Category Archives: FPDs and TFTs

March 15, 2012 — Worldwide television shipments fell in 2011, the first decline since NPD DisplaySearch began tracking global TV shipments in 2004. 247.7 million TVs shipped, a drop-off of 0.3% year over year (Y/Y). LCD TV shipments rose 7% (205M units), which was not enough to offset declines of 7% in plasma TV shipments and 34% in CRT TVs.

LCD panel TVs had seen double digit growth in previous years. 2011’s numbers were "well below industry expectations," said Paul Gagnon, NPD DisplaySearch Director of North America TV Research. Causes? Excessive inventory levels early in 2011 across the US and Europe and a sharp drop in Japanese demand from Eco-Points replacement incentives, which ended in 2010.

LCD TVs’ shipment share increased to a record 86.5% of global TV shipments in Q4 2011, up from 83% in Q3 and 82% one year ago. LCD TV shipment growth is strongest in larger screen sizes with very aggressively priced models shipping for the holiday season. Shipments of 40" and larger LCD TVs rose 20% Y/Y; sub-40" fell 7%. Average prices for 40/42” LCD TVs were down 11% Y/Y; 60”+ average LCD TV prices were down more than 16% Y/Y.

Plasma TV shipments saw their biggest decline yet in 2011, with a nearly 7% drop to 17.2M units shipped. In Q2 2011, plasma units saw a 6% drop Y/Y, 14% fall-off in Q3, followed by an 8% drop in Q4. This decline demand coincides with a shift to larger screen sizes and focus on greater profitability, with the 50”+ share of plasma TV shipments increasing more than 50% for the first time in Q4 2011.

LED backlight penetration continues to grow slowly, rising above 50% of LCD units for the first time in Q4 2011, although only about 3 percentage points higher than in Q3 2011. The high premium for edge-lit LED LCD TVs is still an inhibitor to adoption, but new low-cost direct-lit LED models arriving in 2012 will help speed adoption.

Table 1: Q4’11 Worldwide TV Shipments by Technology (000s). Source: NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report – Advanced version.
Technology Q4’11 Units Q/Q Growth Y/Y Growth
LCD TV 64,237 24% 1%
PDP TV 5,195 26% -8%
OLED TV 0.1 470% -73%
CRT TV 4,772 -25% -43%
RPTV 32 46% -51%
Total 74,236 19% -4%

Q4 2011 TV shipments were down 4% Y/Y globally to 74.2M units, with a 1% rise in LCD TV shipments, 8% drop in plasma TV units, and 43% plunge in CRTs. A mature-market 21% Y/Y decline was most pronounced in Japan and Western Europe, with only mild growth in North America. TV shipment growth in emerging regions continues to be strong though, increasing 12% Y/Y in Q4 2011, with LCD TV unit shipments rising 20%.

China remained the top region for TV shipments at 21%, unchanged from the previous quarter, totaling 15.6M units for the quarter and 49M units for the year. China also had strong growth in 2011, with shipments increasing 19% Y/Y in Q4 2011, the highest of any region. More than 90% of TV sets in the region were LCD as of 2011. North America was the second largest region for TV shipments, accounting for 20.5% of shipments in Q4 2011, and was the only developed region to experience Y/Y shipment growth.

3D continues to grow worldwide as a percentage of TV shipments, posting gains in every region, but most impressively in China and Europe. 3D penetration continues to be lackluster in North America, accounting for just 9% of Q4 2011 TV shipments as opposed to 21% in Western Europe and 23% in China. 3D TVs accounted for more than 24M units shipped worldwide in 2011.

Samsung’s global flat panel display (FPD) TV revenue share increased in Q4’11 to 26.3%, which is a record level for any brand and a 3 percentage point increase from Q3 2011. Samsung was also the revenue market share leader in both LCD and plasma. This was the first time that a brand other than Panasonic led in global plasma TV market revenues. Samsung was also the top brand in 3D TV and LED TV shipments. LGE was the #2 brand worldwide at 13.4% and, besides Samsung, was the only other top five TV brand to see revenue growth Y/Y in Q4’11. Sony rounded out the top three at almost 10% revenue share, but saw a more than 30% decline in revenues Y/Y.

