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Just What is QLED…2019 QLED Mass Production is Garbage?

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Source = Samsung Elec.

Barry Young Suggested “Don`t Believe the Garbage about QLED in 2019” (Source = Samsung)

 

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

An article by Barry Young, the managing director of the OLED Association, in Display Daily created much excitement in Korean display industry when domestic media picked up the story on 14 June. The article includes Young’s suggestion, “don’t believe the garbage about QLEDs in 2019”.

Clarifying this comment, experts unpack this to mean Young’s pessimistic outlook for QLED mass production in 2019 forecast rather than for QLED itself.

Barry Young discussed QD in an article titled Drinking the QD Kool-Aid in Display Daily. It is estimated that the comment is aimed at the recent speculation that Samsung Electronics will mass produce QLED TV as the next generation product in 2019 rather than OLED TV. While Samsung Electronics has not announced their official position regarding QLED TV mass production timing, some sectors within the market believe it will be possible by 2019. However, many have differing opinions.

QLED is a display that uses quantum dot for emitting layers’ host and dopant while maintaining the common layers used in the existing OLED. Quantum dot, emitting layer materials used in QLED, utilizes inorganic materials and can lower the production cost in comparison to OLED’s emitting layer materials. That the process does not require evaporation as it can be carried out through ink jet printing is another advantage, and some also believe that QLED color purity is superior to OLED.

Despite these, some experts point out that it is difficult for QLED to become the main force of the premium TV market, surpassing OLED, in a short time. QLED has to solve several technological issues including lifetime and emitting efficiency. When mass producing QLED, pin holes occur and reduce device lifetime, and as the hole and electron are not balanced the emitting efficiency falls. Furthermore, as even research has not been carried out regarding QLED lifetime and degradation, whether it will be commercialized by 2019 is also in question.

Meanwhile, Young refuted the argument that QD-LCD’s picture quality is superior to OLED. He proclaimed that QD Vision and Nanosys are making “very questionable statements” about how “OLED TVs were outperformed by LCD’s with QD enhanced LED backlights” without considering merits of OLED such as contrast ratio, viewing angle, response time, color accuracy, and form factor as well as luminance and color area.

Q1 New OLED Product, Smartphone·Wearable Rapid Increase…LG Maintains TV Monopoly

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Galaxy S7 edge ( Source = Samsung )

Galaxy S7 edge ( Source = Samsung )

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Of the new OLED display equipped products released in Q1 2016, smartphone and wearable products significantly increased compared to the same period in 2015. However, for OLED TV sector, no news was reported in Q1 other than LG Electronics’ new product.

According to UBI Research, 17 new OLED equipped smartphones were released in Q1 2016. This is 4 more than Q4 2015, and 12 more than Q1 2015. Of these, Samsung Electronics released 4 smartphones including Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, responsible for the largest proportion. Following Samsung, ZTE, Gionee, Acer, and BLU each launched 2 OLED smartphones, and Vivo, HiSense, Konka, HP, and Microsoft released 1 each. Of the companies, 6 are from Greater China Region.

For OLED equipped wearable new products, 7 were released in Q1, 2 more than Q4 2015, and 4 more than Q1 2015. Sony, Oculus, HTC, and Sulon released new VR products. Epson released smartglasses, and Fitbit and Intex released smartbands. OLED wearable market showed much activity in Q2 2014 with over 20 new products centering around smartwatch and smartband products, which quietened down since then. However, with recent new releases of VR and smartband devices, the market is being rejuvenated.

LG is still dominating the OLED TV market. LG Electronics was the only company to release new OLED TV in Q1, and released 4 products in 55 inch – 77 inch. The market showed some movement in Q1 2016 when several Chinese companies, including Haier and Changhong, released OLED TV. However, since then the market, except for LG, has been quiet. This is analyzed to be due to high price of large area OLED panel, panel supply shortage, etc. In Q2, China’s Skyworth released a new product but the sales are known to be less than anticipated.

One expert explained that large area OLED still have issues that need to be solved compared to small OLED including price competitiveness. He added that latecomers such as Chinese companies are slow to select OLED for TV compared to smartphone.

