Category Archives: OLEDs

April 5, 2012 — Interconnect materials supplier Engineered Conductive Materials LLC uncrated a low-temperature curing conductive adhesive, DB-1541-LTC, for organic light emitting diode (OLED) and organic photovoltaics (OPV) manufacturing.

The material is formulated for conductivity and stability on various substrates when cured at 100°C or higher (Cure time of 1min @ 180°C or slower at lower temperatures). Its dispensing work life exceeds 48 hours (25% increase in viscosity).

The product resists damp heat and boasts conductivity stability on tin, tin-silver and silver-plated ribbons. It cures to a rubber-like flexibility with high peel strength, withstanding stresses induced in reel-to-reel (R2R) manufacturing processes and flexible end-use applications.

Engineered Conductive Materials, LLC (ECM) is a wholly-owned company of Engineered Materials Systems, Inc. (EMS). ECM’s technology focus is electronic circuit fabrication that compliments EMS’s circuit assembly product line. Web site: www.conductives.com.

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April 2, 2012 — Samsung Electronics launched the Galaxy Tab 7.7 in 2012, a commercial high-volume tablet based on a medium-sized active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display. AMOLED offers benefits in the weight, thickness, and battery life, but this comes at a higher material cost, says research firm Displaybank, part of IHS.

Though Galaxy Tab 7.7 uses a 7.7" screen, it supports 1280 x 800 resolution, the same as the Samsung’s 10.1" tablet. It is also the thinnest — 7.98mm — of the products released so far. The tablet’s battery capacity is 2100mAh, the highest among 7" products. And finally, it is the lightest — 335g — of products in its size group. These superlatives were achieved from adopting AMOLED for the display, but the accompanying increase in main material cost was inevitable.

Displaybank performed analyis on Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Tab 7, Apple’s iPad 1 and 2, and other tablets, comparing these to the innovation, cost competitiveness, and supply chain of major components of Galaxy Tab 7.7 (see the table at top).

Access the report, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 (GT-P6800) Structure and Cost Analysis, at http://www.displaybank.com/_eng/research/report_view.html?id=861&cate=1

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April 2, 2012 — Intel, SEMATECH, and other top chip makers, suppliers, and research organizations will send speakers to SEMICON West, July 10-12 in San Francisco. The event will single out new transistor architectures, advanced lithography, 450mm wafers, and other major developments for the microelectronics sector.

Shekhar Borkar, director of Extreme-scale Technologies at Intel Labs, will provide the technology keynote on Intel’s mid- and long-term development efforts in IC scaling, power reduction, and performance improvements. Attend at 9:00am, July 10.

SEMI plans 3 TechXPOT sessions at SEMICON West: Fully depleted transistor architectures on Tuesday, next-generation lithography on Wednesday, and the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) on Thusday.

Learn about advances — and challenges — in fully depleted devices and III-V channel materials for new transistors at 10:30am, July 10, in the South Hall TechXPOT session. Speakers:

  • Raj Jammy, VP, Materials and Emerging Technologies, SEMATECH
  • Carlos Mazuré, EVP  and CTO, Soitec
  • Kaizad Mistry, VP, director of Logic Technology Integration, Intel
  • Aaron Thean, director, Logic Program, imec

Lithography achievements, technology roadmaps and development efforts will be discussed in the July 11,10:30am, South Hall TechXPOT session. Learn about extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) readiness from transmission and conversion efficiency to mask and resist work. The session will also cover double-patterning and the role of complementary technologies, such as e-beam lithography. Speakers:

  • Yan Borodovsky, senior Intel fellow, director, Advanced Lithography, Intel
  • Stefan Wurm, director, Lithography, SEMATECH
  • Hans Meiling, director, Product Management EUV, ASML
  • Franklin Kalk, CTO, Toppan Photomasks
  • Serge Tedesco, IMAGINE (MAPPER), program manager, CEA-Leti
  • Donis Flagello, NRCA fellow, Nikon Research Corporation of America

The International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) sessions will be part of the TechXPOT and Extreme Electronics platforms, July 12.

The Test Vision 2020 Conference will be held in conjunction with SEMICON West, on July 11-12.

A special session on supply chain opportunities in 450mm wafers will be held on July 12.  

Other TechXPOT sessions, yet to be announced, will address new materials, advances in 3D-IC, MEMS, test, advanced packaging, LEDs, OLEDs, and productivity solutions for 200mm and 300mm fabs.  

Register through April 12 for a free Expo Only badge. For more information, including keynotes, programs, registration, and exhibiting, please visit www.semiconwest.org.

SEMI is a global industry association serving the nano- and microelectronics manufacturing supply chains. For more information, visit www.semi.org.

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March 23, 2012 — H.C. Starck exhibited at the FPD China show this week, noting that the majority of flat panel display (FPD) production occurs in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China. The rapid growth of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens in the FPD industry punctuates the increased need for high-tech materials, the company asserts.

”We are excited about the recent industry developments in FPD,” says Dmitry Shashkov, president and CEO of H.C. Starck’s Fabricated Products business segment. “New technologies such as ultra-high resolution displays and OLED demand different performance levels from all display materials and components."