Table 2. Q4’11 Worldwide Flat Panel TV Brand Rankings by Revenue Share. Source: NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report – Advanced version.
Rank Brand Q3’11 Share Q4’11 Share Q/Q Growth Y/Y Growth
1 Samsung 23.0% 26.3% 36% 18%
2 LGE 13.0% 13.4% 22% 2%
3 Sony 9.9% 9.8% 18% -34%
4 Panasonic 8.4% 6.9% -2% -19%
5 Sharp 7.5% 5.9% -7% -30%

The NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report includes NPD DisplaySearch TV market intelligence: panel and TV shipments; TV shipments by region, brand, size, resolution, frame rate and backlight type for nearly 60 brands; rolling 16-quarter forecasts; TV cost/price forecasts and design wins. For more information on this report, visit http://www.displaysearch.com/cps/rde/xchg/displaysearch/hs.xsl/quarterly_global_tv_shipment_and_forecast_report.asp NPD DisplaySearch is a global market research and consulting firm specializing in the display supply chain, as well as the emerging photovoltaic/solar cell industries.

March 14, 2012 — The US Department of Defense (DoD) awarded QD Vision Inc. a $1.38 million/12-month contract for specialized devices based on electroluminescent quantum dots. The program will result in prototype devices that can be tested under real-world conditions, to ultimately be used by US armed forces.

Quantum dot technology developed at QD Vision can be used in display and lighting applications; the DoD is not revealing its specific application/s under this contract. The award combines QD Vision’s "strengths in inorganic chemistry, thin-film deposition and electrical device physics,” said Jason Carlson, president and CEO of QD Vision. Also read: SEMI honors quantum dot research at QD Vision

In August 2011, the DoD Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded QD Vision Inc. $900,000 to advance their QD infrared (IR) materials and deliver two prototype devices over 12 months.

QD Vision is a quantum dot product company that delivers highly differentiated lighting and display solutions. To learn more about QD Vision’s Government Business, visit http://www.qdvision.com/government-contracts.

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March 13, 2012 – Marketwire — Engineered films maker UniPixel Inc. (NASDAQ:UNXL) will have Carestream Tollcoating manufacture and distribute its Diamond Guard protective cover films for displays including finger print resistant (FPR), anti-glare (AG), and DGU (Diamond Guard Ultra) Hard Coat versions.

Diamond Guard film is based on UniPixel’s proprietary resins and Carestream Tollcoating’s manufacturing, coating, and converting processes.

Carestream Tollcoating provides high-precision contract coating services and optical grade PET film, specializing in the application of aqueous and solvent coatings on flexible substrates for imaging, printed electronics, display, electronic component, nanotechnology, battery, and other flexible advanced material markets. Unipixel praised its partner’s expertise in solutions preparation, film manufacturing, converting and packaging.

"Several dozen major electronic OEMs and ODMs are currently evaluating and testing Diamond Guard film using product produced both in-house and during the Carestream Tollcoating certification production runs," said UniPixel CEO Reed Killion, noting that some of these evaluation sites are now submitting purchase orders for test piloting purposes, with production-level shipments the next step.

With certification completed, Carestream Tollcoating can offer production capacity of more than 100 million square feet a year.

The premium-grade protective cover films boast visual transparency, scratch resistance, and bubble-free installation. They address a range of consumer markets and applications, from mobile and medical device protective covers to retail signage and the automotive aftermarket.

Carestream Tollcoating, a division of Carestream Health, Inc., is a premium contract coating services provider specializing in the application of aqueous and solvent coatings on flexible substrates for display component, battery component, membrane, medical devices, nanotechnology, imaging products and other flexible advanced materials. Internet: www.tollcoating.com or www.carestream.com.

UniPixel Inc. (NASDAQ:UNXL) delivers performance engineered films to the lighting, display and flexible electronics markets. UniPixel’s high-volume roll-to-roll or continuous flow manufacturing process offers high-fidelity replication of advanced micro-optic structures and surface characteristics over large areas. For further information, visit www.unipixel.com.

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March 9, 2012 — Confovis will begin providing MountainsMap imaging and surface analysis software from Digital Surf with its ConfoCAM LED grid-confocal measuring systems for inspection and research.

