Category Archives: Displays

September 5, 2011 — Displaybank released "Capacitive Touch Panel Technology by Structure & Process Analysis," a research report on capacitive touch panel technology, structures and manufacturing processes. Trends include larger sizes with a narrow or white bezel, capacitive touch panels without separate touch sensors, and a move away from film-based and single-layer glass-based panels.
 
Tablets and smartphones are driving enormous demand for touch panel displays, particularly projected capacitive (PROCAP) style panels.

Technical issues and a lack of cooperation could restrain touchscreen growth. Companies have several solutions for PROCAP touch panel structures (Figure 1), and each technology will need to develop for company differentiation.

Figure 1. Diversified composition of PROCAP touch panel technology. Source: Displaybank, Taiwan Touch Panel Industry and Competition Analysis, KDC 2011.

Capacitive touch panel is progressing toward cover window integrated touch, which does not require separate touch sensor. This structure is known as G2 (or DPW, TOC) and it offers improved optical and touch performance. Improved productivity and yield will lower the cost of this technology, and many current touchscreen makers are actively engaging G2 processes.

Figure 2. Structural comparison of PROCAP touch panel technology. Source: Displaybank, Capacitive Touch Panel Technology by Structure & Process Analysis, June 2011.

The touchscreen display industry is moving from film-based (GFF) or glass-based (GG) to G1F, G2, GF2, and glass-based multi-layer structure, AMOLED On-cell technology. The advantages of GFF are low capital cost, suitable for small quantity batch production, and light structure. GG is suitable for mass production and has better appearance properties, but it has high investment costs and is heavier than film-based panels. In past, the structure was fixed as GG or GFF but now new technologies such as G1F, G2, and AMOLED On-cell are gradually gaining share.

Displaybank’s Touch Panel Industry Report/Consulting Service covers Touch Panel Market and Industry, Technology, Patent Analysis and Product Structure Analysis. Learn more at www.displaybank.com.

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September 5, 2011 – JCN Newswire — ULVAC Inc. uncrated the UNECS-3000A spectroscopic ellipsometer, which can measure the thinness of a thin film and optical constant. The noncontact film measurement tool targets semiconductor and liquid crystal display (LCD) manufacturing control.

The tool can be used to evaluate resist film thickness for semiconductor lithography and organic EL display film, and in research and development as well as production-line measurement tasks.

Ulvac released the UNECS-2000 with a compact sensor and faster measurement in 2010. Teh UNECS-3000A builds on this technology with an automatic mapping function to measure the thickness distribution of the substrate surface and support 300mm wafers.

The UNECS-3000A measures 106 points on a 300mm wafer in 120 seconds (maximum speed of 20ms/point). Measurement speed is acheived via spectroscopic ellipsometry with two high-order retarders.

The automatic R-Theta stage supports a maximum 300mm wafer, automatically measuring surface thickness and optical constant distribution. Results are displayed in a color map. Up to six layers of film thickness can be analyzed at one time. (Film thickness and optical constants can be measured simultaneously only for the upper layer of film.)

Automatic height adjustment, analysis software, and other equipment are standard. The materials table file, containing optical constants for substrates and films, can be edited and added to by users.

Ulvac expects to sell 20 units during the first year.

ULVAC (Ultimate in Vacuum), Inc. (TSE: 6728) provides equipment for flat panel display, solar cell, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. For more information, please visit www.ulvac.co.jp/eng.

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September 1, 2011 – PRNewswire — Reportlinker.com released The Future of Mobile Display by ROA Holdings, which finds that larger panels are increasing mobile device usage, and AMOLED is replacing LCD as the mainstream display technology. Mobile device companies, rather than display makers, are leading the drive for new technologies.