2016 AMOLED Market, UBI Forecasts USD 14.8 Billion, IHS 15 Billion…Rapid Growth

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2016~2020 AMOLED Market (Source = UBI Research)

2016~2020 AMOLED Market (Source = UBI Research)

Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

The global AMOLED market is estimated to record USD 15 billion in 2016.

According to IHS, market research company, 2016 global AMOLED market is expected to record USD 15 billion, an increase of 25% from 2015. IHS estimates that OLED’s low yield and lifetime are improving, and new markets such as VR are expanding.

IHS’ forecast is similar to UBI Research’s estimation of USD 14.8 billion.

According to UBI Research’s 2016 OLED Display Annual Report, the global AMOLED market is expected to record USD 14.8 billion and maintain the high growth at CAGR of 49% until 2020. The company estimates that the fast growth will be possible due to active mass production of OLED panel for TV and flexible OLED panel for mobile device, and the start of latecomers’ mass production.

Both research companies expect high growth for OLED panel for smartphone and TV.

IHS forecasts that OLED equipped smartphone will occupy up to 21% of the total smartphone market, an increase of 4% from 2015. Furthermore, the company estimates that the OLED TV panel shipment will increase to over 900,000 units, an increase of 125% from last year.

For UBI Research, the company expects the shipment of 4-6 inch panel for smartphone to be 242.9 million units in this year’s OLED panel market. The shipment for 55 inch or larger large size panel for TV is expected to be 1.2 million units.

Meanwhile, this rapid growth of AMOLED market is being led by Korea. 2016 OLED Display Annual Report estimates that AMOLED panels to be produced in Korea are expected to be approximately 270 million units and occupy about 95% of the total shipment. Korea is also estimated to occupy 96% of the revenue for this market in 2016 with USD 14.218 billion.

 

LGD Records 40 billion KRW Profit Against Expectations…“1 Million OLED TV Panel to be Shipped 2016”

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Source = LGD

Source = LGD

Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

LG Display reported today unaudited earnings results based on consolidated K-IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) for the three-month period ending March 31, 2016.

  • Revenue in the first quarter of 2016 decreased by 20% to KRW 5,989 billion from KRW 7,496 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015 and decreased by 15% from KRW 7,022 billion in the first quarter of 2015.
  • Operating profit in the first quarter of 2016 recorded KRW 40 billion, a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 34% from the operating profit of KRW 61 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015, and a year-on-year decrease of 95% from the operating profit of KRW 744 billion in the first quarter of 2015.
  • EBITDA in the first quarter of 2016 was KRW 853 billion, compared with EBITDA of KRW 882 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015 and with EBITDA of KRW 1,595 billion in the first quarter of 2015.
  • Net income in the first quarter of 2016 amounted to KRW 1 billion, compared with the net loss of KRW 14 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015, and a year-on-year decrease from the net income of KRW 476 billion in the first quarter of 2015.

LG Display announced its sixteenth straight quarterly operating profit at KRW 40 billion, which resulted from a thorough and profit-focused management based on differentiated technologies in response to a difficult market situation caused by panel oversupply and falling panel prices.

To deal with the difficult market situation, LG Display reduced the manufacturing of TV panels of 30-inches and below, which faced a large fall in prices, while expanding production of 40-inch range TV panels and those of 60-inch and above. The company also increased profitability by focusing on premium differentiated products based on M+ technology and maximized production efficiency in its overall operations by flexibly allocating production between IT product panels and TV panels.

Panels for TVs accounted for 38% of the revenue in the first quarter of 2016, tablets and notebook PCs for 24%, mobile devices for 23%, and desktop monitors for 15%.

With 77% in the liability-to-equity ratio, 153% in the current ratio, and 15% in the net debt-to-equity ratio as of March 31, 2016, the financial structure of the company remains stable.

LG Display will continue to increase profitability by concentrating on premium products such as Ultra HD TV panels based on its M+ technology to respond to a growing demand for large-size TVs, and make efforts to maximize efficiency by improving the manufacturing process in the second quarter of 2016.