MountainsMap imaging and surface analysis software provides real-time 3D imaging, using the latest surface metrology standards and methods and generating quality reports automatically. It allows users to visualize the 3D surface topography of a sample in real time, aiding in surface texture and geometry metrology. It uses ISO 25178 3D parameters and ISO 16610 advanced filtering techniques. Full metrological traceability is assured because every analysis step is recorded in a hierarchical analysis workflow and series of measurement data sets can be analyzed automatically using a workflow as a template. Universal ASCII data export means that numerical results can be exported in Excel-compatible text files for interfacing with third-party systems.

ConfoCAM LED grid-confocal measurement systems have no mechanical moving parts in the illumination, axial (Z) resolution down to 1nm, and fast processing speeds in a compact form factor. The tools are designed to inspect semiconductors, solar cells, flat panel displays (FPDs), lenses, medical devices, precision components after milling and grinding, optoelectronics components, micro electro mechanical system (MEMS), coatings and polymer surfaces, microfluidic chips, and more.

Confovis provides optical surface test and measurement instrumentation, suiting semiconductor and flat-panel display (FPD) inspection tasks.

Digital Surf provides surface analysis software for all types of surface metrology instrument including 2D and 3D profilometers, optical microscopes and scanning probe microscopes. Internet: www.digitalsurf.com.

March 8, 2012 — Shipments of 3D liquid crystal display (LCD) TV panels spiked to 7.8 million in Q4 2011, up 26% quarter to quarter (Q/Q). As a result, total 3D TV panel shipments in 2011 reached 21.2 million, accounting for 10% of all LCD TV panels shipped, reports NPD DisplaySearch.

Panel makers are targeting very strong growth of 138% for 2012, which would lead to 3D LCD TV panel shipments of 50 million units, for a penetration rate of 21.6% of all LCD TV panel shipments.

“As brands continue to promote 3D, end-user awareness and interest is growing. While there are still concerns about the lack of 3D content and services, as well as end-users’ needs, LCD TV panel makers have pushed 3D capability via lower prices and the introduction of new, cost-effective technologies,” noted David Hsieh, Vice President, Greater China Market for NPD DisplaySearch. Hsieh added, “Many TV brands have started to list 3D as a basic feature for their models above a certain level. This, along with reduction in 3D panel premiums, will be the main driver for 3D penetration in TV panels. Meanwhile, improvements in patterned retarder film manufacturing and lamination stability will increase output through yield rate enhancement.”

According to the report, shutter glass technology use is still larger than patterned retarder technology, with 6.2% penetration in total LCD TV panel shipments in 2011, with patterned retarder accounting for 3.9%. According to the NPD DisplaySearch estimates of panel makers’ shipment targets, 2012 penetration rates will increase to 11.6% for shutter glass type and 10.0% for pattern retarder type.

In addition to TV, panel makers are aggressively promoting 3D monitor panels, especially for consumer entertainment and gaming PCs. In 3D LCD monitor panels, pattern retarder manufacturers are more aggressive than shutter glass makers. Panel makers are targeting shipments of more than 1.5 million per quarter from Q2’12 onward. This is up from 235K in Q4’11.

Table. LCD TV Panel Shipment Shares by Type. Source: DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report – Advanced LED + 3D.
Application Q2’11 Actual Q3’11 Actual Q4’11 Actual Q1’12 Forecast Q2’12 Forecast Q3’12 Forecast Q4’12 Forecast
2D 90.7% 88.2% 85.9% 84.8% 79.0% 76.5% 74.3%
3D Pattern Retarder 3.6% 4.8% 5.9% 6.2% 10.2% 11.1% 12.1%
3D Shutter Glass 5.8% 7.1% 8.3% 9.0% 10.8% 12.4% 13.6%

 
The NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report covers the entire range of large-area panels shipped worldwide and regionally. The report analyzes historical shipments and forecast projections with 100% coverage of panel makers. Access it at http://www.displaysearch.com/cps/rde/xchg/displaysearch/hs.xsl/quarterly_large_area_tft_lcd_shipment_report.asp

NPD DisplaySearch is a global market research and consulting firm specializing in the display supply chain, as well as the emerging photovoltaic/solar cell industries. For more information, visit http://www.displaysearch.com/.

