Category Archives: Displays

Gigaphoton Inc., a major semiconductor lithography light source manufacturer, announced its new excimer laser brand “GIGANEX” on April 1, 2016.

Gigaphoton has announced they will develop a highly reliable excimer laser, “GIGANEX,” utilizing their considerable technical capabilities acquired by their experience in semiconductor lithography, for use in the fields of FPD production, flexible device processing, semiconductor fabrication, etc. Moving forward, Gigaphoton intends to explore further possibilities in excimer lasers, together with new innovative partners, to provide GIGANEX solutions.

Gigaphoton President and CEO Hitoshi Tomaru explains. “Our company has accumulated experience as a major semiconductor lithography light source manufacturer over more than 15 years, and in fiscal 2016 we are embarking on a new challenge – to expand the range of applications of our lasers into other fields. I expect Gigaphoton’s technology to expand even further and continue to contribute to the industrial world.”

Details of GIGANEX will introduced at SID Display Week, which will be held May 24-26, 2016.

Year-over-year unit-shipment growth in the small and medium display market was flat in 2015, reaching 2.8 billion units; revenue rose 4 percent over the previous year, to reach $43.9 billion. Samsung Display led the 9-inch-and-smaller display market in 2015, with 23 percent of all revenue, followed by Japan Display at 16 percent, LG Display at 13 percent and Sharp at 10 percent, according to IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS), a global source of critical information and insight.

While overall small-medium display unit shipments did not grow in 2015, increasing demand for high-resolution smartphone displays caused active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display unit shipments to grow 54 percent, and low-temperature polysilicon thin-film transistor (LTPS TFT) LCD display unit shipments to rise 10 percent, over the previous year. As AMOLED and LTPS TFT LCD shipments rose, however, amorphous silicon (a-Si) TFT LCD shipments declined 10 percent year over year in 2015, according to the latest IHS Small-Medium Display Market Tracker.

“To compete in the increasingly saturated small-medium display market, smartphone manufacturers are shifting from a-Si TFT display technology to high-performance displays that rely on AMOLED and LTPS TFT technology,” said Hiroshi Hayase, senior director, IHS Technology. “In fact, with Apple’s iPhone line reportedly relying on AMOLED in the future, Japan Display and Sharp officially announced that by 2018 they would invest in mass production of AMOLED displays, joining leading AMOLED suppliers Samsung Display and LG Display.”

small-medium_display_chart_IHS2

As the mobile phone market slows, display manufacturers are looking to new in-cell and on-cell touch-screen solutions that offer consumers thinner and brighter displays, while shortening the supply chain for smartphone manufacturers. As panel makers promote these new solutions, and offer aggressive pricing as well, in-cell and on-cell touch solutions are expected to comprise half of all smartphone displays shipped in 2017, according to IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS), a global source of critical information and insight.

With the advent of active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) used in smartphones, new touch solutions are emerging that boast greater flexibility, lighter weight and other feature improvements. Emerging touch solutions for flexible displays are expected to grow more than 50 percent in 2016 compared to the previous year, which will bolster revenue levels, according to the latest IHS Touch Panel Market Tracker.

“Since Samsung announced their Galaxy S6 Edge smartphone last year, flexible displays have grabbed consumer and industry attention,” said Calvin Hsieh, director of display research for IHS Technology. “Flexible AMOLED displays offer many more features than traditional rigid AMOLED and LCD displays, which is an attractive proposition for device makers and consumers.”

Mobile_Phone_Touch_Chart_CH

The global notebook PC display market fell 23 percent year over year in the first quarter (Q1) of 2016, according to IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS), a global source of critical information and insight. Due to the low profitability of high definition (HD) notebook PC panels, panel makers have begun to decrease production, in favor of full HD (FHD) panels. FHD panels are therefore expected to enjoy high growth through 2018 and could become mainstream in notebook PCs in three years. However, there still are many customers concerned more about price than specification upgrades. In addition to FHD resolution, some panel makers have begun promoting even higher ultra HD (UHD) resolution.

“Microsoft introduced its high resolution Surfacebook last year, which is one reason higher definition displays are now becoming the key differentiator for premium notebooks,” said Jason Hsu, senior principal analyst for display supply chain at IHS Technology.

Price erosion struck the notebook PC market hard in 2015, as PC manufacturers by and large produced low-cost notebooks to maintain market share, rather than introducing new and innovative designs. In fact, half of all notebook PCs sold in 2015 were priced below $500, and laptops costing $300 or less grew to encompass 15 percent of the total market in the fourth quarter. While PC replacement was driven in the past by specification upgrades, today’s consumers mainly use their PCs to browse the Web or check emails, so consumers have become less concerned with upgraded replacements and notebook PC sales continue to decline.