Mr. Don Kim, CFO of LG Display, said “Panel shipments in the second quarter of 2016 are expected to increase by a mid-single digit percentage compared to the first quarter. Panel prices are expected to stabilize due to global sports events and an increase in new product shipments.”

 

◆ 65 inch, 30% of Total OLED Panel Shipment… 4-5 Trillion KRW Installation Investment

 

During the morning conference call on 27 April, LGD emphasized that the proportion of panel for ultra large size TV is increasing.

LGD reported that OLED panel shipment in Q1 2016 is slightly less than 200,000 units and estimated they will be able to ship 1 million units this year. While the 55 inch occupied over 85% of the total in 2015, in this year’s quarter the 55 inch proportion decreased slightly and 65 inch increased up to 30%.

LGD is operating OLED panel mass production line at 34,000 units per month as of H2 2015, and explained that the company will achieve Gen8 60,000 units capacity from Q2 2017. This year’s installation investment is expected to be of 4-5 trillion KRW. Along with this, LGD expects global oversupply of LTPS capacity, and revealed they will transform LTPS into plastic OLED (POLED) in stages.

LGD emphasized that the 55 inch FHD line’s golden yield has been almost achieved. The UHD section is also improving yield according to plan.

Zhaohong Zhang, BOE’s CEO, “Will Become 8K TV Market Pioneer”

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BOE’s CEO Emphasized They Will Lead 8K TV Market(Tokyo=OLEDNET

BOE’s CEO Emphasized They Will Lead 8K TV Market(Tokyo=OLEDNET)

Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

China’s TFT-LCD company, BOE, revealed ambition that it will lead the 8K market within the TV sector.

At the Technical Conference of FineTech Japan 2016 (April 6-8), BOE’s CEO Zhaohong Zhang gave a keynote speech titled Strategy of Adaptation and Innovation, and emphasized that the large size TV will notably grow, and BOE will lead the large size 8K TV market.

Zhang explained that he believes the enlargement will become the growth engine for the global display market. Accordingly, he estimates that the enlargement of monitor and TV among others will spread. He added that the display market will find it difficult to grow rapidly, and the display will become larger and mobile products of FHD 400 ppi or higher and TV products of UHD 4K or higher will expand.

Zhang emphasized that BOE became the victor by earning market opportunity through scale and value innovation, affirming the determination to lead the large size TV market. In terms of BOE’s innovation directions, Zhang suggested several keywords including ▲Picture ▲Power ▲Health ▲Price ▲Panel and ▲Pilot.

In particular, BOE’s policy is to make a winning move in large size display sector. Within the smartphone and tablet sectors, Zhang plans to place UHD 4K display at the front, and lead the 8K era within TV sector. He further emphasized that with the forecast of rapid growth of large size 8K TV market from 2018, BOE will become the pioneer in 8K technology and product. In future, BOE is planning to apply 8K to all panel series for TV.

Additionally, Zhang’s strategy includes low energy consumption actualization through backplane TFT semiconductor and high aperture ratio technology. Furthermore, he stressed that by developing display that lowers eye fatigue and corrects color, BOE is considering viewer’s health too. He revealed that in order to enter the new application sectors such as automotive, medical, AR, and VR, BOE will carry out development on high resolution, touch module, flexible panel, etc.

FineTech Japan 2016 (April 6-8) is a display technology related exhibition held in Tokyo Big Sight. The 26th annual event is participated by approximately 260 companies including Samsung Display, BOE, and Japan Display.

Samsung, Even if OLED TV is Released, Different from LG

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Hyunjoo Kang / Reporter / jjoo@olednet.com

<LG Elec. is Introducing OLED TV in CES 2016>

 

Within the TV market, there is an opinion that even Samsung Electronics which believes it is not yet the time for OLED panel cannot continue to insist on LCD. Experts estimate that even if it is the same OLED TV, Samsung Elec. will differentiate the actualization method from competitors’ including LG Electronics. One of the possibilities suggested is Samsung’s selection of ink-jet printed OLED TV panel.

