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Large Size OLED Panel Technology Match, ‘WRGB vs. Solution Process RGB’

Large size OLED panel is currently being mass produced by LG Display using WRGB method, and investment in this method for large size panel is being considered by OLED panel latecomers. Another method that can be used to produce OLED is RGB method. In 2013 Samsung Display mass produced using RGB method but halted the process due to problems in yield rate and technology. However, recently as key display companies are developing RGB method using solution process for large area OLED panel, latecomers are having to make a difficult choice in process selection.

 

OLED specialized panel company JOLED, established by JDI, Sony, Panasonic, and Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), is aiming for mid-to-large size OLED panel production using solution process. Additionally, other companies including AUO, BOE, LG Display, and Samsung Display are developing large size OLED panel using solution process technology. In 2013, AUO presented 65 inch FHD panel that used solution process technology, and BOE revealed 30.5 inch FHD panel. Panasonic also presented solution process applied 4K panel.

 

According to 2015 White OLED Display Annual Report, published by UBI Research, WRGB method has an advantage in high mass production potential as open mask is used. However, due to the stack structure and color filter use, it has a disadvantage of increased panel production cost. On the other hand, the materials and process technology for solution process are not yet mature, but has the advantage of being able to produce large size OLED panel in Gen 8 size or larger without glass cutting using RGB method. It also can reduce the production cost as the material efficiency is high and does not require color filter.

 

At present the mass produced glass area by the latecomers forecast to manufacture large area AMOLED panel is expected to occupy approximately 30% of the total large area OLED market in 2020, and latecomers’ choice in technology investment will be a key point. Therefore, the large area panel technology leadership will be decided on whether WRGB and solution process methods can solve the issues that each has.

By DaRae Kim, reporter@olednet.co.kr

White OLED Display Market to Grow Rapidly to 150 Million Units Production in 2020

Large size OLED TV production is one of the hot issues within the display market. Although OLED has long been a focus for the next generation display, the market share of OLED display is still low. According to UBI Research, a market research company, despite the continued increase in OLED panel production volume and application scope, the point when it moves toward consumer market from producer market will be another leap for the display industry.

UBI Research’s White OLED Display Annual Report (published April 15, 2015) notes that mass production actualization of large size display using RGB structured OLED panel has not been possible due to the dead space from drooped effect. Therefore, UBI Research analyzed that the additional processes and investment cost in order to improve this increases the production cost resulting in decreased competitiveness.

Currently, OLED panel with WRGB structure is being regarded as the only technology that can achieve large size display. As key production companies revealed in SID 2014, concentrated efforts in WRGB OLED research and production resulted in approx. 80% of target yield. In 2015, supply rate is estimated to be 600 thousand units, a 40% increase from 2014, and 1.6 million units in 2016. Chinese key panel companies, led by AUO and BOE, also possess pilot lines for large area WRGB OLED panel mass production including Gen8. (Source: White OLED Display Annual Report, UBI Research)

Solution process applied technology is being developed in close pursuit of WRGB OLED, but UBI Research surmises that it will take 3~4 years for the active mass production competing with efficiency and merits of WRGB structure.

UBI Research forecast WRGB OLED’s unrivaled path will continue for another 5 years or so with approx. 150 million units of WRGB OLED display production out of over 1,000 million OLED display units in 2020. Large size white OLED display panel for TV market is expected to record approx. 1.6 million units in 2016 and grow to produce US$ 13,759M in revenue in 2020 (figures 1, 2).

If the selection of WRGB OLED can solve the RGB structure’s limit in large area panel mass production, possible active OLED TV production is anticipated. With the publication of UBI Research’s report the timing of this is expected to be a point of much discussion. Additionally, further analysis is needed on whether WRGB OLED is really the only technology for large size display, and if so for how long WRGB OLED’s peerless growth can last.

White OLED Shipment and Revenue

[SID 2014] Latecomers catching up aggressively

AMOLED latecomers; BOE, AUO and Tianma are rapidly catching up the AMOLED development of Samsung Display (SDC) and LG Display (LGD) at SID 2014.

BOE expressed possibility of investing in TV following mobiles by displaying 55” FHD AMOLED panel. In terms of technology readiness level, it is incompatibly lower than panels of LGD and SDC though, it is considerably fast that it was developed in six months and produced in a pilot line in Hefei.

AUO showed that its AMOLED technology had reached at certain level by unveiling 5.7” WQHD (513ppi) ultra-high resolution AMOLED panel. More attention drew towards AUO’s panel because its production method is RGB+FMM as SDC uses and the high resolution is realized with real RGB strip type rather pentile. AUO also expressed its will on AMOLED business by showing 5” HD flexible AMOLED panel and 1.6” AMOLED panel for a smart watch.

Tianma also unveiled 5.5” HD AMOLED panel. Its performance lags behind the current AMOLED panel, but it ai    ms to supply middle-end and low-end panel targeting mass-production of 5.5” FHD AMOLED through continuous R&D.

Challenges of Chinese and Taiwanese makers become serious in the AMOLED market, where Korean makers, SDC and LGD, are dominant, and the latecomers are about to invest in the sector. Thus, it is expected that the AMOLED industry will constantly grow.

140611_BOE의 55ich FHD OLED panel

<BOE’s55ich FHD OLED panel>

140611_AUO의 5.7inch FHD AMOLED panel

 <AUO’s 5.7inch FHD AMOLED panel>

140611_AUO의 5inch HD flexible AMOLED panel

<AUO’s 5inch HD flexible AMOLED panel>

140611_Tianma의 5.5inch HD AMOLED panel

<Tianma’s 5.5inch HD AMOLED panel>

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