“Performance is no longer the key motivation for customers to replace older PCs,” Hsu said. “Industry players are now reviewing what might be the next driving force for laptops and finding that displays could play a larger role.”

Notebook_Display_Chart_IHS_2

While a good differentiator for premium devices, higher resolution displays also tend to lead to higher power consumption and shorter battery life, which is a dilemma for the industry. “UHD panels are mostly used in premium notebook PC models, which also usually have thinner and lighter form factors,” Hsu said. “There is therefore less room for brands to increase battery capacity these days, which is why notebook PC brands are urging panel makers to find ways to lower power consumption by higher-resolution displays.”

Displays using oxide and low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) panels are designed to address the need for higher resolution and low power consumption. Apple has been very aggressive in adopting oxide-substrate panels for its iMac and iPad Pro product lines, and the company is reportedly introducing oxide panels in its upcoming line of Macbooks. With Apple leading, Samsung Display and LG Display are now increasing investment in expanded oxide-panel manufacturing capacity.

While today’s LTPS capacity is mainly used for smartphone panel production, it will also be coming soon to notebook PCs and tablet panels. JDI, AUO, Tianma and other panel makers are actively promoting LTPS panels for notebook PCs, and IHS anticipates the first LTPS notebook panels to be in commercial production by 2017 or even sooner.

“With panel demand falling this year, panel makers may have to balance the pressure between fab utilization and profitability,” Hsu said. “Investing in next generation technology may not yield immediate returns while continued reliance on mature technologies may decrease ongoing profitability.”

By Rania Georgoutsakou, director of Public Policy for Europe, SEMI

In a global industry, monitoring regulatory developments across different regions can be a challenge. Add to that the additional complexity of communicating with a (global) supply chain, then consider that each company has to individually reach out to its suppliers and customers. This results in numerous communications on the same issue up and down the supply chain, and the benefits of industry collaboration within associations such as SEMI become clear.

To help companies keep up with the latest developments in the EU, here’s a list of recent and upcoming regulatory initiatives and how SEMI member companies are collectively addressing these:

  • SEMI FAQ – EU F-Gas regulation and semiconductor manufacturing equipment
  • Review of EU Machinery Directive now underway
  • EU PFOA restriction under discussion
  • 2016 EU Blue Guide is available

A SEMI webcast on EU regulatory developments (March 2016) provided a more detailed overview of these and other developments and how companies should prepare – the webcast is available to view for SEMI member companies only, please click here and select the “EU Regulation Webcast”.

Manufacturing equipment containing pre-charged chillers – new SEMI FAQ provides guidance on how to comply with EU F-Gas law

The EU F-Gas regulation that entered into force in January 2014 creates new restrictions on placing on the EU market pre-charged chillers containing certain fluorinated gases (F-gases).

A new SEMI FAQ on the EU F-Gas regulation provides guidance on what this law is about, how it impacts semiconductor manufacturing equipment and what steps companies importing affected equipment should be taking to ensure compliance.

If your company is importing semiconductor manufacturing equipment containing pre-charged chillers into the EU, then you need to make sure you can account for the f-gases in the chiller under the new F-Gas quota system that the law has established, by obtaining an ‘authorisation’ from a ‘quota holder’ and registering in the ‘EU HFC Register’.

For more details and compliance timelines, check out the SEMI FAQ.

EU Machinery Directive – review now underway – have your say!

The EU Machinery Directive sets out the basic requirements machines must satisfy in order to be placed on the EU market and is a major piece of EU law for semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

The review is part of the regular EU regulatory review process to ensure legislation is ‘fit for purpose’ and does not automatically imply that the Machinery Directive will be revised. It is being run by an external consultant and a final report is expected in April 2017.

The focus of the review will be on 9 product categories, including machines for metal working, engines and turbines, robotics and automation and will also explore whether there are discrepancies in the interpretation of the directive between various member states and to what extent it is aligned to other pieces of legislation.

SEMI is putting together a working group to contribute to review of the EU Machinery Directive. If you are a member company and want to get involved, please contact [email protected]

PFOA restriction under discussion – SEMI requests derogations for the industry

The EU is currently drafting a law to restrict the manufacture, use and placing on the market of PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related substances under EU REACH. The restriction would apply both to substances and mixtures and to articles containing these substances.