 

Hyun-Suk Kim, Samsung Elec. Visual Display department’s vice president, who recently announced new LCD based SUHD TV mentioned that OLED TV is premature and also needs technological improvements.

 

However, it looks to be difficult for Samsung to insist on LCD TV only in the long term. China is threatening Korean companies in LCD panel market with superior price competitiveness; there is too much risk for Korean display companies such as Samsung Display to invest further in LCD production line. Although Samsung Elec. is not receiving panel supply exclusively from Samsung Display, Samsung Display is the biggest supplier. Therefore, Samsung Display’s LCD investment reduction is also expected to affect Samsung Elec.’s TV business.

 

Furthermore, Samsung Elec. is in the position of having to emphasize OLED’s superior picture quality over LCD in smartphone business, but highlight the opposite in TV. This is also an issue that needs to be tackled.

 

Despite these issues, Samsung cannot easily start on OLED TV as several problems such as price competitiveness have not been solved.

 

<Hyun-Suk Kim, Samsung Elec.’s Vice President, is Introducing New SUHD TV>

 

◆ Ink-jet Printing, Can it Solve OLED for TV Price Issue?

 

According to Dong-won Kim, analyst with Hyundai Securities, Samsung Display, with Samsung Elec. as the biggest client, has unfavorable structure for reducing production cost as 65 inch OLED TV panel production efficiency is low in Gen8 line.

 

Kim estimated that Samsung Display will apply solution process ink-jet printing technology to OLED TV with 2018 mass production target in order to solve this problem.

 

When producing OLED TV panel, WRGB OLED method, which uses evaporation method, can only reduce production cost by certain amount as the material usage efficiency is low. On the other hand, ink-jet printing RGB technology finely deposits ink in liquid form and can reduce materials cost. Additionally, RGB OLED has fewer organic layers compared to WRGB OLED and processes can be decreased.

 

For these reasons, some believe that Samsung will select ink-jet printing method rather than evaporation for OLED TV in future. There is also a view that LG Display, which is currently using evaporation method, will also actively consider producing ink-jet printed OLED TV panel in the long term.

 

A display expert explained that although ink-jet printing processes are simpler than evaporation method, that does not necessarily mean materials cost is always cheaper. The ink-jet printing technology is not yet perfect, and particularly for blue the efficiency issue has not yet been solved.

 

He added that Samsung Elec. has strong tendency to differentiate itself from competitors such as LG, and even if Samsung Elec. releases OLED TV, it is likely that ink-jet printing, which is different from LG, will be the preferred method.

Why is ‘Cadmium-free’ Significant? Samsung’s Quantum Dot SUHD TV

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Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

<Samsung Elec. Released 2nd Generation Quantum Dot TV. Source: Samsung Elec.>

On the subject of Samsung Electronics’ 2nd generation quantum dot display equipped SUHD TV product, recently released in Korea, display experts consider the actualization of 1,000 nit without cadmium as the key strength.

 

In 2015, Samsung Elec. first launched quantum dot SUHD TV under the name nanocrystal technology. Each quantum dot of nanosize, 10,000 times narrower than a human hair, actualizes accurate color.

 

According to Samsung Elec., the 2nd generation quantum dot technology to produce this new product, an improvement over last year’s. The company emphasized that compared to the previous product, the price was reduced and brightness was improved. HDR (high dynamic range) with 1,000 nit maximum was applied to the new product.

 

The 1,000 nit brightness is the standard figure of premium image produced in Hollywood, US. If this figure is high, screen’s bright and dark areas can be experienced fully even in bright environment such as a living room area.

 

Although not applied to all models of Samsung’s 1st generation quantum dot SUHD TV, 1,000 nit brightness was applied to the majority of the models; that 1,000 nit brightness was applied to the new product is not worth much attention by itself.

 

<Samsung Elec.’s 1st Generation Quantum Dot TV vs. Other Display in CES 2015>

 

◆Hazardous Heavy Metal Cadmium, Why Difficult to Remove?

