Applied Materials announced a technology, branded as MAX OLED that enables OLED display production on large glass substrates, aiming to provide a cost-effective solution to produce TV and TV displays. Applied developed and patented a new OLED pixel architecture and a "dramatically different manufacturing approach" that the company says enables brighter, clearer, more energy-efficient and longer-lasting.
Applied's new MAX OLED systems can scale from 6-Gen substrates to 8-Gen substrates, supporting the new wave of IT OLED production lines. Applied says that its new solution has strong customer interest - and already achieved repeat orders from several leading display makers (see below). Specifically, Applied announced that it will supply an R&D system to Samsung Display that will test the new production technology for its AMOLED and QD-OLED production technologies.
Applied did not detail much about the new pixel structure or its new deposition technology, but it did detail that the technology deposits and encapsulates each pixel individually, using a specially designed maskless process. This enables to more than double the aperture ratio of OLED displays compared to FMM deposition, which enables a 3X increase in brightness, a 30% reduction in power consumption, and a 5X increase in lifetime. In addition, produces can increase the display density by up to 2.5X, achieving up to 2,000 PPI.
Applied joins several other companies that developed maskless OLED production. Several years ago Japan Display announced its eLEAP technology, that is based on a lithographic method. eLEAP displays can achieve a 60% aperture ratio (more than double that of FMM OLEDs), achieving a 2X increase in efficiency and brightness, and a 3X increase in lifetime. JDI's eLEAP production can scale up to 8-Gen substrates. You can read more about eLEAP here. According to DSCC, JDI also relies to Applied MAX OLED systems and technology.
In 2022 it was reported that Samsung Display is interested in JDI's eLeap technology, but it seems now that SDC has chosen Applied's technology instead. Interestingly, earlier this year SDC acquired Orthogonal's maskless OLED production patents.
Other companies that develop maskless OLED production include Visionox (with its ViP OLED technology, which also relies on Applied's MASK OLED systems) and SEL.
Maskless OLED production technology could provide a dramatic increase in performance in addition to cost reductions - and is an important trend to watch in the industry, as the first maskless OLED displays are to enter the market in early 2025. The OLED Toolbox (updated earlier this month and now available at a 20% Black Friday Discount) provides more details and thoughts on maskless OLED production and is a must tool for OLED professionals aiming to stay updated and understand where the OLED industry is heading.