SEMI has been calling for a derogation for substances and mixtures used in photolithography processes and for articles contained in semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

SEMI has collected and submitted evidence to substantiate members’ recommendations for:

  • a derogation period of at least 10 years for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, to allow equipment manufacturers to communicate with their the supply chain, identify components potentially containing restricted substances, source substitute parts that are tested and validated and requalify the equipment.
  • non-time-limited derogation for spare parts for legacy semiconductor manufacturing equipment, i.e. equipment that was already on the EU market before the restriction entered into force and before the derogation for semiconductor manufacturing equipment expires.
  • non-time-limited derogation for second-hand semiconductor manufacturing equipment, to ensure that companies can still import used equipment from outside the EU or from another EU member state.

SEMI has also voiced its concerns around the proposed concentration limits and the non-availability today of standardized practicable analytical methods that can be applied to a variety of materials to test whether an article would comply with the restriction.

The EU proposed restriction will be published in the next month and the final decision on the restriction is expected by the end of 2016.

Product regulatory compliance in the EU – 2016 Blue Guide now published

The Blue Guide provides guidance on how to implement EU product rules, including for example the EU Machinery and EMC Directives. A 2016 revised version is now available to download – click here.

The Blue Guide addresses:

  • what constitutes placing a product on the EU market
  • obligations of the various actors in the supply chain (manufacturer, importer, authorized representative etc.)
  • product requirements
  • conformity assessment
  • accreditation
  • market surveillance carried out in the EU

For an overview of SEMI’s advocacy work in Europe, please click here.

To find out more and get involved, please contact [email protected]

Join us for the 10th SEMI Brussels Forum – the industry’s major annual event bringing together company executives and decision-makers to discuss opportunities for the micro/nano-electronics industry in Europe: www.semi.org/BrusselsForum

Polymer semiconductors, which can be processed on large-area and mechanically flexible substrates with low cost, are considered as one of the main components for future plastic electronics. However, they, especially n-type semiconducting polymers, currently lag behind inorganic counterparts in the charge carrier mobility – which characterizes how quickly charge carriers (electron) can move inside a semiconductor – and the chemical stability in ambient air.

Recently, a joint research team, consisting of Prof. Kilwon Cho and Dr. Boseok Kang with Pohang University of Science and Technology, and Prof. Yun-Hi Kim and Dr. Ran Kim with Gyungsang National University, has developed a new n-type semiconducting polymer with superior electron mobility and oxidative stability. The research outcome was published in Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) as a cover article and highlighted by the editors in JACS Spotlights.

The team modified a n-type conjugated polymer with semi-fluoroalkyl side chains – which are found to have several unique properties, such as hydrophobicity, rigidity, thermal stability, chemical and oxidative resistance, and the ability to self-organize. As a result, the modified polymer was shown to form a superstructure composed of polymer backbone crystals and side-chain crystals, resulting in a high degree of semicrystalline order. The team explained this phenomenon is attributed to the strong self-organization of the side chains and significantly boosts charge transport in polymer semiconductors.

Prof. Cho emphasized “We investigated the effects of semi-fluoroalkyl side chains of conjugated polymers at the molecular level and suggested a new strategy to design highly-performing polymeric materials for next-generation plastic electronics”.

This research was supported by the Center for Advanced Soft Electronics under the Global Frontier Research Program and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.

Liquid crystals, discovered more than 125 years ago, are at work behind the screens of TV and computer monitors, clocks, watches and most other electronics displays, and scientists are still discovering new twists–and bends–in their molecular makeup.

Liquid crystals are an exotic state of matter that flows like a fluid but in which the molecules may be oriented in a crystal-like way. At the microscopic scale, liquid crystals come in several different configurations, including a naturally spiraling “twist-bend” molecular arrangement, discovered in 2013, that has excited a flurry of new research.

Now, using a pioneering X-ray technique developed at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), a research team has recorded the first direct measurements confirming a tightly wound spiral molecular arrangement that could help unravel the mysteries of its formation and possibly improve liquid-crystal display (LCD) performance, such as the speed at which they selectively switch light on or off in tiny screen areas.

Researchers examined the spiral 'twist-bend' structure (right) formed by boomerang-shaped liquid crystal molecules (left and center) measuring 3 nanometers in length, using a pioneering X-ray technique at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source. A better understanding of this spiral form, discovered in 2013, could lead to new applications for liquid crystals and improved liquid-crystal display screens. (Credit: Zosia Rostomian/Berkeley Lab; Physical Review Letters, DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.147803; Journal of Materials Chemistry C, DOI: 10.1039/C4TC01927J)

Researchers examined the spiral ‘twist-bend’ structure (right) formed by boomerang-shaped liquid crystal molecules (left and center) measuring 3 nanometers in length, using a pioneering X-ray technique at Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Light Source. A better understanding of this spiral form, discovered in 2013, could lead to new applications for liquid crystals and improved liquid-crystal display screens. (Credit: Zosia Rostomian/Berkeley Lab; Physical Review Letters, DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.147803; Journal of Materials Chemistry C, DOI: 10.1039/C4TC01927J)

The findings could also help explain how so-called “chiral” structure–molecules can exhibit wildly different properties based on their left- or right-handedness (chirality), which is of interest in biology, materials science and chemistry–can form from organic molecules that do not exhibit such handedness.