Active organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) is ousting LCD for displays because of better performance and capacity of realizing flexible display. Electronic paper display (EPD), quantum dot (QD) and micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) are emerging along with new applications for these display technologies. New displays, including 3D and flexible displays, are being aggressively pursued. From 2008, mobile display prices declined as technological differentiation became trivial. Recently, however, technologies are how mobile device manufacturers differentiate themselves. Larger and better-resolution display panels neccesitate lower power consumption and superior readability in sunlight.

Mobile Display is emerging as one of the key hardware groups among mobile handset manufacturers. Mobile display panels have been developed with technological characteristics different from IT devices and televisions. Also, its development speed has been faster than other applications. While size and technology are hardly standardized in mobile displays, ROA Holdings defines mobile display as a 10" or smaller display customized to the mobile environment.

Initially, Japanese companies dominated mobile displays with competitive technologies. Soon, Taiwanese companies arrived with cheap price and large supply. Now, mobile device companies like Apple are leading technology development. Apple and Samsung are investing in improved hardware and related technologies.

In 2010, mobile display surpassed laptop display market with achieving a total shipment of 3 billion and sales of USD24 billion. The market is expected to maintain an annual growth rate of 5%.  

Each mobile application is expected to develop in its own market direction:
Mobile handsets are growing touchscreen usage. More smartphones are being equipped with a 3.5-inch display or larger panel at 250ppi. Technological fortitude is neccessary to compete in the smartphone display market.

Digital imaging standards have improved from conventional DSC standards to mobile handset standards, with bigger and better-resolution screens. Prices are falling faster compared to previous years.

Portable media players, like iPods, are changing the media player landscape, making it more high-end. As the iPod goes, so to will the rest of the PMP market.

Automotive applications, like factory-integrated navigation and portable navigation, are seeing a price decline as the market becomes saturated.

Amusement is a closed market dominated by two manufacturers and two display suppliers. The market is active in adopting new technologies.

The report provides quantitative prediction and qualitative analysis on the possibilities and values of technologies, including AMOLED, EPD, Quantum Dot and MEMS in a way to verify their effectiveness. Order Wireless Technology Industry: The Future of Mobile Display at http://www.reportlinker.com/p0609414/The-Future-of-Mobile-Display.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Wireless_Technology

September 1, 2011 — 3D-capable thin film transistor (TFT) panel shipments were primarily for LCD TVs, reaching 4.9 million units in Q2 2011. This represents 118% quarter-to-quarter (Q/Q) growth in shipments, and an increase in 3D penetration in LCD TV panels from 4.5% to 9.3% Q/Q.

According to the DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report, panel makers are targeting 53% growth in 3D LCD TV panel shipments for Q3, as shutter glass and pattern retarder technologies are maturing and costs continue to fall.

Also read: Asian TFT-LCD market drives manufacturing trends

TV: The LCD TV panels have been in oversupply for more than a year. "Panel makers are motivated to develop new features like LED and 3D to increase value.," said David Hsieh, VP, Greater China Market, DisplaySearch. Hsieh notes that 3D penetration is increasing thanks to price declines and better panel manufacturing technologies, but "there are still doubts about whether the market is ready for 3D." 3D is finding use beyond high-end products — panel makers are developing cost-effective 3D, such as 60 Hz refresh rate with signal simulation or lower frequency with blinking backlight units.

For LCD TVs, larger panel sizes are seeing faster penetration of 3D, as the benefits are clearer. In 40" and larger LCD TV panel shipments, 3D penetration increased from 12.7% in Q1’11 to 21.7% in Q2’11. TV panel makers are aiming to reach 28.2% in Q3’11.
 
In terms of 3D LCD TV technologies, shutter glass is still dominating the market, with 61% in Q2. However, pattern retarder panels are growing rapidly, with 271% Q/Q growth rate in Q2, compared to 74% Q/Q growth of shutter glass type panels. According to panel makers’ production plans, pattern retarder panel shipments will be reach those of shutter glass panels in Q3’11.