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BUSINESS WIRE — Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAB), semiconductor manufacturing imaging technology supplier, purchased its US nanoFab building from Micron Technology Inc., paying approximately $35 million. PLAB expects to save $5 million annually after the deal.

PLAB previously leased from the building’s owner Micron. In connection therewith, the company also amended its credit facility adding a 5-year term loan for $25 million and reducing interest rates by 25 basis points on borrowings as defined in the credit facility.

As a result of the purchase, Photronics’ operating lease with Micron for the nanoFab facility has been cancelled. This reduced the Company’s related outstanding operating lease commitments by a total of $15 million for fiscal years 2013 and 2014. Accordingly, as a result of this transaction, beginning in fiscal year 2013, the Company’s net cash flow will improve by approximately $5 million annually and its expenses will be reduced by approximately $5 million annually.

Chief Financial Officer Sean T. Smith, Photronics commented, “The acquisition of this state-of-the-art facility is another step forward in our ongoing work to improve cash flow and reduce expenses.”

Photronics manufactures photomasks for manufacturing semiconductors and flat panel displays (FPDs), as well as other electronic components. Additional information is available at www.photronics.com.

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Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed the first functional oxide thin films that can be used efficiently in electronics, opening the door to an array of new high-power devices and smart sensors. This is the first time that researchers have been able to produce positively charged (p-type) conduction and negatively charged (n-type) conduction in a single oxide material, launching a new era in oxide electronics.

To make functional electronic devices, you need materials with a “p-n junction,” where the positively charged and negatively charged materials meet. Solid state silicon electronics achieved this decades ago, but are limited by the amount of power and temperature they can handle. Oxide materials are an attractive alternative to silicon because they can handle more power.

However, attempts to pair different p-type and n-type oxide materials previously ran into problems at the interface of the two materials – the p-n junction was always inefficient.

“We avoided this problem by using the same material for p- and n-type conduction,” says Dr. Jay Narayan, the John C. Fan Distinguished Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at NC State and co-author of a paper describing the research. “This is a new era in oxide electronics.”

Specifically, Narayan’s team used lasers to create positively charged nickel oxide (NiO) thin films, then converted the top layer of those films to n-type. Because they could control the thickness of the n-layer, the researchers were able to control the depth and characteristics of the p-n junction. “This spatial and temporal selectivity provides unprecedented control to ‘write’ p-n junctions by laser beams and create ultra high-density device features for oxide electronics,” Narayan says.

By enabling the development of oxide electronics, the research allows for the creation of a host of new technologies in a wide array of fields. For example, because oxides can handle higher voltages than silicon-based electronics, the material could be used to create higher voltage switches for the power grid, which would allow more power to be transmitted on the existing infrastructure. Similarly, this would allow the development of sensors for use in higher-temperature environments, because oxides are more stable at high temperatures.

Oxide electronics could also be used to create new sensors for monitoring gases, since oxide materials can interact with oxygen. These sensors could have a variety of applications, including testing for air toxicity in security situations.

“These materials are also transparent,” Narayan says, “so this makes transparent electronics possible.”

The paper, “Controlled p-type to n-type conductivity transformation in NiO thin films by ultraviolet-laser irradiation,” is published online in the Journal of Applied Physics. The paper was co-authored by Pranav Gupta, a Ph.D. student at NC State; Narayan; and Drs. Titas Dutta and Siddhartha Mal, both former Ph.D. students at NC State now working at Intel. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation.

March 6, 2012 — One of every three liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs is expected to be produced through an outsourcing partner in 2012, reports Displaybank in "LCD TV Outsourcing Production Industry Analysis and Forecast." LCD TV outsourced production accounted for 29% of the global LCD TV market with 59.5 million units in 2011. This will grow to 32.5% in 2012. Displaybank predicts that the outsourcing production ratio of LCD TV will be expanded to 47% in 2015.  