“This newly discovered ‘twist-bend’ phase of liquid crystals is one of the hottest topics in liquid crystal research,” said Chenhui Zhu, a research scientist at Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Light Source (ALS), where the X-ray studies were performed.

“Now, we have provided the first definitive evidence for the twist-bend structure. The determination of this structure will without question advance our understanding of its properties, such as its response to temperature and to stress, which may help improve how we operate the current generation of LCDs.”

Zhu was the lead author on a related research paper published in the April 7 edition of Physical Review Letters.

While there are now several competing screen technologies to standard LCDs, the standard LCD market is still huge, representing more than one-third of the revenue in the electronic display market. The overall display market is expected to top $150 billion in revenue this year.

The individual molecules in the structure determined at Berkeley Lab are constructed like flexible, nanoscale boomerangs, just a few nanometers, or billionths of a meter, in length and with rigid ends and flexible middles. In the twist-bend phase, the spiraling structure they form resembles a bunch of snakes lined up and then wound snugly around the length of an invisible pole.

Zhu tuned low-energy or “soft” X-rays at the ALS to examine carbon atoms in the liquid crystal molecules, which provided details about the molecular orientation of their chemical bonds and the structure they formed. The technique he used for the study is known as soft X-ray scattering. The spiraling, helical molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal samples would have been undetectable by conventional X-ray scattering techniques.

The measurements show that the liquid crystals complete a 360-degree twist-bend over a distance of just 8 nanometers at room temperature, which Zhu said is an “amazingly short” distance given that each molecule is 3 nanometers long, and such a strongly coiled structure is very rare.

The driving force for the formation of the tight spiral in the twist-bend arrangement is still unclear, and the structure exhibits unusual optical properties that also warrant further study, Zhu said.

Researchers found that the spiral “pitch,” or width of one complete spiral turn, becomes a little longer with increasing temperature, and the spiral abruptly disappears at sufficiently high temperature as the material adopts a different configuration.

“Currently, this experiment can’t be done anywhere else,” Zhu said. “We are the first team to use this soft X-ray scattering technique to study this liquid-crystal phase.”

Standard LCDs often use nematic liquid crystals, a phase of liquid crystals that naturally align in the same direction–like a group of compass needles that are parallel to one another, pointing in one direction.

In these standard LCD devices, rod-like liquid crystal molecules are sandwiched between specially treated plates of glass that cause the molecules to “lie down” rather than point toward the glass. The glass is typically treated to induce a 90-degree twist in the molecular arrangement, so that the molecules closest to one glass plate are perpendicular to those closest to the other glass plate.

It’s like a series of compass needles made to face north at the top, smoothly reorienting to the northeast in the middle, and pointing east at the bottom. This molecularly twisted state is then electrically distorted to allow polarized light to pass through at varying brightness, for example, or to block light (by straightening the twist completely).

Future experiments will explore how the spirals depend on molecular shape and respond to variations in temperature, electric field, ultraviolet light, and stress, Zhu added.

He also hopes to explore similar spiraling structures, such as a liquid crystal phase known as the helical nanofilament, which shows promise for solar energy applications. Studies of DNA, synthetic proteins, and amyloid fibrils such as those associated with Alzheimer’s disease, might help explain the role of handedness in how organic molecules self-assemble.

With brighter, more laser-like X-ray sources and faster X-ray detectors, it may be possible to see details in how the spiraling twist-bend structure forms and fluctuates in real time in materials, Zhu also said.

“I am hoping our ongoing experiments can provide unique information to benefit other theories and experiments in this field,” he noted.

Leading innovators in today’s integrated electronics supply chain are preparing to showcase their products and services at SEMICON West 2016 on July 12-14 in San Francisco, Calif.  Attendees will discover new international partners and suppliers, learn about the latest start-ups, and view cutting-edge, critical manufacturing technologies.

The industry has seen dramatic changes since last year’s exposition. Consolidation, IoT, and system integrators increasingly calling the shots have transformed the landscape. Engaging customers and finding new ones have never been more important. SEMICON West 2016 reflects this major realignment — it’s not “business as usual” anymore.

