OLED News - Page 2

Solomon Systech launched a TDDI (Touch and Display Driver Integration) IC for PMOLED displays. The new SSD7317 (the world's first PMOLED TDDI IC) integrates touch and display microelectronics in a single chip and can enable thinner and lighter form factors and reduced manufacturing time and process. - and higher display quality (higher light transmission) and touch performance.

Solomon explains that the SSD7317 adopts a proprietary time multiplexing approach for display driving and in-cell touch detection, thereby enables touch detection on traditional PMOLED display module with no modifications needed on the existing display module structure. Unlike traditional out-cell touch solutions (with separate display and touch IC) which need a dedicated ITO layer for touch sensor, the SSD7317 eliminates the touch ITO and PET substrate layers in addition to the bottom Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA).

Excessive exposure to blue light has been linked to many health issues (including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and insomnia). Researchers from Taiwan's National Tsing-Hua University, led by Prof. J.H. Jou, have been advocates of candle-light OLED lighting for a long time, as part of their fight against the hazards of LEDs and white light. We recently posted on Prof. Jou's latest research on smartphone display risks and the benefits of OLED displays.

In 2015, Taiwan's PMOLED maker WiseChip Semiconductors licensed National Tsing-Hua University's blue-light free OLED lighting technology (called Candlelight OLEDs), with an aim to mass produce these OLEDs by the end of 2017. That project faced delays, however and now NTHU announced that following a collaboration with China's OLED lighting maker First-o-lite it is now ready to commercialize its technology and NTHU demonstrated the first device to use these new panels - the OLED lighting desk-lamp you can see in the video above (and photo below).

Samsung Display is developing hybrid QD-OLED TV technology, and according to estimates, the company aims to begin trial production in 2019. It seems that Samsung is managing to overcome the technical challenges and the company is preparing to start production of such QD-OLED TVs in 2019.

Last month Digitimes updated about Samsung's plans to start installing equipment by the end of 2018 and begin trial production in H2 2019. Digitimes now posted another article, revealing more details on Samsung's plans.

In April 2018 OLED materials producer Idemitsu Kosan announced plans to establish a new OLED production subsidiary in Chengdu, China. The investment in Idemitsu's third OLED production plant will total $12.8 million USD.

Idemitsu now updates that it is starting to construct the new production plant, which will have a capacity of 12 tonnes per year. The construction will be completed by November 2019 and commercial production is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2020.

According to reports from Korea, Samsung aims to launch its first 4K OLED Laptop at CES 2019 (January 8). Samsung will offer the laptop in three sizes: 13.3", 14" and 15.6". Samsung Display, who makes these OLEDs, is also in talks with HP, Dell and Lenovo with an aim to supply them with these new OLED laptop panels.

Samsung's 2017 Galaxy Book 12"

According to the Korean reports, these will be rigid (glass-based) OLEDs produced at SDC's A2 fab. According to reports, SDC's rigid OLED fab utilization rates have dropped to about 65% and in February 2018 we estimated that SDC may try to find new applications for its underutilized OLED capacity - maybe in monitors, transparent signage or indeed laptop devices.

Last month Japan-based printed OLED developer JOLED announced that it will demonstrate new OLED prototypes (including a 55" printed OLED TV) at Finetech Japan, which starts tomorrow (December 5). Today JOLED detailed the new panels it will have on display at the trade show.

So first we have two automotive displays - a 12.3" HD OLED and a 12.2" flexible (curved ) Full-HD OLED. JOLED's latest investors, Denso and Toyoto Tsusho, are both helping the company with its entry into the automotive display market.

DSCC says that flexible OLED fab utilization rates continue to increase, while rigid OLED utilization rate are falling. Here are DSCC estimates (which include its forecast for the seasonally weak December 2018).