DSCC: Samsung to begin pilot QD-OLED production in 2019

DSCC estimates that Samsung will begin pilot production of QD-OLEDs in 2019, with a capacity of 5,000 monthly 8.5-Gen substrates. If this is successful, Samsung will double the capacity in 2020 and add a further 30,000 yearly substrates in 2021 and again in 2022. Material revenues for Samsung's QD-OLED TVs will reach $56 million in 2022.

Material revenue forecast for QD-OLED TVs (DSCC, 2016-2022)

DSCC admits, though, that as Samsung faces several technical challenges before it could launch commercial QD-OLED TVs, its forecast could be way off - there's a good chance that SDC will cancel the project, or it could increase capacity at a much faster rate than DSCC estimates and even scale-up production to 10.5-Gen.

Read the full story Posted: Oct 04,2018

Sharp launches its first flexible OLED phone, the Aquos Zero

Sharp started to produce flexible OLED displays in June 2018 and the company now launched its first phone to sport its own panels - the Aquos Zero smartphone - that has a notch-type 6.2" 1440x2992 display. Sharp will start shipping this phone in Japan by the end of 2018.

Sharp's OLED displays are being produced at Sharp's 4.5-Gen Taki plant which has been converted (partially) to OLED production. Sharp aims to convert a total of 30,000 out of 90,000 monthly LCD substrates to 22,000 OLED substrates, but this will take time and the company's current capacity is probably quite limited.

Read the full story Posted: Oct 04,2018

OLEDON developed a vertical-plane source deposition technology suitable for ultra-large substrates

Korea-based OLEDON announced that it has developed a vertical-plane source deposition technology that can be used to produce both small-area and large-area OLED panels. The company is now adapting this technology for ultra-large substrates - up to 12-Gen (3300x4000 mm) in size.

OLEDON OLED TV vertical plane source evaporator

OLEDON says that currently-used inline evaporation processes lower the yields for large-area production due to FMM sagging and difficult control of the multiple sources. The company's vertical plane source deposition may prove to be a viable alternative.

Read the full story Posted: Oct 03,2018

Samsung Display announces it is supplying Audi with its 7" AMOLED for the E-Tron SUV

A couple of weeks ago Audi launched its first electric SUV, the e-tron SUV - with optional 7" OLED virtual side mirrors and external cameras instead of the normal side-view mirrors.

Audi e-Tron prototype virtual mirror (2018)

Today, Samsung Display announced it is the producer of these 7" AMOLEDs. The OLED displays include a touch layer which can be used to zoom the image while parking to optimize the field of vision.

Read the full story Posted: Oct 03,2018

Are OLED smartphones better for your eyes? NTHU researchers say yes

Excessive exposure to blue light has been linked to many health issues - including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and insomnia. Children, especially, have delicate retinas that are highly susceptible to the dangers of blue light.

Reading a smartphone in bed photo

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. In 2015, the researchers published a call out to consumers to be aware of the hazards of LEDs and to governments to enact new rules to enforce light-based products to show the light spectrum.

Read the full story Posted: Oct 02,2018

Critical OLED information leaked from LGD, company suspects espionage

The Korea Herald reports that during the last few weeks, critical information regarding OLED technologies and plans has been leaked from LG Display's headquarters. The company suspects espionage from Chinese-based companies.

LGD carried out a search for eavesdropping devices in meeting rooms - but they found no evidence. LGD is truly concerned, though, as information discussed at C-level meetings was leaked several times recently.

Read the full story Posted: Oct 02,2018