Table. Representative outsourced production makers’ 2011 LCD TV shipments (Millions). SOURCE: Displaybank, LCD TV Outsourcing Production Industry Analysis and Forecast.
  TPV Vestel Foxconn Wistron Compal Amtran
2011 (E) 13.7 7.6 8.5 7.1 5.4 3.7
Year over year (YOY) -10% 9% 46% 82% -1% -15%

Outsourcing production has advantages in fixed costs, minimal investment, R&D cost savings, risk reduction of component/material supply and demand, efficiency in inventory management, and other areas. Many TV makers are expected to expand their outsourcing production ratio of LCD TVs. Sony significantly decreased its fixed costs by diminishing its number of TV production plants from 12 to 4 through the restructuring of TV business. Recently, the company has announced a plan to divide their TV division into LCD TV division, next-generation TV division, and outsourcing division.  

The LCD panel accounts for the largest cost portion (based on 32", 52% of cost). By adopting outsourcing production, the risk caused by the panel price fluctuations can be offset to some degree.

Figure. Production cost structure of 32" HD CCFL 60Hz LCD TV. SOURCE: Displaybank, LCD TV Outsourcing Production Industry Analysis and Forecast.

TV makers are predicted to expand outsourcing to improve profits. Japan-based giant TV makers such as Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, and etc. are building the strategy to expand their outsourcing production. Most outsourcing production companies have aggressive business plans this year. LCD TV outsource makers include Taiwan-based TPV, Wistron, and Compal, China-based Foxconn, as well as Europe-based Vestel. TPV ranks top based on robust customer relationships and the experience of the monitor outsourced production. Foxconn is becoming a top-tier outsource maker rapidly, thanks to strong value chain integration. Vestel is expanding its market share based on the local TV brand customers all over Europe.

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SEMI has acquired the Plastics Electronics Conference and Exhibition, a move which will help advance the successful commercialization of new products in the field of organic and inorganic large area electronics (OLAE). The Plastics Electronics Conference, organized by a prestigious committee of industry and academic leaders, has co-located with SEMICON Europa since 2010.  Following the acquisition, the organizing committee will serve as a Plastic Electronics Special Interest Group, guiding SEMI activities and services worldwide.

OLAE promises a large market potential of over $50 billion by 2020 according to the Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and several other research organizations. The technology is an answer to many challenges in our society with regard to renewable energy, environment protection, information, entertainment, communication, e-mobility, health and more. OLAE covers five important areas — OLED Lighting, Organic and Inorganic Photovoltaic, OLED Displays, Organic Electronics and Integrated Smart Systems — which all have a similar disruptive technology in common.

 The Plastic Electronics Special Interest Group (PE-SIG) will be governed by distinguished board members from leading industry corporations, research institutes and academia, including executives from BASF, Merck, Technical University of Dresden, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, and others. The PE-SIG of SEMI will focus its activities on Roadmaps, Standardization, Industry Research and Statistics, Conferences, Exhibitions and Public Policy worldwide. The 8th edition of the Electronic Conference and Exhibition will be held in conjunction with SEMICON Europa in Dresden (9-11 October 2012) and will be extended to other regions in the future.

 “The SEMI track record of using global industry collaboration, advocacy and standards to expand and optimize major industries such as semiconductors, displays, solar PV, and related technologies will greatly help the emerging OLAE industry to move from lab to fab,” says Dr. Karl Hahn, senior vice-president of BASF and board member of the newly established PE-SIG. “There are substantial synergies between technologies, equipment, materials, and services among SEMI member companies and the rapidly developing OLAE industry,” says Thomas Morrow, head of Emerging Markets at SEMI Headquarters.

March 5, 2012 – JCN Newswire — Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and Panasonic Corp. (NYSE:PC) reached a final agreement to transfer the Mobara plant of Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of Panasonic, to Japan Display Inc.

Japan Display (provisional name) is a new company under INCJ that will develop a new manufacturing line for small- and medium-sized display production at the Mobara plant. The deal was originally announced in November 2011, with plans to complete the transfer by April 2012.

INCJ was established in July 2009 as a public-private partnership that provides financial, technological and management support for next-generation businesses. INCJ specifically supports those projects that combine technologies and varied expertise across industries and materialize open innovation.

Panasonic Corporation develops and manufactures electronic products for consumer, business, and industrial sectors. The company’s shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:PC) stock exchanges. For more information, visit the company’s website at http://panasonic.net.

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