Table 1. 3D penetration in LCD TV panels. Source: DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report- Advanced LED + 3D
Size Q1 11 Q2 11 Q3 11
32" 0.6% 2.8% 3.8%
37" 7.1% 15.7% 20.8%
40" 5.7% 11.5% 13.8%
42" 6.5% 15.4% 22.5%
46"  26.6% 34.3% 39.5%
47" 20.0% 38.5% 52.8%
52" 24.9% 44.4% 54.5%
55" 32.2% 46.1% 59.7%
60" 28.6% 22.6% 36.7%
Total 40" and larger 12.7% 21.7% 28.2%

Desktop monitors: 3D monitor panel shipments are growing rapidly, from less than 80,000 units in Q1 2011 to more than 250,000 in Q2 2011, thanks to gamers and other special applications. Desktop monitors typically use shutter glass, but pattern retarder and switched cell solutions are emerging rapidly too. Panel makers expect to double shipments in Q3 2011.

Notebooks: Volumes of 3D panels for notebook PCs are still relatively small, with less than 100,000 units shipped in Q2 2011. However, panel makers are promoting shutter glass, pattern retarder, and autostereoscopic solutions to the gamer and entertainment- focused notebook users. Shipments are expected to grow by 126% in Q3 2011.
 
The DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report – Advanced LED + 3D 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. For more information, contact Charles Camaroto at 1.888.436.7673 or 1.516.625.2452, or [email protected] or regional DisplaySearch office in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan.

DisplaySearch is a global market research and consulting firm specializing in the display supply chain, as well as the emerging photovoltaic/solar cell industries. DisplaySearch provides trend information, forecasts and analyses developed by a global team of experienced analysts with extensive industry knowledge and resources. The NPD Group is its parent company. visit http://www.displaysearch.com/.

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September 1, 2011 — University of Florida materials science and engineering (MSE) researchers developed a manufacturing process for quantum dot (QD) light emitting diodes (LEDs) that is lower cost and higher volume than previous attempts. A start-up company, NanoPhotonica, has licensed the technology and is creating a technology development program to capitalize on the manufacturing breakthrough.

The team solution-processed the LEDs, as opposed to tweaking semiconductor manufacturing processes, said Jiangeng Xue, the research leader and an associate professor of materials science and engineering. They focused on improving existing organic LEDs (OLEDs), which comprise multiple layers of organic materials, such as polymer plastics.

Paul Holloway, distinguished professor of materials science and engineering at UF, led a team developing the quantum dot side of the research. QDs combine sulfur, zinc, selenium and cadmium atoms and emit colored light when electrified. QDs can be fabbed in different sizes to modulate the light color.

Instead of building the hybrid LED via vauum deposition (organic layers) and spin coating (QDs), the teams created a patented device structure that eliminates vacuum deposition and relies solely on spin coating to deposit all the particles and molecules needed for the LED. Device efficiency and lifetime improved compared to previously reported QD-based LED devices, the researchers assert.

The teams will continue the research to investigate continuous roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing or other printing/coating processes that may offer more efficiency and lower costs. "That will remain as a future research and development topic for the university and NanoPhotonica," Xue said.

The QD LEDs could be integrated into large-area flat panel displays or solid state lighting applications.

Results are published in the current online issue of the journal Nature Photonics. Access it here: http://www.nature.com/nphoton/journal/v5/n9/full/nphoton.2011.171.html

Other co-authors of this article are Lei Qian and Ying Zheng, two postdoctoral fellows who worked with the professors on this research. The UF research teams received funding from the Army Research Office, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Florida Energy Systems Consortium.

Courtesy of John Dunn, Jiangeng Xue, and Paul Holloway, www.ufl.edu

Also read: Report from the Organic Electronics Workshop

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August 30, 2011 — Large organic semiconductor molecular structures will lead to plastic-based flexible electronics produced via roll-to-roll processing, inkjet printing or spray deposition, cheaply and in high volumes. Oana Jurchescu, assistant professor of physics at Wake Forest University, and a team of Stanford, Imperial College (London), University of Kentucky and Appalachian State researchers developed an extremely large molecule that is stable and possesses excellent electrical properties at a low cost.

