No, this article is not about a recent development in manufacturing OLEDs utilizing a roll-to-roll process. Rather, it is to report on a week that seemed dominated by news that related to OLEDs. Here is quick summary of some of the more interesting items that Insight Media tracked during the past week as part of our routine scouring of the media for topics of interest.

Art Berman
Insight Media Consultant

From the November 10 edition of Printed Electronics Works we learned that "11 partners conduct research on new OLED materials." The New Materials for OLEDs project (NEMO) is co-funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The objective of the project is to develop innovative, soluble materials for use in large area OLED components. The total budget for the program is about € 32 million, which will support the program until the end of July 2012. The common theme among the participants in the project is a multilayer OLED architecture based on glass coated with indium stannic oxide as charge carrier injection layer.

On the www.Nikkei.com web site we learned that "Casio, Toppan to Form Venture to Develop, Make OLED Panels." The joint venture company will launch next April with the goal of having 10-inch and smaller OLED panels ready by 2015. The new firm will also conduct R&D on larger OLED panels.

From the www.OLED-info.com web site we learn that "Korean companies to invest in AMOLED and develop large size vapor deposition equipment." Several Korean firms (including Samsung and LG) have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop and mass produce vapor deposition equipment for large area AMOLED panel production. This is a necessary first step toward creating a viable OLED TV industry.

On Oct 30, Nikkei Electronics reported on LG Display’s roadmap for developing and releasing large-sized OLED panels. LG plans to release a 15-inch OLED TV by the end of 2009, 20-inch and larger panels in 2010, 30-inch and larger panels in 2011 and 40-inch and larger panels in 2012. The article goes on to explain that "Forty-inch and larger OLED panels will be fairly expensive in 2012, but they will be available in the market." Spokesperson Kim went on to explain how it is possible for OLED panels to cost less than LCD panels by 2016. His comments related to driver elements, organic EL materials, film forming processes and the sealing processes.

In the November edition of Electronista we read more on LG’s intentions. "LG to build a 5G AMOLED plant, will begin mass production in 2H 2011." According to the plan, by 2H 2011 capacity will have reached 40,000 sheets per month.

In an article dated October 28 on the www.techztalk.com web site we learn that "Samsung Shows New AMOLED Displays." The 30-inch TV can also present stereoscopic 3D using shutter glasses. The display is just 2.5 mm thick, has a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 and presents Full HD resolution. Samsung also showcased a 14-inch AMOLED panel for notebooks. This 2.7 mm thick screen has resolution of 1,366 x 768, a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 and produces a brightness of 300cd/m2. Samsung also presented a similar 7-inch sized AMOLED in a netbook, a 3.5-inch curved AMOLED screen with WVGA resolution and a 2-inch transparent OLED panel having 30% transmittance and a resolution of 176 x 220 with 144 ppi. The company is reportedly planning to start mass production of these AMOLEDs, except the 30-inch 3D panel, in 2010.

From the www.Tech-On.com web site we learned that "AUO Ready to Roll 14-inch Full-HD OLED Panel." The article included a quote from a company spokesperson, "Technically, we can now start volume production. If there is user demand for it, we will do that."

The last bit of news is on the negative side. We read on www.oled-Info.com that "Kyocera stops its OLED program."

Insight Media has been following OLED technology development and product deployments for years. Despite this, it still remains difficult to conclude on the prospects for the long term commercial success of OLED’s - at least in applications that require larger size displays. There are times, however, such as this week - in the wake of an avalanche of good news - when it looks like OLEDs are displaying all the signs of success. More on these and other OLED related developments can be found in our Large Display and Mobile Display reports.