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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIn February 2005, Merck KGaA agreed to buy Avecia’s OLED materials and polymer-electronics activities for €50 million in cash, according to the announcement at the time. The deal covered Covion Organic Semiconductors in Frankfurt and Avecia’s polymer-electronics research and development work in Manchester. Merck planned to integrate the activities into its liquid crystals division.
What did Merck acquire from Avecia?
The transaction was an acquisition of business activities and research work, not a purchase of consumer OLED products. Merck KGaA, based in Darmstadt, Germany, announced the agreement with Avecia Ltd., based in Manchester, England, on February 8, 2005.
Covion Organic Semiconductors
Covion Organic Semiconductors GmbH, based in Frankfurt, designed, developed and manufactured OLED materials. EE Times reported that Covion had sales of approximately €8 million (about $10 million) in 2004. That figure is the contemporaneous report’s estimate, not a value listed in Merck’s acquisition history. EE Times’ February 8, 2005 report
Avecia’s polymer-electronics research
The deal also included Avecia’s polymer-electronics research and development activities in Manchester. Merck described possible applications for this research as solar cells, organic thin-film transistors and RFID tags. That description identifies areas of application; it does not establish that the acquired activities were already selling all of those products at commercial scale.
#1 Best Overall
- Three Displays For More Projects: Build a sensor dashboard, robot status panel and classroom demo at the same time, or keep spare modules ready for testing; each compact screen delivers 128x64 graphics with self-luminous pixels and no backlight
- Fixed Yellow-Blue Zones Make Status Information Easy To Scan: Use the yellow upper band for headings, alerts or icons and the blue lower area for readings and menus; the display colors are fixed by the OLED panel rather than programmable RGB, and the screen does not support touch input
- Four-Wire I2C Connection Saves Controller Pins: Connect GND, VCC, SCL and SDA according to the module labels, scan the I2C bus and use the default 7-bit address 0x3C; the 0x78 PCB marking represents the corresponding 8-bit write-address format used by some documentation
- Works With Common 3.3 V & 5 V Project Platforms: Add compact visual feedback to compatible microcontroller and single-board computer projects, but verify the module pin order, supply voltage, I2C logic levels, pull-up voltage and SSD1306 software configuration before powering
- Three Modules Plus Ten Dupont Wires: Includes 3 OLED display modules, 5 female-to-female and 5 male-to-female jumper wires; controller boards, breadboards and enclosures are not included, and multiple displays on one I2C bus require unique addresses where supported or an I2C multiplexer
How much did Merck pay?
EE Times reported an agreed cash price of €50 million, then equivalent to about $64 million. Merck’s retrospective acquisitions list records the 2005 transaction at €49.3 million. These are figures from two different sources, and the available records do not explain the difference; they should not be silently treated as identical. Merck classifies the acquisition as Electronics and describes it as OLED and polymer-electronics activities from Avecia, including Covion. Merck’s acquisitions and divestments history
Why did Merck buy the activities?
The stated rationale was to build an option on display technologies beyond liquid-crystal displays while recognizing LCDs’ near-term importance. Merck chairman Bernhard Scheuble said: “It is apparent that liquid crystal displays will be the dominant flat-panel technology for some years to come,” adding, “We see this acquisition as an opportunity to explore alternative technologies for the future, which is a prudent step for any market leader.”
Rank #2
- 【2K OLED Display】2K Flexible Screen adopts a 1536*2048 high resolution OLED screen. The screen delivers a vivid image, clear motion and details, it brings transparent color performance and bright highlight details showcasing.NOTE:This product is in RGB mode, suitable for Windows, and not compatible with MAC IOS systems.
- 【Flexible Touchscreen】with Multi-Touch Technology.the operation is more easy and funny.Different from the traditional rigid screen flexible screen can be bent, more changes in shape. Tips:Must connect with a HDMI signal source to display images and play videos.
- 【Wide Range of Applications】Install your flexible screen on cups, hats, cars, backpacks, handbags, clothes, etc., to display different images and personality. It can also be displayed in shops and windows as an advertising display board for displaying products.