 

Quantum dot film includes cadmium. As cadmium is a hazardous heavy metal, cadmium including quantum dot film cannot be environmentally friendly. Cadmium use in Europe is limited.

 

However, without cadmium, the quantum dot film’s optical efficiency is reduced. In order to make up for this, LED chips have to be applied which increases the price as well as the energy consumption. An alternative method to avoid this is development of additional quantum dot materials that increase efficiency.

 

For these reasons, some Chinese companies that produce quantum dot display equipped products select to use cadmium, overlooking the environmental issues. Samsung Elec. also emphasized that it is the only company that utilizes environmentally friendly cadmium-free quantum dot materials.

 

Through quantum dot materials’ efficiency and color mapping algorithm improvement, Samsung actualized 1,000 nit brightness without resorting to cadmium and without increase in power consumption. Color accuracy, which is a quantum dot display trait, was also improved by 25%.

 

Samsung Elec. is planning to release 14 models of SUHD TV, from 49 inch to 88 inch, in Korea. This is over 30% increase compared to last year. The price also was reduced by 900,000 KRW compared to the previous version. The new products, depending on the specifications, cost around 6 million KRW for 65 inch, and 4 million KRW for 55 inch.

A comment from a display expert is, “the new product has 1,000 nit brightness is not significant by itself, and color accuracy improvement also is not of much attention as it is an existing quantum dot trait”. However, he also put another comment from his analysis, “1,000 nit brightness was actualized without using cadmium and without decreasing energy efficiency is worth noting”.

[Analyst Column] Encapsulation Technology, Where is it Going?

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Yi Choong Hoon Yi, Chief Analysis / UBI Research

인캡사진

OLED market is heating up again. Rigid OLED market growth was temporarily stalled but with Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics’ new flexible (plastic) OLED products, Galaxy S6 Edge and G Flex 2 respectively, the smart phone market’s temperature is rising. In order to maintain the storm that iPhone brought, Apple is preparing to release smart watch equipped with LG Display’s plastic OLED. Additionally, LG Elec. is targeting the premium TV market with their 55 inch and 65 inch UHD OLED TV.

OLED panel leading company Samsung Display decided on Gen 6 line’s additional investment for flexible OLED production expansion. LG Display also decided on supplemental extension of Gen 4 line in Paju responding to the shortage of plastic OLED supply. Furthermore, JDI is joining in and expected to begin Gen 6 flexible OLED line establishment soon.

Recently announced Samsung Display’s decision to invest in large OLED line is the most encouraging news. Frontline leader in OLED display, Samsung Display mass produced 55 inch OLED panel using RGB OLED and LTPS TFT technology. However, halting the production, Samsung Display explored for technology with better business value and recently selected to produce large OLED panel using WRGB OLED technology.

OLED panel production technology can be largely separated into 3 parts: TFT, OLED, and encapsulation. Large OLED panel production technology is very difficult to obtain yield compared to small panel. Therefore, while the above 3 technologies are important in producing good panel, technology that can acquire good yield for mass production can guarantee business value. Particularly, as encapsulation is the last process, the final yield depends on the encapsulation method.

In that case, what encapsulation technology is most suitable for large area OLED panel production? As OLEDNET article published on January 12 mentions, from the technology trend perspective the answer is hybrid encapsulation technology. This technology is completed with device’s passivation film, moisture proof top plate that can cover the top, and organic material that adhere the top and passivation film. From the design trend perspective, the technology must be able to bend. Recently, the TV market is moving toward curved design, and to respond to rollable display as well the top plate has to be metal rather than glass. (Reference, 2015 OLED Encapsulation Report, UBI Research)

Hybrid encapsulation technology can be further divided into film method and dam & fill method depending on the adhesive structure between top plate and passivation film. Film method is being applied to mass production by LG Display, and dam & fill method was developed led by Sony. This method dispenses adhesive polymer liquid after organic dam installation on the panel border. This can only be used when the top plate is glass. LG Display completes the process by sealing the metal plate laminated with adhesive film to the device. A best suited technology for curved TV and rollable TV production.