The team studies field-effect transistors (FETs), specifically the effect of molecular structure on their electrical performance. They investigated new organic semiconductor materials amenable to transistor applications and explored their structure-property relationships.

Organic electronics build on carbon-based materials, which can be used to make artificial skin, smart bandages, flexible displays, smart windshields, wearable electronics and electronic wall papers that change patterns with a flip of the switch.

The research was predicated on predictions that larger carbon frameworks would have superior properties to their smaller counterparts. The Wake Forest team’s goal was to make these larger frameworks stable and soluble enough for study. "We need to improve our understanding of how they work," said Jurchescu.

Jurchescu’s lab is part of the physics department and the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials. Wake Forest graduate students Katelyn Goetz and Jeremy Ward also worked on the research.

The team recently published their manuscript in Advanced Materials. Access it here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.201101619/abstract

Learn more about Wake Forest University at http://www.wfu.edu/

August 30, 2011 — The IEEE Photonics Conference 2011 (previously known as the IEEE LEOS Annual Meeting) takes place October 9-13 in Arlington, VA, will gather more than 550 technical presentations on lasers, optoelectronics, lightwave technologies, and other photonic applications. The event aims to tackle important issues, as well as entice students and young photonics professionals. The conference is complemented by a manufacturer’s exhibition.

Attendees — engineers, suppliers, technologists, and students — work in quantum electronic fields involving light, such as displays, sensors, imaging systems, optics & optoelectronics, photovoltaics, interconnects, microwave and nanophotonic devices and systems, planar waveguide technology, lasers, and more.

The presentations focus on technological advances that will benefit communications, energy conservation, computing, medicine, sensing, displays, and other important areas, noted David Plant, IPC-2011 Program Chair and James McGill Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at McGill University.

Plenary speakers on October 10 and 11, 3:30

August 29, 2011 – BUSINESS WIRE — Touchscreens went from showing up in 7% of smartphones in 2006 (prior to the first iPhone launch), to being integrated into 75% of the devices in 2010. Touchscreens were a key driver for the smartphone market’s 325% growth over the 5-year period. The next 5-year period will increase touchscreen infiltration to 97% of all smartphones (by 2016). Touchscreens will be as important as 3G speeds and as common as WiFi, predicts ABI Research.

The evolution of screen and touch technologies triggered rapid growth. Lower-cost resistive touch technology is overwhelmingly being replaced by projected capacitive technology in smartphones, ABI Research reports. The "more elegant" projected capacitive touchscreen was first introduced in mobile phones through the iPhone.

Also read: NAND flash growing on smartphone, tablet integration and $10B more semi capex thanks to tablets, smartphones

Low-cost capacitive touch controllers that use a single layer of sensors instead of two, reducing costs by up to 30%, are opening up a lower-end touchscreen phone market. eReaders, the most fragmented device category in display and touch technologies, now have options that enable finger touch and are "at a cost that could standardize the segment’s displays," says Kevin Burden, vice president, mobile devices, ABI Research.

ABI Research’s report, "Mobile Displays and Touchscreens," covers emerging display and touchscreen technologies for smartphones, handsets, eReaders, media tablets, and PNDs. It also examines competing technologies such as EMR, ERT, resistive, capacitive, and SAW and technologies still in lab development. It provides unit shipments and attach rates by technology and region across the various mobile device segments. Order the report at http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1003804.

The report is part of the Smartphones and Mobile Devices Research Service. ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com.

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August 25, 2011 — Asia’s cleanroom hardware and consumables spending will hit $7.5 billion in 2015, comprising over 60% of the global market, according to the latest revision to the McIlvaine Cleanrooms: World Markets report. America and Europe make up the bulk of the remaining market. Cleanroom demand comes from the concentration of semiconductor, flat panel display, memory storage, and solar panel manufacturing in Asia.

