Samsung Display to start producing QD OLED module samples by June 2021

In 2019 Samsung Display formally announced its decision to invest $10.85 billion in QD-OLED TV R&D and production lines. It was reported before that SDC is started to produce panel prototypes, and is on track to start mass production in Q3 2021.

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Samsung Display QD Display (QD-OLED) production equipment arrives at Asan line

According to a new report from Korea, SDC is set to begin producing full module prototypes in June this year. In addition SDC had to increase the brightness of its panels as TV makers said it is not enough for premium TV adoption. SDC will produce both TV and monitor prototypes, which it will send to potential customers (such as Samsung Electronics, Sony, and Chinese TV makers). When customers approve the prototypes, SDC will be ready for commercial production.

The new report also says that Samsung Electronics TV unit (Visual Display Business) is ready to start adoption these panels (earlier report suggested that Samsung Electronics was hesitant about the adoption of QD-OLED panels, but finally made that decision) provided SDC secures the yields and production capacity required by SE. Even if yields are high, total production capacity at SDC's Q1 production line is 30,000 8.5-Gen substrates, which may not be enough for Samsung's TV business.

SDC will brand its new quantum-dots displays as QD Displays. The first generation ones will adopt SDC's current hybrid QD-OLED architecture, but later ones may adopt QNED (quantum-rods) emitters.

SDC's plan is to start mass production by the end of 2021, in the first line (15,000 monthly substrates). SDC is also planning a second line to follow the first, to arrive at a total of 30,000 monthly 8.5-Gen substrates.

In late 2020 it was supposed that SDC's further QD-OLED investment decisions will wait for around May 2021, as the company wanted to first stabilize production yields and start approaching customers to secure design wins. If Samsung Electronics indeed committed to QD Displays, this could accelerate SDC's project. SDC already shipped samples, meanwhile, to Sony and Panasonic.

According to earlier reports, in addition to QD-OLED TV panels (55-, 65-, 78- and 82-inch) SDC may also use the technology to produce 27-inch and 32-inch 8K gaming monitors. By adopting MMG technology, it will be able to produce two 82-inch and three 32-inch panels on the same 8.5-Gen substrate, or two 78-inch and six 27-inch panels.

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Posted: Apr 03,2021 by Ron Mertens