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In-byeong Kang, CTO of LG Display, Discusses the Past, Present, and Future of Large Area OLED Panel

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On January 28, Korea Display Industry Association organized the 1st OLED Frontier Forum in JW Marriott Hotel Seoul.

 

Under the title ‘OLED, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow’, the forum attendees could review Korean OLED research results of the past 20 odd years, and discussed regarding future OLED industry growth strategy.

 

LG Display’s CTO In-byeong Kang gave a presentation on Large Area OLED Status and Future and talked about the current status and forecast of large area OLED which is expected to become the key area of future display.

 

Since the mass production of first 55 inch OLED panel that utilized WRGB method and oxide TFT, 3 years went past. During those 3 years, Kang revealed that many innovations were carried out in terms of TFT device, compensation algorithm, OLED device, OLED materials, and processes.

 

First, the oxide TFT structure changed to coplanar method from etch stopper method, and for compensation wiring, the internal compensation was changed to external compensation. Also, he revealed that through much effort, the existing OLED device and materials were changed to new structure and high efficiency and high color gamut OLED emitting materials. Kang added that the uniformity, which becomes the most crucial point in large area OLED panel mass production, was greatly improved in Gen8 manufacturing equipment.

 

In 2013, there was only 1 LG Electronics’ OLED TV, 55 inch FHD, but recently 77 inch and 65 inch were added, and the resolution increased to UHD. Kang emphasized that although the 2013 product was priced at 11 million KRW with 100/400 nit of brightness but recent products have brightness of 150/450 nit at the reduced price of 4.2 million KRW.

 

LG Display is going through many changes recently. OLED business department began operation from last year. Large area OLED panel, which started with 8K monthly mass production at Gen8, is now being produced at 26K in full operation. Also, additional investment of 10 trillion KRW to large area panel has been decided, and new factory is being built in Paju. Kang told the audience that he heard many positive views on large area OLED at CES, and that there was a huge response regarding the 77 inch HDR video. Kang revealed confidence in the technology reporting that rather than replacing LCD, OLED could succeed as a totally different display.

 

Regarding the next 20 years, Kang forecast that the flat will move toward transparent and flexible, and OLED is the most suitable for this. He explained that the Korean government estimated this and is carrying out national project titled ‘≥60 inch UHD level transparent flexible display and applicable IT fused infotainment system development’ for the past 4 years. LG Display is responsible for this project’s overall consortium, and is planning to reveal UHD level 60 inch transparent flexible OLED panel in 2017 summer when the project is complete.

 

At the end of the presentation, Kang summarized 3 innovation factors for large area OLED. First, the substrate materials at Gen8 has to change to PI and transparent PI. Second, even for flexible substrate, the structure has to change to top emission from bottom emission, and lastly, Kang added that much more diverse applications have to be considered for flexible panel.

 

엘지기사

LG Display to Focus on OLED Investment in 2016

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On January 27, LG Display held Q4 2015 earnings announcement, stating that the business profit recorded a surplus for 15 consecutive quarters, and annual profit of over 1 trillion KRW for 3 years.

 

LG Display’s Q4 2014 sales recorded 7,495,700 million KRW, a 5% increase from the previous quarter’s 7,158,200 million KRW and 10% decrease from 8,341,900 million KRW of the same period from the previous year. The business profit of 60,600 million KRW in Q4 is a significant decrease from previous quarter’s 332,900 million KRW and previous year’s 625,800 million KRW, a decrease of 82% and 90% respectively.

 

Sang-don Kim, LG Display’s CFO, mentioned that the business condition has been difficult due to weak demand and reduced panel prices as a result of China’s additional capa. establishment. Stating that it is hard to expect demand recovery as the economy continues to be uncertain in 2016, they suggested that the poor performances could continue.

 

Kim, in order to overcome the current situation, put up the keywords ‘choice and focus’. He reported that the investment could be flexible at times, but 50-60% of this year’s investment will be focused on OLED. He emphasized that choice and focus will be on areas with technological merits such as large area, M+, and AIT.

 

During the LG Electronics performance announcement (January 26), CFO Do Hyun Jung asserted world’s top premium image mentioning the OLED TV. LG Display also showed confidence in large area OLED technology. Sang-don Kim stated that OLED is a technology that exceeds existing LCD, and not only will it replace LCD TV but it is expanding the market and cemented its place as a premium product, jumping ahead of quantum dot TV. He added that whether in large size or small to mid-size, the technology difference of LCD with Chinese companies is 2-3 years, OLED is 5-6 years.