The OLED panel for TV production technology decided by Samsung Display was initially known to select WRGB OLED structure similar to LG Display, but TFT and encapsulation technology have not yet been revealed. However, TFT technology is highly likely to be oxide TFT. (Reference February 27 OLEDNET article) LTPS TFT has high investment cost compared to oxide TFT and has low business value at similar performance.

What is left is encapsulation technology. For this technology also a method already commercialized by LG Display, film lamination method, is most suitable since metal plate is favorable for curved design. Metal plates is strong against external shocks and favorable for heat sink. Glass has lower heat conductivity compared to metal and requires additional protection against heat; this means that production cost can only increase. Considering design, protection against external shocks, and reduced heat sink cost, LG Display’s hybrid encapsulation technology that uses metal plate is the most ideal. Therefore, the direction that Samsung Display should also head toward is metal plate and film using method.

Although small OLED for mobile technology developed by Samsung Display became the norm, it is estimated that LG Display’s technology will become standard for large OLED panel production.

[Analyst Column] The last station of TV is the contrast ratio as seen at CES2015

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Began from a CRT, also called brown-tube, the TV market went through a LCD TV, a PDP, and a LED and finally reached at an OLED TV. The TV market with the history of almost 80 years now narrowed down to the war between a LCD TV and an OLED TV.

Theoretically speaking, it is genetically difficult for both a LCD TV and an OLED TV to become a better TV than a brown-tube as LCD realizes gray scale by adjusting the level of voltage from the liquid crystal which cannot completely block all light while the organic materials in OLED decompose when exposed to ultraviolet light not to mention the blue light.

Not deterred by these limitations, the LCD pushed out the rival displays of the brown-tube and PDP in the market, obtaining the honorable crown, and now it went on to prepare for the competition with a new display of OLED in full scale.

The picture quality of a display is determined by the three elements of contrast ratio, color gamut and resolution.

150202_[Analyst Column] CES2015에서 보여준 TV의 종착역은 명암비

 

The contrast ratio is the most basic information necessary for recognizing an object developed as a human evolves for millions of years. The human eye can distinguish an object only with a black and white shape at night without the moon and it also perceives a three dimensional space as a distant object is the information resulting from the difference between contrast ratios. But the human eye gets tired faster than any other organs. When a human gets tired, he/she closes his/her eyes to sleep and this action is to block the light from outside. For the bright lights like sunbeam blind the human eye that is susceptible to light, it is critical to avoid the exposure to direct lights around the eyes by wearing a hat with a brim in the open air. The sunglass functions in the same purpose.

Thought an office area uses bright florescent lights as a human gets active in a bright place, a house requiring comfort, high-end restaurant, hotel, etc. are recommended to take the brightness creating the appropriate shadows according to the position of the right sources. It is because a human body relaxes and feels comfortable through the eyes in the adequately dark environment. Furthermore, the human eye cannot detect the intensity of very bright light but the degree of darkness can be distinguished easily. Therefore, a TV that is most beneficial to a human body is a product made with the display that fully produces darkness. That is the OLED TV.

LCD always employed the notion of resolution as distinctive marketing strategy when competing with a brown-tube and a PDP in the market. It is due to the fact that the display with the higher resolution provides more information and the picture and video express smooth images. Though LCD had poor contrast ratio and color gamut than a brown-tube and the price also was relatively high, it grew rapidly indebted to the diverse contents like MS Office and the development of internet.

The emergence of OLED which has superior contrast ratio and color gamut than LCD and even the resolution equivalent to LCD became the biggest challenge for the LCD panel manufactures which have already made a huge investment. As LG Display is the only manufacturer capable of producing a large OLED panel with the 4K resolution, it is very urgent for the TV manufactures to secure the highest possible quality LCD TV to compete with the LG Electronics’ OLED TV.

The LCD TV made with the BLU using the quantum dot (QD) material got one step closer to the OLED TV obtaining the 100% of NTSC which was only available for OLED.

The key is the contrast ratio.

 

Choong-hoon Yi / Chief Analyst / UBI Research / ubiyi@ubiresearch.co.kr