Rohm had two OLED items at CEATEC. The first is a 'shadowless' OLED lamp. The lamp is using a 'complex' array of OLED panels so that objects beneath it has no shadow.
The second item they had on display is an OLED Flash. The flash can emit light with a high luminance (100,000cd/m2). The flash can also be used as a 'regular' OLED lamp, with a luminance of of 3,000-4,000cd/m2 or higher.
Yano Research estimated shipments of active matrix OLED panels to grow
705.9% YoY to 16.118 million units or 632.0% YoY to ¥41.355 billion in
fiscal 2008. The key factor behind the market's rapid growth is the
Japanese telecommunication companies and major mobile phone
manufacturers around the world that have employed active matrix panels
as the main panel for their handsets, the firm said.
Shipments of passive matrix OLED panels are, on the other hand,
estimated for a 6.6% YoY decline to 94 million units or a 13.9% YoY
drop to ¥51.07 billion in fiscal 2008. Their market is contracting
compared with the preceding year partly because some major panel
manufacturers stopped shipping passive matrix panels in fiscal 2007.
Most passive matrix panels are currently used as the sub panel of
mobile phones and MP3 players, but a small amount started to be shipped
for use in lighting equipment from fiscal 2007, Yano Research said.
In addition, there is relatively new demand emerging for passive matrix
panels for use in, for example, the main panel of mobile phones,
printers and digital cameras, according to Yano Research. As a result,
the company forecasts shipments of passive matrix panels will rise
16.8% YoY to 126.2 million units or 12.4% YoY to ¥63.1 billion in
fiscal 2010.
Samsung is "previewing" two OLED TVs, sized 14.1" and 31". The 31" TV is just 4.3mm thick, and uses half as much power as a 'regular' 32" TV. These TVs will be shown at CES 2009.
They don't have a release date yet, but they say it might be released in early 2010 (and no earlier...).
Sony and the Max Planck Institute have demoed a flexible and transparent OLED display - a breakthrough in the technology, they say. The new OLED technology is based on the upconversion of red or infrared light and has a number of advantages over today's LCD and screens.
Previous attempts at making clear, flexible OLEDs were hampered by size and resolution limitations, and by organic compounds that distorted the image when folded.
KDDI shows 3.1" OLED (800 x 480 WVGA) panels at CEATEC Japan. Those panels are made by Samsung.
KDDI says these panels will be in actual products (phones) shortly - but not specific date or modules yet.
Cowon's S9 curve A/V player has an official release date - November. At least for europe. The player has a 3.3" (480x272) touch screen AMOLED display.
There's no price information yet...
Sony unveiled a new prototype curved OLED TV panel. The 11" panel is only 0.33 mm thick:
This is a similar panel to the one Sony unveiled back in April, only this time it is curved. Sony's flexible OLED technology is surely impressive. Sadly they wouldn't reveal any technical details about this panel or the manufacturing technologies used.