Hardware (cleanroom constructions, walls, floors, filters, HVAC, instrumentation, benchs, and mini-environments) will account for $2.9 billion of that $7.5 billion. This is a modest increase from 2011’s $2.3 billion in cleanroom hardware spending for the region.

Cleanroom hardware spending ($ Millions). SOURCE: McIlvaine Cleanrooms, August 2011.
  2011 2015
Asia 2,299.7 2,889.0
America 829.2 975.8
Europe 652.9 740.3
Africa 24.1 28.7
Total 3,805.9 4,633.8

Consumable purchases (clothing, gloves, wipes, masks, supplies, and chemicals) in Asia will reach $4.6 billion in 2015, up from $3.7 billion in 2011. 2015 cleanroom consumables purchases in Asia will be greater than those of the entire world in 2010. Europe and America will spend roughly the same amount, $1.5 million, on cleanroom consummables in 2015.

Cleanroom consumables ($ Millions). SOURCE: McIlvaine Cleanrooms, August 2011.
  2011 2015
Asia 3,740.5 4,620.5
Europe 1,311.9 1,505.1
America 1,287.3 1,517.6
Africa 30.5 36.1
Total 6,370.2 7,679.3

The McIlvaine Company forecasts that in 2015, 78% of the world

August 24, 2011 — Pico projectors, small projector modules that can be integrated into cell phones, mobile gaming devices, and other electronics, are just gaining market adoption. However, expect pico projectors to exceed 97.5 million units, with revenues hitting $10 billion, by 2017, says Global Industry Analysts Inc. (GIA).

Pico projectors were a 10-model, several-thousand-unit market in 2008. Advances in miniaturization and quality, along with dropping prices, will spur a host of new models in the next 5 years, most designed for embedding in mobile electronics.

The projectors easily fit in with smartphones, digital cameras, and other devices, offering video play, photo and document sharing, video game play, and other functionalities on any surface. Mobile handsets are expected to stimulate the highest growth in pico projectors market. Apple is rumored to be making a line of pico projectors. Cellular service providers could subsidize pico-projector-enhanced phones, benefiting from increased content fees by users.

Beyond mobile consumer devices, pico projectors are finding a market in schools and other educational institutes, thanks to better costs and storage requirements than traditional projectors.

Pico projectors historically used liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) microdisplays with color filters (2008-2009). LCOS with color sequential, digital light processing (DLP), and laser beam steering (LBS) or scanning micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) are coming into use today. In the future, DLP will fuel the majority of pico projectors, followed by LCOS. MEMS scanning technology will see the fastest adoption rate.

Lasers and LEDs are the two predominantly used light sources, with lasers eventually overtaking LEDs, after the commercial introduction of direct green laser. Lasers best suit pico projectors owing to saturated colors projected across the broadest color spectrum, as well as power efficiency, higher resolution, and focus-free operation.

Pico projectors are largely produced in the US, where many of the market pioneers operate. As new players rapidly infiltrate the market, producers could specialize into "accessory" and "standalone" pico projector categories. Major players in the accessory segment include 3M Company, AAXA Technologies Inc., Acer Incorporated, Aiptek Inc., Optoma Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Toshiba Corporation and WowWee Group Limited. Leading module/chipset manufacturers include bTendo Ltd., Lemoptix SA, Light Blue Optics, Luminus Devices Inc., Maradin Ltd., Mezmeriz Inc., Micron Technology Inc., MicroVision Inc., Opus Microsystems Corp., Syndiant Inc., and Texas Instruments Inc.

Global Industry Analysts Inc. published "Pico Projectors: A Global Strategic Business Report" covering these market trends, issues, drivers, company profiles, mergers, acquisitions, product launches and other strategic industry activities. The report provides market estimates and projections in volume (in thousand units) as well as value terms (US$ Million) for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World markets.

For more details about this comprehensive market research report, visit http://www.strategyr.com/Pico_Projectors_Market_Report.asp

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