,000 to fund the development of this prototype. He also made it available to the Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation as a student commercialization project.

Nimesh Bahl, a part-time master's student in the program, with a B.A.Sc. in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto, took up the challenge. He was soon joined by Cristian Nunez, who holds a B.Sc. Honours in industrial engineering from Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico.

“From a technical perspective, I knew the technology offered many benefits over current display sign technology,” explains Kitai. “But I had limited knowledge about commercialization. So, I turned to the entrepreneurship program, which was quite new at the time, and they made it available to any student who wanted to take it through their commercialization process.”

Kitai, Nunez and Bahl formed a company called Liquid Fiber Displays Inc. They are currently developing a go-to-market strategy and fine tuning the technology. The Student Centre installation was an ideal opportunity to test and fine-tune their prototype.

“We were looking for a partner to work with us so that we could test the concept in a real-world environment,” explains Nunez. “Getting a partner like this on board is probably one of the toughest things to do for a start-up. But when we learned about the Student Centre opportunity, we jumped at it. What could be better than collaborating right here on campus?”

The connection between the Liquid Fiber Displays team and MUSC was made by Gay Yuyitung, industrial liaison manager in the Office of Research Contracts and Intellectual Property. In working with Kitai to prepare his NSERC application and file for patent protection of the technology, she heard about the needs of the MUSC. She suggested that the two groups meet.

Once the two groups were connected, MUSC took over. They contacted Physical Plant and began working out the logistics of where and how to install the display. Physical Plant created the wood frame to house the light panels and anchored it to the wall. They also installed the necessary wiring to power the display and link it to a computer. The project also involved Jane Bi, David Hummel, Yingwei Xiang and Julia Zhu.

Cristian developed the initial animation for the display sign and has set up the computer system. He will train personnel from MUSC to update messages on an ongoing basis, either wirelessly or from a personal computer.

Currently, the display is best viewed looking at it straight on. However, Liquid Fiber Displays is planning to add diffusers to widen viewing angles. They are also working to upgrade the computer software so that the sign can run video. And the look of the module housing will also be modified.

Liquid Fiber Displays is planning to market the display for use in any indoor public space where signage is used such as convention centres, airports, schools, sports facilities and shopping malls.

So look out Jumbotron. Giving campus events the Hollywood treatment is just the start for some new and promising technology developed thanks to McMaster innovation and collaboration.