[CES 2016] Big Changes in LG Display

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On January 6 (local time), LG Display held a press conference with key board members in attendance including CEO Sang-Beom Han, CTO In-Byeong Kang, and head of marketing Young-Kwon Song.

 

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At this conference, unlike previously, Han conveyed strong determination and announced LG Display will invest in future large area display with OLED. This was a conviction never seen before.

 

The evidence of the confidence could be read at the exclusive exhibition. OLED TV achieved 800 nit, 150% higher than UHD Alliance’s standard of 540 nit.

 

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With transparent OLED, LG Display reached leading specs. The WRGB OLED structured transparent OLED has 40% transmittance and 600 nit of brightness through the application of the 800 nit OLED technology.

 

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Flexible OLED also was significantly different from last year. In 2015, the comparison between LG’s OLED and LCD for automotive dashboard display showed OLED to be lacking in brightness. However, this year’s exhibition showed OLED panel to have similar level of brightness as LCD and exceeding LCD’s spec with deeper black.

 

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The exhibition showed rapid development of LG Display’s OLED technology.

Looking Ahead to 2016 OLED Industry through Keywords

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  1. Flexible AMOLED Investment

In 2016, flexible AMOLED mass production line investment is expected to be actively carried out by Samsung Display, LG Display, BOE, and Japan Display. For Samsung Display to apply flexible AMOLED panel to the new Galaxy model, the mass production line investment is necessary. If they supply flexible AMOLED panel to Apple, volume of the flexible AMOLED mass production to be invested in 2016 is estimated to be grow significantly. LG Display also is expected to actively carry out flexible AMOLED line manufacturing equipment order for Gumi’s P6 line, as well as additional flexible AMOLED mass production line investment following Apple’s demand. BOE is estimated to seriously begin orders for Chengdu’s Gen6 45K flexible AMOLED mass production line.

 

  1. P10

With the announcement of new factory establishment and 1.84 billion KRW investment for part of facilities in Q4 2015, as the first step of the investment, LG Display began site construction for P10 line factory that can produce large area panel. However, the investment direction has not yet been decided. P10 could be directed to only producing large area LCD panel, large area OLED panel, small-to-medium size OLED panel, or large area and small-to-medium size OLED panel simultaneously. China’s Gen8 LCD facilities investment is quite advanced and BOE’s Gen10.5 LCD line investment has also been confirmed. As such how much LG Display’s large area LCD can bring profit has to be carefully considered. Additionally, with the increase of OLED TV consumption and the supply of OLED panel to Apple practically confirmed, OLED investment is essential. P10, Gen11 line, is the world’s largest factory site, and depending on the investment direction in 2016, it is estimated to affect OLED market’s opening time.

 

  1. Chinese OLED

Everdisplay is supplying AMOLED panel to some several Chinese set companies, and Visionox is also expected to actively supply AMOLED panel from 2016. As such, most of Chinese OLED panel companies’ OLED mass production preparation is anticipated to conclude in 2016. Accordingly, second investment by companies including Everdisplay, Visionox, and Tianma is analyzed to be possible and serious movement by China’s OLED industry could occur.

 

  1. Evaporation Equipment

Flexible AMOLED mass production line investment by Samsung Display, LG Display, Japan Display, and BOE, and other Chinese OLED panel companies’ additional installation are expected to be actively carried out from 2016. Amidst this, order of evaporation equipment, OLED production’s essential component, is expected to be an issue.

 

Evaporation equipment currently being used in mass production is mostly Japanese Canon Tokki’s. As this evaporation equipment has been verified in mass production, it is estimated that most companies, including Samsung Display, LG Display, BOE, and JDI, will want to order Canon Tokki’s evaporation equipment. However, as the production capa. of Canon Tokki’s evaporation equipment is limited, the issue is expected to be which panel company will be able to order early. At the same time, this could be a new opportunity for Korean evaporation equipment companies.

 

  1. Samsung OLED TV

At present, the TV industry trend is moving to OLED from LCD. Accordingly, Samsung Display is continuing research to resume their large area OLED for TV panel business. It is analyzed that Samsung Display possesses RGB OLED technology that uses SMS evaporation method, white OLED, and solution process OLED technology. However, as each technology has its drawbacks, they are carefully considering future directions. First, RGB OLED technology is estimated to lack Gen8 mother glass substrate evaporation equipment at present. Solution process OLED method has low material performance. For white OLED, as the key patents are owned by LG Display, technology that avoids these has to be first developed. Therefore, much attention is focused on which technology Samsung Display will use and invest in production line to enter the TV market.

