SCIENTIST Dick Cooper came up with an ideal method of producing flat television screens - as he stared at the wall tiles in the gents.

A major problem with the manufacture of flat panel display screens is that so many have to be thrown away as imperfect.

Mr Cooper's solution was to weld together four-inch ceramic tiles, each linked to its neighbour in a seamless joint by laser.

The innovative development enables any size of flat screen to be made with very few rejects. Consequently manufacturing costs are greatly reduced.

Mr Cooper's company Ceravision, whose aim is to prototype and license affordable flat panel display screens, has now signed a contract to use the expertise and facilities of Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, near Didcot.

Ceravision is based at the Chilton research centre which is regarded as a world leader in 'field emission display' technology.

And in a pioneering move, as part of the deal, RAL's parent body the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils has taken a stakeholding in Ceravision in return for access to clean room facilities, microtechnology equipment and collaborative expertise.

The deal persuaded Ceravision managing director Mr Cooper to return to Britain from Silicon Valley in the USA where he has been since 1982.

His nephew and a co-director of Ceravision Tim Reynolds said: "This is not rocket science - we're using existing technology in a novel way."

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