H.C. Starck provides molybdenum planar and rotary sputtering targets for thin film sputtering applications in Asia. At FPD China, the company promoted its Gen 4.5 and larger molybdenum sputtering targets with high deposition efficiency, >99.5% density, and >99.95% purity. The planar targets are as large as 14 x 1580 x 1950; rotary targets reach 2700mm long.

H.C. Starck manufactures custom rotary and planar sputter targets from molybdenum (Mo), tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb), tungsten (W), and their alloys. The company supplies refractory metals and technical ceramics to the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. Learn more at www.hcstarck.com.

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March 22, 2012 – BUSINESS WIRE — The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) inaugurated its Dow Seoul Technology Center, a global research & development (R&D) center with focus on technological advances in display technologies and semiconductor-related applications.

The Dow Seoul Technology Center is located in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do, strategically near to semiconductor and display customers. The 23,700sq.m., 5-story site will employ approximately 300 people at capacity.

With the addition of the new R&D Center, Dow has invested more than USD$400 million in Korea over the last decade to establish advanced manufacturing sites for semiconductor, display and light-emitting diode (LED) technologies, and to further new business development in the area of electronic materials.

Also read: DOW CMP slurry boasts lower defects and better removal rates

Major areas of research and development at the Dow Seoul Technology Center include lithography, organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), display materials, and advanced chip packaging to support growth.

The site will be the global hub for Dow’s OLED research, and Dow has also equipped the site with a Nikon 193nm immersion scanner and 300mm tool cluster. Dow also has a 193nm dry scanner at its Cheonan, Korea facility.

Dow Electronic Materials is a global supplier of materials and technologies to the semiconductor, interconnect, finishing, photovoltaic, display, LED and optics markets. Dow (NYSE:DOW) is a science and technology company. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

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March 20, 2012 – BUSINESS WIRE — Novaled AG filed a registration statement on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a proposed initial public offering (IPO) of its American Depositary Shares (ADS). Novaled develops and commercializes technologies and materials for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and other organic electronics.

Novaled offers OLED product manufacturers a combination of proprietary technology, materials and expertise, licensing and selling organic conductivity doping technology and materials for use in the commercial mass production of display products in the OLED industry.

Novaled has partnerships with OLED companies globally. It boasts a portfolio of 500+ patents granted and pending on OLED technologies, structures and materials.

The company was spun out of the Technical University and the Fraunhofer Institute of Dresden in 2001. It became commercially active in 2003. In late 2011, Samsung Venture Investment Corporation became a shareholder, and Novaled founders Professor Karl Leo, Dr. Jan Blochwitz-Nimoth, and Dr. Martin Pheiffer won the Deutscher Zukunftspreis in Germany.

For more information, visit www.novaled.com.

Legal statements:
Novaled intends to apply to have its ADSs listed on the NASDAQ Global Market or New York Stock Exchange. Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Deutsche Bank Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Canaccord Genuity, Commerzbank, Cowen and Company and JMP Securities are acting as co-managers.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification of these securities under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States of America. The registration statement may be accessed directly through the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the IPO may be obtained, when available, from Goldman, Sachs & Co., Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, telephone: +1-866-471-2526, facsimile: +1-212-902-9316 or by emailing [email protected], or from Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Prospectus Department, Harborside Financial Center, 100 Plaza One, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311.

This communication has been prepared on the basis that there will be no public offering of the securities in the European Economic Area. No approved prospectus will be prepared in connection with the proposed IPO. Any offer of securities in any Member State of the EEA which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (2003/71/EC), as amended, including any relevant implementing measures to implement the Directive 2010/73/EU, (each, a "Relevant Member State") will only be made if no prospectus for offers of securities is required to be published. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make any offer in a Relevant Member State of securities which are the subject of the IPO contemplated in this communication may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for Novaled AG to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive (as amended by the Directive 2010/73/EU, to the extent such amendments have already been implemented in the Relevant Member State) in relation to such offer. Novaled AG has not authorized, and will not authorize, the making of any offer of securities in circumstances in which an obligation arises for Novaled AG to publish a prospectus for such offer.

In the United Kingdom, this communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at persons who (i) are investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) (the “Order”) or (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) (all such persons together being referred to as “Relevant Persons”). This communication is directed only at Relevant Persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. 

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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 1, 2012 — Dynamic changes in the flat panel display (FPD) industry range from new liquid crystal display (LCD), active-matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED), touch, and flexible technologies to the emergence of China as the leading consumer and manufacturer of display products. FPD China, a display technology exposition taking place March 20-22 in Shanghai alongside SEMICON China and SOLARCON China, covers the entire industry supply chain with 3 main areas: Equipment, materials and components; Panel and modules; and End products.

FPD China attracts the global top 10 display suppliers, emerging Chinese suppliers, leading global panel makers, and leading consumer brands of China.

Special pavilions will highlight touch and next-generation display technologies, including the latest in 3D and advanced man-machine interfaces. A new Cross-strait AMOLED Industry Forum will feature leading FPD panel makers and suppliers from Taiwan and China.

