OLED-Info: the OLED experts

As demand for foldable phones is increasing, Samsung Display is reportedly planning to add three more module production lines in Vietnam to expand its capacity. Once these three new lines are added, SDC will have 10 foldable OLED module production lines in Vietnam.

SDC's current monthly foldable OLED module production capacity is around 1.5 million units, and these new lines will expand SDC's capacity to 2 million units. SDC expects to install the new equipment in 2022. This will help the company reach its target of 18 million foldable OLED panel shipments next year.

According to reports from Korea, Unijet has supplied China-based Sidtek with inkjet printing systems, used for thin-film encapsulation (TFE) deposition of OLED microdisplays. This is Unijet's first sell of a commercial TFE printing system.

Sidtek, established in 2016, is now producing 0.39" XGA OLED microdisplays, which are available on the OLED marketplace. Sidtek's 0.39" display is available in a color version (1,000 nits) or a monochrome one.

DSCC says that Q3 2021 was a record quarter for foldable smartphones - with shipments growing 215% from Q2 2021 and 480% from Q3 2020 to reach 2.6 million units. Samsung Electronics controls the market with a 93% share, followed by Huawei (6%).

DSCC expects the growth to continue and shipments in Q4 will reach almost 4 million units. Looking at specific models, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 has a 60% share, followed by the Galaxy Z Fold 3 with a 23% share.

OLED makers are using gold crystals to monitor and control the deposition of organic materials. Many OLED producers choose INFICON's crystals for this demanding task.

INFICON recently launched a new high-precision sensor crystal line that features improved activity stability, which leads to less activity dips and improved deposition rate stability.

The Fraunhofer FEP, in collaboration with GlobalFoundries Dresden Module One and digades, developed an ultra-low power color OLED microdisplay. The researchers at the Fraunhofer say that this display consumes the least power compared to all available microdisplays.

The new microdisplay was developed as part of the Backplane project, funded by the German government (SWMA grant number100392259). The researchers presented a prototype display that features two primary colors and a QVGA (320x240) resolution. The display is based on the Fraunhofer's existing OLED-on-silicon technology, which up until now was used to create monochrome microdisplays.

Apple analyst Ming-chi Kuo says that Apple plans to launch its first AR headset in Q4 2022, powered by dual 4K OLED microdisplays, produced by Sony. The headset will feature Mac-level computer power and will not require a tethered smartphone to operate.

Apple has been working on AR technologies for many years. Last year it was indeed reported in Japan that Apple is working with Sony on its microdisplays. Earlier this year it was reported that Apple has teamed up with TSMC for microdisplay production - but it could be that TSMC will be the manufacturing partner, while Sony will provide the OLED technology and knowhow.