Reviewing 2015 OLED Industry through Keywords

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  1. OLED TV

OLED TV, first released in Q4 2013, recorded approximately 50,000 units of shipment each in Q1 and 2 this year. The shipment increased to 100,000 units in Q3, more than twice the amount of each quarter in H1 2015. As it is estimated that close to 200,000 units were released in Q4, over 90% of LG Display’s 2015 target is expected to be achieved. This is considered to be showing price competitiveness against other TV as the price of OLED TV fell to 1/2 of the initial price and effectiveness of aggressive marketing emphasizing the advantages of OLED TV compared to newly released LCD TV. In Q3 earnings results announcement, LG Display revealed their plan of 1,000,000 units of OLED TV panel shipment in 2016 and forecast OLED TV’s growth. For the industry, 2015 has been the year that secured foothold for OLED TV’s market expansion.

 

  1. Galaxy S6 Edge

At the time of Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge’s release, Samsung Electronics estimated the initial supply to be 50:50. However, Galaxy S6 Edge showed 70% in actual demand and this led to shortage in supply. Samsung Display met the demand by starting flexible AMOLED line operation earlier than scheduled. 2015 proved future market growth potential by opening consumers’ wallets through designs possible only with flexible AMOLED panel.

 

  1. Samsung Display Supply Diversification

During the Q3 earnings announcement, Samsung Display revealed their plan to expand non-Samsung clients by 30%. Accordingly, in Q3, when smartphone market’s growth was expected to slow down, the sales performance improved by 13% compared to its previous quarter through key client’s new product release and expansion of client base. Particularly, the market occupation of AMOLED panel shipped toward China is analyzed to have increased within the global mobile market as Chinese set companies released AMOLED panel equipped smartphones.

 

  1. Apple’s OLED Application

Apple, which has been using LCD panel for all products, first applied flexible AMOLED panel, produced by LG Display, to 2015 smartwatch Apple Watch and drew much attention. In H2, Apple diversified suppliers by using Samsung Display’s flexible AMOLED panel. This move is analyzed to be groundwork for flexible OLED application to smartphone following smartwatch. 2015 has been a year with much interest in when flexible AMOLED panel equipped iPhone will be released.

 

  1. OLED Lighting

Global OLED lighting industry went through a great transformation in 2015. OLEDWorks announced they will acquire key parts of Philips’ OLED lighting business, relevant production facilities, and intellectual property. With this take over, OLEDWorks greatly expanded business through widened product portfolio and simultaneous lighting panel mass production in the US and Germany. LG Chem. transferred OLED lighting business to LG Display. The value of transfer is 1.6 billion KRW, and it is seen to be a strategy to increase competiveness by transferring the business to LG Display with their OLED panel mass production knowledge and to focus on existing materials business. The take over and business transfer of the main players in OLED lighting industry, OLEDWorks and LG Chem., are following their own business strategy. However, following these moves, related investment is expected to be delayed for some time and eyes are on how these will affect the OLED lighting business overall.

 

Korea’s Last PMOLED Company to Fade into History?

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NeoView Kolon, a subsidiary merged by Kolon Group in order to foster electronics business in 2001, is known within the industry to close down the PMOLED sector on December 31.

 

NeoView Kolon established factory in Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province of South Korea in 2003 and began PMOLED mass production. At this point, Samsung SMD (the current Samsung Display) and LG Electronics were also mass producing PMOLED. Other PMOLED producing companies included Korea’s Orion, Japan’s Futaba, and Tohoku Pioneer, and China’s Visionox. However, Samsung SMD stopped PMOLED business and sold manufacturing equipment to China’s Truly, and Samsung Display began AMOLED business from 2007. Subsequently, LG Electronics also closed down PMOLED sector and merged OLED related personnel to LG Display and launched AMOLED business. Orion was sold to China’s Changhong.

 

With the active application of AMOLED to Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy series, global PMOLED business began to rapidly shrink, and in order to maintain business, PMOLED companies pushed ahead with OLED lighting panel business.

 

NeoView Kolon entered into the automotive instrument panel business with PMOLED transparent display, but this business was also not easy. Furthermore, as the factory location is Hongseong, deep in the countryside, there was high turnover of employees and difficulty in technology development and recruitment. Despite the investment of over 100,000 million KRW, the company showed continued deficit.

