OLED is an emerging display technology that enables beautiful and efficient displays and lighting panels. OLEDs are already being used in smartphones, laptops, wearables, tablets and TVs, and many of OLEDs are flexible ones.
A flexible OLED is based on a flexible substrate (usually polyimide). The first generation of OLEDs produced on these were not really flexible from the user perspective. The device maker bends the displays, or curves it - but the final user is not able to actually bend the device. These first-gen flexible OLEDs are adopted many premium smartphones, for example the Samsung edge-type Galaxy phones or Apple's latest iPhones. A plastic-based OLED has several advantages especially in mobile devices - the displays are lighter, thinner and more durable compared to glass based displays.
Second generation flexible OLED displays can be bent by the user - these can be used for example to create foldable smartphones - the first range of which started shipping in 2019. Rollable OLEDs are also now entering the market for both TVs and smartphones.
Where to buy flexible OLEDs?
While several companies (including Samsung, LG, BOE and others) are producing OLED displays, it is not straightforward to find a good and reliable supply of these displays.
If you are interested in buying a flexible OLED panel for your project or device, look no further. Our OLED Marketplace offers several flexible OLEDs, which can be ordered through us with ease.
The latest flexible OLED news:
Intel and Samsung Display show a rollable 17-inch AMOLED display prototype
During Intel's Innovation Day 2022, Samsung Display's CEO shows a prototype rollable AMOLED laptop display that opens up from 13-inch to 17-inch:
Over the years, Intel has been working with display makers to showcase innovative new display technologies. In early 2020 the company showed a foldable 17-inch laptop device.
Sewon's OLED phototherapy patch passes FDA registration
A few weeks ago Korea-based Sewon announced that it is entering the OLED-based optical patch business, based on technology developed by Kwangbio and Korea's KAIST institute. The idea is to use OLED panels for phototherapy that can be used to treat pain and encourage skin regeneration.
Sewon E&C now announced that its OLED phototherapy patch, the first such patch in the world, has completed the FDA registration. The company now aims to accelerate the commercialization, and has already secured the site for the production facility. Sewon hopes to bring the patch to the market by the end of 2022 or early in 2023.
Sewon to commercialize OLED-based phototherapy solutions to treat pain and various skin conditions
Korea-based Sewon NC announced that it is entering the OLED-based optical patch business, based on technology developed by Kwangbio and Korea's KAIST institute.
We do not have many details, but apparently Professor Kyung-cheol Choi from KAIST developed OLED optical patches for phototherapy that can be used to treat pain and encourage skin regeneration. Following an investment agreement, Sewon NC has secured the rights to produce and sell the OLED patches.
Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Z Flip4 foldable phones, and new wearables
Samsung announced two new foldable phones, and new wearable devices. First up is the Galaxy Z Fold4 which sports a 7.6" foldable 120Hz 1200 nits 1812x2176 Dynamic AMOLED and a 6.2" 120Hz 904x2316 AMOLED 2X cover display.
The Galaxy Z Flip4, the company's clamshell device,features a 6.7-inch 120Hz 1200nits 1080x2640 foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and a small secondary 1.9" 260x512 Super AMOLED display. Both phones will ship on August 25, starting at $2,000 for the Fold4 and $1200 for the Flip4.
Future-Prove Your Display Production - Laser Solutions for Flat Panel Displays
This is a sponsored post by Coherent
Lasers are utilized for numerous processes in flexible OLED production, just as they are in the manufacture of other display technologies. In fact, it can be reasonably claimed that lasers are a key enabling technology in the fabrication of modern, flat panel displays. And it’s likely that they will continue to perform essential fabrication steps as flexible and foldable displays become more commonplace.
There is a variety of processes within the flexible display production line where lasers have an essential contribution to enable high throughput, high yield mass production. Nowadays, the complexity of the displays is getting larger and the number and tasks of lasers within flexible OLED production is increasing.
For this reason, choosing the right laser really means choosing the right laser supplier. Manufacturers need a partner who has the specific technical and applications development resources to identify the best and most cost-effective solution. Coherent is that partner
TCL shows a 17" foldable inkjet-printed IGZO AMOLED prototype
TCL's CSoT demonstrated a new prototype AMOLED display - a 17" IGZO foldable panel, that was produced using inkjet printing. The company says this kind of panel can be used in tablets, monitors and laptops.
CSoT is progressing with its inkjet printing technology, and aims to start production in 2023. Last year the company demonstrated a 65" 8K inkjet-printed OLED TV panel, in addition to a 14" rollable panel.
A desk with an integrated transparent OLED monitor wins this year's OLED Go! Design Competition
LG Display, together with British design magazine Dezeen recently launched the 2nd OLED Go! Design competition. LGD announced the winner of this year's competition, the Caelum desk, designed by Turkish designer Cagatay Afsar.
Caelum integrates a 27-inch transparent OLED displays into the desk partition, eliminating the need for a separate monitor to free up desk real estate and reduce household clutter. When not in use, the display can switch to its transparent mode as to seamlessly blend in with the room’s décor.
Here is BOE's 12.5" flexible transparent OLED display prototype
BOE is showing a new flexible and transparent display prototype at SID Displayweek, this is something we did not see for several years.
The display on show is a 12.5" panel that offers a transmittance of up to 45%. The brightness is 700 nits, and the pixel density is 80 PPI. BOE says it developed a unique pixel scheme to enable the transparency of this display.
BOE demonstrates new OLED displays at SID Displayweek 2022, including a 95" 8K OLED TV
BOE demonstrated its latest OLED technologies and displays at SID Displayweek 2022. The most interesting display is a 95-inch 8K HDR OLED display, produced on an Oxide-TFT panel with a white-OLED CF structure. The panel was produced using an evaporation method.
This is the first time we hear of BOE's evaporation TV program, since around 2016. The company has an active inkjet printing OLED TV project, and in December 2019 it unveiled a 55" 8K (160 PPI) printed OLED TV prototype.
Samsung shows its latest OLED displays at SID Displayweek 2022
Samsung Display unveils new OLED displays at SID Displayweek 2022. First up is the Flex G flexible display, which folds inwards twice, and the Flex S, that can fold both inwards and outwards.
Samsung is also new rollable displays - a 6.7" slidable display that can expand and a larger 12.4" slidable OLED that can expand from both ends. When close, the display is 8.1" in size.