With a strong partnership between SEMI and SID, FPD China 2012 also features the 2012 China FPD Conference (March 21-22), which provides an international platform for leading FPD industry technologists, analysts, and executives. Highlighted speakers will share their latest knowledge with keynote presentations on March 21:

  • “Technology and Application Outlooks for Small-Middle Size Display” by Jia-Heng Wang, co-chief operating officer and executive vice president of BOE Group
  • “Evolving Glass Solutions Address Challenges in Advanced Display Trends” by Fang Li, president of Corning Display Technologies China
  • “Greener TFT-LCD and Display Panels” by Han-pin Hsieh, professor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Chiao Tung University (Hsinchu, Taiwan) 
  • “Orientation of China Mobile Display Market” by Qing-Quan Liu, Marketing director of Tianma Micro-electronic

In addition, the FPD Conference includes technical sessions on Next Display Technology; Touch Screen; Naked-Eye 3D; 2 sessions on TFT-LCD; and OLED.

For more information, visit www.fpdchina.org.

SEMI is a global industry association serving the nano- and microelectronic manufacturing supply chains.

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February 20, 2012 — Samsung Electronics is under a swirl of rumors about spinning off its liquid crystal display (LCD) manufacturing division, which could lead into a displays business restructuring involving Samsung Mobile Display (AMOLED displays maker) and Samsung LCD.

If this hypothetical reorganization came to be, Samsung Displays would be the biggest display company covering the key flat panel display (FPD) technologies from small to large panels.

The root of this reorganization talk is how Samsung Electronics can make the transition from LCD to active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays most efficiently, holding on to its leading position in each technology while minimizing losses through manufacturing and procurement, as well as business synergies, including support of Samsung’s wide array of branded products and external sales. 

Also read: Samsung plans record investments in 2012

The LCD market has been in oversupply since Q2 2010, and panel makers have suffered losses. At the same time, AMOLED has matured and gained market acceptance. Panel makers are changing their strategies in order to reverse their losses, and with the most substantial resources in AMOLED, the Samsung group is moving fast to make big changes.

NPD DisplaySearch believes that Samsung’s LCD/AMOLED transistion timeline seems to be moving up; the restructuring could take place as soon as the middle of 2012.

Read NPD DisplaySearch’s blog post on the possible reorg, Will Samsung Spin Off its LCD Panel Division? What are the Possible Impacts? for a discussion of the reorganization method (merge OLED and LCD units, or spin off LCD first?), the impact on Samsung’s LCD customers with a change in its sales and component sourcing strategies, how changes would affect the market price for LCD panels, and what Samsung suppliers can expect.

David Hsieh is Vice President, Greater China Market at NPD DisplaySearch.

Yoonsung Chung is Director, Large-Area Displays & FPD Materials, NPD DisplaySearch.

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February 14, 2012 — While the flat panel display (FPD) industry faces severe challenges, long-term supply demand models show a positive future, according to the NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly FPD Supply/Demand and Capital Spending Report.

Figure. Supply/demand balance in flat panel displays (000m2/quarter). Source: NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly FPD Supply/Demand and Capital Spending Report.

FPD capital expenditures (capex) are in decline, even when factoring in investment for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) capacity, Barclays warns, calling it a "substantial contraction in FPD capex spending." But the industry will begin to right itself, thanks to the "cyclical nature of market forces," said Charles Annis, VP of manufacturing research at NPD DisplaySearch, stating that 2012 and 2013’s capacity expansion delays will converge with increasing demand, pushing the industry upward in the long run.

Good news isn’t on the doorstep, however. The H2 2012 recovery in FPD may be "somewhat more muted" than originally expected, Barclays reports, with Samsung’s China fab investments delayed, and the magnitude of the OLED investment by the Taiwanese and Japanese panel makers still uncertain. FPD makers have lost money for the past 6 consecutive quarters, its longest down turn since the industry began. This caused an expansion freeze across nearly all liquid crystal display (LCD) TV fabs. The overall FPD equipment market will suffer a severe recession in 2012, falling 63% from 2011, DisplaySearch notes. Also read: Top 10 LCD manufacturing trends of 2012

On the demand size, lower prices are stimulating consumer spending, particularly for large (50”+) TVs, DisplaySearch reports. Prices for large-sized liquid crystal display (LCD) panels stabilized in December 2011, thanks to better-than expected sales and decreased production, according to an IHS iSuppli LCD PriceTrak report.

The net effect will be a tightening of the supply/demand balance, particularly in 2013, when the glut ratio is forecast to fall well below 10% for the first time since Q2 2010. This will set off another crystal cycle of improved panel pricing, higher profitability, and increased investment. Spending on new active matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) production lines in particular will drive the FPD rebound in 2013.

Another technology, indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) LCDs, entered mass production in late 2011. Initially, IGZO will focus on LCD tablet and ultrabook display markets, but will likely see wider use in super-high-resolution large LCD TVs and some AMOLEDs. IGZO will grow continuously in the future.

The NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly FPD Supply/Demand and Capital Spending Report features in-depth analysis and critical data and detailed interpretation of market and technical trends. 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. Access reports at http://www.displaysearch.com/.

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