 

NeoView Kolon turned into a financial sinkhole for Kolon Group and worsened the Group’s financial structure, leading to persistent discussion of selling or withdrawal of the business. Recently, Samsung Display is actively pushing forward the transparent AMOLED panel business. As such, transparent display business value for Kolon decreased, and it is estimated that this led to the decision of closing down the business.

[2015 OLED Evaluation Seminar] Oxide TFT Technology that 2015 should Spotlight

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By Hyun Jun Jang

 

During the 2015 OLED Evaluation Seminar (December 4) hosted by UBI Research, Professor Jin-Seong Park of Hanyang University gave a presentation titled OLED Oxide TFT Technology Trend, discussing oxide TFT, related industry, and technological issues as well as TFT technology that should receive the spotlight in 2016.

 

Oxide TFT has an advantage of high mobility and large area uniformity compared to a-Si TFT. As such, it is being more applied to large area OLED panel and used in LG Display’s OLED TV.

 

Park revealed that there are mainly 4 issues regarding oxide TFT and led with the reliability issue. Oxide TFT is essentially in amorphous state but when crystalized, the density and crystallizability increase; as oxygen does not move away and stay in place, defects occur less and reliability is high. Japan’s SEL and Sharp published CAAC (C-Axis Aligned Crystal) structure related oxide TFT paper, and Cornell University produced CAAC oxide TFT by increasing the substrate temperature and adjusting oxygen’s partial pressure.

 

The second issue is composition ratio. Park reported that composition ratio is the most closely related characteristic to TFT’s mobility. He revealed that recently research is being carried out centering around IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide), but also oxide TFT research with different composition ratio is continually published. For example, ITZO (indium tin zinc oxide)’s mobility has been reported to reach 30cm/Vsec, and BOE is working on the related research. Research results, which showed increased mobility and reliability for IGZTO, which is IZTO with G added, was published, as well as ZnON (zinc oxide nitride) TFT’s 100cm/Vsec mobility. BOE demonstrated ZnO TFT applied 14.1inch AMOLED.

 

The third issue is the device structure. Park explained that efficiency can increase when top gate structure is used to oxide TFT as parasitic capacitor is not needed, but that the process is difficult. However, Park reported that JOLED revealed when self-alignment is used the number of masks used can be reduced and increases performance. This structure is applied to OLED TV by LG Display.

 

Lastly, Park gave the safety of device as the last issue. Oxide TFT can exhibit degradation effects from light, oxygen, hydrogen, and moisture. Park reported that hydrogen particularly has great effect on the safety. He explained that although the current prevailing OLED TFT is LTPS, as the panel becomes larger there will be technological competition between oxide and LTPS. Reporting that TFT which is cost efficient and shows high performance in diverse factors such as resolution will dominate the market, Park concluded his presentation.

 

 

 

박진성교수

[2015 OLED Evaluation Seminar] Can LG Display and Samsung Display Become OLED Market’s Rule Maker?

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By Hyun Jun Jang

 

At 2015 OLED Evaluation Seminar (December 4) hosted by UBI Research, UBI Research’s president Choong Hoon Yi gave a talk titled AMOLED Panel Industry Trend and Market Forecast discussing OLED industry until 2015 and forecasting 2016 OLED market.

 

Yi presented 2 issues related to flexible OLED. The first issues he discussed was regarding foldable types in foldable display. Yi explained that in-folding is where display is placed inside and out-folding has display on the outside, and revealed that in-folding type is mainly being developed. He also added that these technologies will be useful in FinTech (financial technology: new form of financial technology using mobile, social network, big data, etc.).

 

According to Yi, another issue for flexible display is film application. In order to increase the yield of flexible display, film has to replace cover glass. However, this could lead to unpleasant touch sensation and Yi emphasized technology such as polishing has to be applied to improve this to convince the consumers.

 

Regarding the market, Yi estimated that the total global smartphone market will grow to record approximately 2,000 million units until 2020, with Samsung Electronics’ 400 million units. He also estimated that the OLED display proportion of Samsung’s Galaxy series will continue to increase and that most of Galaxy products will have AMOLED panel in 2019. Of this, Yi announced that flexible OLED and rigid OLED are to record approximately 280 million units and 120 million units respectively. He also forecast that the OLED TV market will grow into approximately 11 million units and that materials and equipment companies will rapidly grow.

