Pelikon

Pelikon Limited, established in September 2000 by Richard Blakesley and Chris Barnardo, carved a niche in the advanced display market. The venture was initially supported by financing from Advent Venture Partners. A significant development occurred in 2001 when the advanced displays team from Cambridge Consultants Ltd. (CCL), a firm known for spinning out successful technology companies, joined Pelikon. This merger of talent and technology was pivotal in pioneering the development of a novel flexible display technology known as pSEL, or Printed Segmented Electroluminescence.

The company's core business revolves around the commercial application and development of its proprietary pSEL technology. This technology allows for the creation of reconfigurable, or "morphing," keypads and displays. For instance, in a mobile device, the keypad's appearance can change depending on the function being used, such as calling, texting, or multimedia playback, showing only the relevant controls to the user. In 2004, Pelikon further advanced its offerings with the creation of pSEL Hybrid, which incorporates a flexible liquid crystal (LC) layer, enabling the display to be readable in all lighting conditions, from complete darkness to direct sunlight. Pelikon's product lineup includes these animated backlights and panels, as well as conventional liquid crystal displays, display drivers, and controllers.

Pelikon's business model focused on providing these value-added display solutions to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The company's technology found applications across a diverse range of markets, including portable consumer electronics, mobile phones, home appliances, and industrial control panels. After raising a total of $22.8 million over four funding rounds, Pelikon was acquired by Multi-Fineline Electronix (MFLEX), a global provider of flexible printed circuits, in a deal announced in November 2008. The acquisition, valued at approximately $10.7 million plus potential future considerations, positioned MFLEX to integrate Pelikon's morphing keypad and display technology into its offerings for the handheld electronics industry. As of December 10, 2008, Pelikon began operating as a subsidiary of Multi-Fineline Electronix Singapore Pte., Ltd.

Keywords: Pelikon, pSEL, Printed Segmented Electroluminescence, flexible display, morphing keypads, display technology, Richard Blakesley, Chris Barnardo, Cambridge Consultants, Multi-Fineline Electronix, MFLEX, electroluminescent displays, display drivers, display controllers, user interface technology, smart mobile devices, home appliances, control panels, advanced displays, reconfigurable displays