- 【Kindly NOTE】Handle with care due to fragile display. Follow user manual. Kit lacks housing/enclosure, speakers. Portrait Display Mode By Default, Requires HDMI-connected device for image and video display.
- 【Package including】1*flexible touchscreen，1* driver board，1* Micro USB cable, 1* HD to Mini HD cable.NOTE: The cables are at the bottom of the box, please make sure you have received all the accessories before throwing away the packaging box.
That rationale places the purchase in the context of Merck’s existing liquid-crystal business: the company planned to put the acquired activities in its liquid crystals division, rather than present them as a replacement for LCDs.
What was expected to happen after the announcement?
EE Times said regulatory approval was required and completion was expected in the first quarter of 2005. It also reported that approximately 100 employees were expected to transfer to Merck when the sale completed. These were expectations reported at announcement; that report does not itself confirm the closing date or the eventual employee transfer. Merck’s retrospective history does list the acquisition in 2005.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #3
- Three White OLED Displays For More Projects: Build multiple sensor monitors, status panels or classroom demonstrations at the same time, or keep spare modules ready for testing; each 0.96-inch screen provides 128 × 64 pixels
- White Monochrome OLED For Clear Status Information: Active pixels display white on the dark OLED panel for text, numbers, icons and simple graphics; the display color is fixed by the panel and the screen does not support touch input
- Four-Wire I2C Connection Saves Controller Pins: Connect GND, VCC, SCL and SDA according to the module labels and use the default 7-bit I2C address 0x3C with compatible software libraries
- 3.3–5 V Power For Controller Projects: Add compact visual feedback to compatible microcontroller and single-board-computer projects while verifying pin order, supply voltage, I2C logic levels, pull-up voltage and SSD1306 software configuration before powering
- Three Modules Plus Ten Jumper Wires: Includes 3 OLED display modules, 5 female-to-female and 5 male-to-female jumper wires for prototyping; controller boards, breadboards, sensors, headers and enclosures are not included
How does the deal differ from Merck’s later OLED patent sale?
Merck’s 2005 purchase from Avecia concerned operating OLED-materials and polymer-electronics activities, including Covion and Manchester research and development. A separate transaction announced in November 2025 involved Merck selling Universal Display Corporation more than 300 issued and pending OLED patents covering more than 110 patent families. Universal Display said closing was expected in January 2026, and subsequent SEC filings recorded that the transaction closed that month. The later transaction concerned intellectual property, not the Avecia businesses. Universal Display’s SEC-filed November 6, 2025 announcement
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 2.42-inch white monochrome OLED screen, 128x64 resolution, clear display effect, high contrast for crisp visuals.
- 3V~5V wide voltage, works with 3.3V/5V logic, no level shifter needed. I2C IIC communication uses only 4 IO ports.
- With far lower power consumption than TFT screens, easily compatible with Arduino/ESP32/STM32/C51/CH32/Raspberry Pi.
- Boasting a 160°+ wide viewing angle (one of the broadest in its class), protected by a sturdy iron frame for long-lasting use.
- We also provide low-level driver technical support and online information download, so you’ll have ongoing assistance for your projects.
Rank #4
- This i2c display module is 0.96 inch diagonal,Resolution: 128 x 64, View angle: > 160°, Support voltage: 3.3V-5V DC, Power consumption: 0.04W during normal operation, full screen lit 0.08W,Color:Yellow Blue
- The IIC address can be changed,it is convenient to use with different machines Four square holes are easy to install
- 0.96 Inch OLED module for showing graphical & textual information directly on your micro-controller projects. It compatible with Raspberry pi, 51 MCU, STIM 32
- Low-power, very legible and vibrant, a crisp screen, pixels stand out very well even in a brighter circumstances like full sunlight
- Needn't backlight, the display unit can self-luminous. It has Super High Contrast, bright and crisp dots, even tiny fonts quite readable.No embedded fonts inside the OLED controller, user can create the fonts through the font generation software
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