Sumitomo Chemical, a Japan-based materials company, is planning to manufacture organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels in 2008, according to reports. Sumitomo’s investment toward an OLED panel fab maybe around 5 billion yen (US$42 million). Partnership with other companies is also a possibility. There has always been much interest in OLED technology, but recently instead of R&D announcements there are more production plan announcements; Sony, Toshiba (TMD) are some examples.
Source: DigiTimes
Bekaert, a Belgium-based metal transformation and coating technologies company, has developed rotatable magnetron sputtering target technology that lowers cost of ownership through longer production runs, faster coating deposition and a more complete use of coating material. Bekaert’s technology can be applied toward architectural and automotive glass, display glass and photovoltaic glass that require a coating process.
Sn-Sputter Targets: Standard thermal sprayed Sn targets have 90% of theoretical density and 2000 ppm oxygen content. Advanced thermal spray technology reaches 99% of theoretical density and just 250 ppm oxygen content. Performance is improved in arc rate, burn-in behavior, deposition rate and I-V grain morphology, grain orientation, and material density.
Thermal spray technology: Specific coatings for specific applications are possible due to manufacturability of doped materials in both stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric compositions. Almost all materials can be sprayed while long-life targets up to 152” can be produced easily.
TiOx Targets: High temperature process allows ceramic Ti-oxide to melt while Ti-oxide is partially reduced transforming it to an electrical conductive phase. Ti-oxide remains conductive at room temperature due to high cooling rates. Ti-oxide targets have higher process stability in reactive processes compared to pure metal Ti targets. PEM-like process control systems are not required and sputter deposition speeds can be improved.
Si(Al) Targets: Inherently flexible target geometry allows multiple sizes and maximizes sputter capacity with target layer thickness up to 9-13mm.
For more technical information and pictures please visit GlassonWeb.
Samsung Electronics is assessing the glass substrate size for its next generation LCD fab. Whether it is G9 or G10, Samsung has not decided. No construction schedule has been fixed but Samsung is working closely with equipment manufacturers and glass substrate suppliers regarding issues about size. Samsung is also close to commencing volume production at its G8 fab, scheduled for August, two months ahead of time. The G8 fab’s main products will be 46″ and 52″ TFT LCD panels geared for TVs. On the other hand, G8 schedules for AU Optronics (AUO) and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) are still uncertain. Regarding supply and demand, Samsung believes that the industry will be in oversupply in 1H’07 but a shortage in 2H’07. According to the company, there are five major LCD manufacturers that combine for 75% of the market in 2006: AU Optronics (AUO), Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO), Samsung, LG.Philips LCD (LPL) and Sharp.
Source: DigiTimes
According to DigiTimes, Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) is shipping LED-based 19″ LCD monitor panels to Acer and 22″ LED-based panels to ViewSonic. CMO currently ships LED-based 12.1″, 13.3″, 14.1″ notebook panels, and 17″, 19″ inch LCD monitor panels in small volumes. I am not quite sure what the value of LED backlights are for average-sized LCD monitors. For notebook PCs that require a bit more thinning and a bit more battery power, white LEDs can do the trick, albeit for quite a bit more money. For large LCD monitors and LCD TVs, you can enhance the color gamut, do some cool tricks with the backlight with LED technology (separate RGB LEDs or a single LED package with RGB chips inside), but at a substantial price premium, of course. So, what’s the use for regular 17″ or 19″ LCD monitors? Thinner? Better color gamut for folks that really want that but are only willing to pay $199? I think there’s a mismatch. Ooops. Wait. I know now. It has to do with being green: no mercury, less overall material (thinner), lower power consumption (?), etc. So that’s it: Green.
Source: DigiTimes
[tags]Chi Mei Optoelectronics, CMO, 19″ LCD Monitor LED Backlight, 19″ LCD Monitor, LED Backlight, Viewsonic, Acer, 22″ LCD Monitor, 22″ LCD Monitor LED Backlight, 13.3″, 12.1″, 14.1″, Display Manufacturer, LCD Manufacturer[/tags]
Just an interesting post about mechanical spectacles. Don’t they look cool? Now if there were round, transparent LCDs incorporated into them so we can look geeked out while we work.
To better view displays with.
[tags]Mechanical Spectacles[/tags]
