August 2006

Leadis Technology today announced sample availability of the LDS522, a 65K color OLED driver IC. The LDS522 65k color OLED driver IC is a highly-integrated high-performance device with integrated display RAM, on-chip oscillator, DC/DC converter, and temperature sensor to insure optimal visual performance.

In addition, the LDS522 includes programmable display features such as area scrolling, partial display, and color depth selection for enhanced screen performance.

Sagem Defense Securite has entered into a multi-year contract with eMagin to provide the microdisplays for its FELIN program. FELIN is the French Army's integrated soldier system. eMagin has already begun production to support this program, which will require more than 37,000 microdisplays through the life of the contract. The program schedule calls for Sagem to integrate the microdisplays over the next 72 months into the lightweight, ergonomic soldier systems for the active French Army regiments.

Samsung SDI presented 4.3-inch WQVGA AMOLED at IMID 2006, using SGS (Super Grain Silicon) Technology. This technology enables manufacturers to produce large-size AMOLED.

A researcher at the company said that it is possible to reduce production cost by using LTPS technology that doesn't use laser, thereby strengthening competitiveness of AMOLED better than TFT-LCD.

Here's a short article from IDTechEx, written for OLED-Info:

In the world of printed and thin film electronics, OLEDs appear to have the most potential for many years to come. This is because they are as relevant to lighting and signage as to moving colour displays. OLEDs have been early to commercialization with sales of hundreds of millions of dollars yearly already.

...Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone company and, separately, the US Air Force are assessing the various OLED technologies with a view to using them...

All these organisations will present at the major international conference on the subject "Printed Electronics USA". It takes place in Phoenix Arizona, December 5-6 with presentations from Japan, Taiwan, Germany, Austria, France, the UK, Israel and elsewhere.

Read the full article in the attachment (register to oled-info to view the attachment)

Taiwan's AU Optronics has decided to re-orient its active-matrix (AM) organic light-emitting diode (OLED) engineers to a focus on developing TFT LCD.

Starting from the third quarter, the engineers have been relocated to support divisions for LCD developments.

The project involves the development of a process to deposit high conductivity, very thin metal tracks onto glass and plastic substrates. The process, which is seen as an alternative to conventional inkjet printing methods, involves the use of lasers to expose selected material.

Flexible displays are expected to require a technology such as this for the formation of the TFT backplane, and the process under development would be applicable to plasma (PDP) and LCD displays and even organic photovoltaics as well as PLEDs.

Eastman Kodak announced a licensing agreement with Tohoku Device. Tohoku Device plans to incorporate Kodak's organic display technology into white OLED modules for use as backlights in displays. Tohoku Device joins more than 15 companies that have licensed organic display technology from Kodak.

The royalty-bearing license enables Tohoku Device to use Kodak technology for OLED backlights in a variety of flat panel display applications and includes a cross license to Tohoku Device's patent portfolio. The agreement also gives Tohoku Device the opportunity to purchase Kodak's patented OLED materials for use in manufacturing displays. Financial details were not disclosed.

Sony Ericsson has just announced the Z610 clamshell, a stylish 3G phone that sports a sleek mirror finish, and a hidden PMOLED, 128 x 36 pixel display which can only be seen when in use.

The new phone sports a 2.0 megapixel camera and 3G connectivity and will come in three colors - Luster Black, Rose Pink & Airy Blue.

While flexible displays offer the unprecedented distinctiveness of being thin, lightweight, unbreakable, conformable and rollable, the challenges that await those taking advantage of the opportunity require patience and capital beyond the reach of many companies.

Flexible OLEDs are predicted to enter the market in 2010, and grow to about 450M$ by 2015.

Read more here

Here's nice video mini-review of the Optimus mini three OLED keyboard. Update: the video is no longer available...