The expanded show floor has been re-engineered to feature megatrend programs and displays, including: the Innovation Theater and four new Exhibit Zones — Advanced Substrate Engineering, Advanced Packaging, Sustainable Manufacturing, and 3D Manufacturing. International Pavilions include Europe, Silicon Saxony, and Malaysia.

SEMICON West 2016 also features three new forums: Advanced Manufacturing, Flexible Hybrid Electronics, and the World of IoT.  Popular recurring programs include the SEMI/Gartner Market Symposium, “Bulls & Bears,” Connect Executive Summit, plus forums addressing wearables, Big Data, mobile, automotive, and other areas of interest to players in these supply chains.

SEMICON West 2016 will attract a broader roster of market makers in today’s globally interconnected semiconductor supply chain, including many of the world’s leading electronics companies as well as their customers and suppliers. To exhibit, visit: www.semiconwest.org.

The 62nd annual IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM), to be held at the San Francisco Union Square Hilton hotel December 3 – 7, 2016, has issued a Call for Papers seeking the world’s best original work in all areas of microelectronics research and development.

The paper submission deadline this year is Wednesday, August 10, 2016. This deadline –– about 1½ months later than has been the norm for the IEDM – reduces the time between paper submissions and publication of the cutting-edge research results for which the conference is known. Also new for 2016 is that authors are asked to submit four-page camera-ready abstracts (instead of three pages), which will be published as-is in the proceedings.

Because of the more abbreviated schedule, only a very limited number of late-news papers will be accepted. Authors are asked to submit late-news abstracts announcing only the most recent and noteworthy developments. The late-news submission deadline is September 12, 2016.

“Because microelectronics technology changes so rapidly, it makes sense to shorten the time between when results are achieved and when they are discussed among the industry’s best and brightest who attend IEDM,” said Dr. Martin Giles, IEDM 2016 Publicity Chair and Intel Fellow and Director of Transistor Technology Variation in Intel’s Technology and Manufacturing Group. “This later submission deadline ensures that the freshest and most up-to-date work can be presented at the conference.”

Overall, the 2016 IEDM is seeking increased participation in the areas of power, wearable/Internet of Things (IoT), ultra-high speed, and quantum computing devices, which will be explored in depth in Special Focus Sessions in each area.

At IEDM each year, the world’s best scientists and engineers in the field of microelectronics from industry, academia and government gather to participate in a technical program of more than 220 presentations, along with special luncheon presentations and a variety of panels, special sessions, Short Courses, IEEE/EDS award presentations and other events spotlighting more leading work in more areas of the field than any other conference.

Papers in the following areas are encouraged:

  • Circuit and Device Interaction
  • Characterization, Reliability and Yield
  • Compound Semiconductor and High-Speed Devices
  • Memory Technology
  • Modeling and Simulation
  • Nano Device Technology
  • Optoelectronics, Displays and Imagers
  • Power Devices
  • Process and Manufacturing Technology
  • Sensors, MEMS and BioMEMS

Further information

For more information, interested persons should visit the IEDM 2016 home page at www.ieee-iedm.org.

Instead of reading a label, consumers could be interacting with an electronic screen on packaging in the future, thanks to a revolutionary new development by scientists at the University of Sheffield.

The scientists collaborated with technology company Novalia to create a new way of displaying information on packaging, a move that could revolutionise the packaging industry.

This technology could be used in greetings cards or products where a customer could receive a simple message. More complex developments could include a countdown timer on the side of a packet to indicate when a timed product was ready – such as hair-dye, pregnancy tests or home-baking using a ‘traffic lights’ system.

In a paper published in the IEEE Journal of Display Technology, the team explain how a screen can be fixed onto packaging to display information.

The process involves printing electronic tracks onto paper and then fixing low-cost electronics and a polymer LED display to the paper using an adhesive that conducts electricity.

Working together, University of Sheffield scientists and Novalia also designed and constructed a touch-pad keyboard on the paper that allows a user to selectively ‘drive’ the LEDs in the display.

The research has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and testing so far has taken place on paper but the process could potentially be printed on other surfaces.

The team’s next steps are to create fully flexible organic displays on a plastic substrate that then fix onto the electronic tracks. The LED devices need to be low-cost and flexible enough to be used on all packaging.

Professor David Lidzey from the University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy said: “Labels on packaging could become much more innovative, and allow customers to interact with and explore new products. The use of displays or light emitting panels on packaging will also allow companies to communicate brand awareness in a more sophisticated manner.”

Chris Jones from Novalia said: “The paper-based packaging industry is worth billions of dollars. This innovative system we have developed with the University of Sheffield could give manufacturers a way to gain market share by being able to distinguish its products from competitors.”