 

At present, the display market is entering low growth state, and companies are focusing on strengthening the market competitiveness through new technology development and production potential increase. Samsung Display is actively striving to increase OLED panel’s supply for external companies. LG Display announced 1.84 billion KRW investment for world’s largest OLED focused P10 factory and other areas.

 

Yi reported that as flexible OLED evolves, the mobile display resolution competition of the present will disappear, and he estimated that as LTPS-LCD market decreases, the sales of related panel companies, such as BOE, Sharp, JDI, and LGD, will diminish.

 

Yi also told the audience that he is expecting Samsung Electronics to put OLED TV on the market from 2018 and the sales of the companies, Sharp, AUO, and CSOT, that were supplying them with LCD panels will fall. Essentially, he explained that as the OLED market grows, LCD dealing companies’ position will weaken which will lead to the strengthening of OLED panel production and related companies’ position.

 

When asked about the future of Korean display panel companies, Yi replied that when LCD and OLED are competing, set companies decides the market. However, if OLED can unite the market, Yi emphasized that the display panel will be rebranded as Rule Maker and LG Display and Samsung Display will be in its center.

 

대표님

[2015 OLED Evaluation Seminar] Transparent Flexible Display’s Necessity Found in Worth

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On December 4, UBI Research hosted 2015 OLED Evaluation Seminar in HJ Convention Center in Seoul, South Korea. The first speaker, LG Display TFD Biz Operation Group’s Chief Research Engineer Jeonghyun Kim spoke on transparent and flexible display’s worth.

 

Under the title of ‘Transparent/Flexible Display’s Future’, Kim discussed overall development trend of display and marketability. At present, the display market is changing to OLED, but as the growth rate is decreasing Kim added that new market creation is necessary. He explained that this is the time for a breakthrough of new market and transparent flexible display can play the lead. Kim also mentioned the marketability of transparent flexible display that can be actualized through OLED.

 

Transparent flexible OLED display possesses high technology level required by plastic substrate, low temperature process technology, and module among others. However, while introducing transparent and flexible OLED display’s worth, Kim emphasized the need for related technology development. The transparent display’s worth, mentioned by Kim, includes space expansion potential through home interior design, communication and safety increase within public facilities, AR information on existing transparent area, and sentimental and recreational experience at observatory and gallery. Regarding flexible display’s worth, he cited mobility in thinness and lightness, utilization through digital board, and space expansion through design freedom.

 

As a prime market for transparent flexible display application, Kim discussed automotive display market; considering the automotive market trend toward driverless/electric vehicles, display utilization inside the vehicle will increase and automotive industry will seek OLED display first.

 

With the LG Display’s video with diverse applications of transparent flexible display and future direction for display, Kim concluded his presentation.

Korea’s Survival Hangs on OLED; Government Support is Urgently Needed

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The last 5 years of budget for Korean semiconductor, which is a key industry for the nation, and display related industry’s original technology development expenses was researched and analyzed.

 

Electronic information device sector’s expenses can be categorized into semiconductor, display, LED/lighting, and evaluation maintenance fee.

 
In 2011, 130,000 million KRW was provided as technology development expense, but since then the amount annually decreased. In 2015, the amount was 95,000 million KRW, but in 2016, it is estimated to decrease further 42% and only 55,000 million KRW is expected to be provided.

 

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Semiconductor funding for 2015 occupies 58% of the total budget with 54,800 million KRW. Although that amount will be reduced to 35,600 million KRW in 2016, it is expected to occupy 65% of the total funding.

 

For display section, the 2015 funding is only 19,500 million KRW, a 21% of the total budge. In 2016, this is estimated to fall to 17%.

 

The government funding for display sector, which is the core of Korean electronic information industry, is around the same level as LED/Lighting sector.

 

The rapid reduction of government funding for display industry is expected to cause much difficulty in future display business.

 

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The Korean display panel market that is being maintained by 2 companies, Samsung Display and LG Display, recorded 62 billion KRW in 2012. However, it fell to 52 billion KRW in 2014, and the market power is gradually weakening. As Chinese companies are becoming more active in LCD market, Korean companies’ price competitiveness is waning in low-priced panel market.

 

If BOE’s Gen10.5 line begins operation in 2018, Korean display companies’ market power is analyzed to rapidly fall in LCD market. In order for the Korean display business to take-off again, now is the time for the government to fund OLED panel which has high added value.