The gist of it: Japanese equipment and materials suppliers are going to need the Chinese market and JDI gets a Gen 8.6 partner. They can work around the US sanctions, and China is going to be a growth engine for the sweet spot of eLEAP displays, with automotive likely to be a big part of that. The Chinese automotive display market may be one of the most exciting opportunities for display manufacturers during a time of uncertainty in other market segments. Whether the companies can be globally number 1 in categories that they espouse, that’s a whole other thing.
Japan Display Inc. (JDI) and HKC Corporation Limited (HKC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a strategic alliance. The partnership aims to work on next-generation OLED technology, fabs, a global innovation and industrialization center (whatever that means), and a high-end automotive display business. Since 2017, HKC has launched mass production at Gen 8.6 display fabs located in Chongqing, Chuzhou, Mianyang, and Changsha. HKC is planning an IPO in China shortly.
JDI developed eLEAP, its next-generation OLED technology in May 2022. It is the world’s first OLED technology to use maskless deposition and lithography, which significantly increases display brightness and lifetime. JDI shipped its first eLEAP samples to customers in August 2022 and is set to begin eLEAP mass production in 2024.
JDI also developed HMO (high mobility oxide), the world’s first HMO backplane technology deployed on a G6 production line. HMO provides 2x to 4x the field-effect mobility of conventional oxide semiconductor thin film transistors (OS-TFT), and JDI aims to commence mass production soon.
eLEAP technology can boost the aperture ratio of the area of the pixel by up to 60% and achieve double the emission efficiency of FMM (fine metal mask) patterning. Combined with HMO, the technique allows G8 fabrication (whereas FMM is limited to G6). The OLED has a 3x boost in lifetime at the same ppi and it can be used for every application that OLED currently addresses.
JDI and HKC will sign a final strategic alliance agreement that includes the following items by June 2023:
- A long-term, comprehensive, and collaborative global strategic partnership to work together on eLEAP, a global innovation and industrialization center, and a high-end automotive display business.
- Joint planning and building of eLEAP fabs, targeting mass production in 2025.
- Working together to grow into a leading comprehensive high-end display solution provider, with long-term strategic targets for mid- to high-end displays:
- a. Wearables: Global No.1 in shipments and market share by 2027;
- b. Automotive: Global No.1 in shipments and market share by 2028;
- c. VR: Global No.1 in shipments and market share by 2028;
- d. Monitors: Global No.1 in shipments and market share by 2028;
- e. Notebooks & Tablets: Global No.3 in shipments and market share by 2028.
