May 2014

Last week Engadget reported that samsung is developing a new virtual reality headset, which will be similar to Oculus VR's headset - and will also sport an AMOLED display. Today Engadget reports that Samsung's headset is actually developed in collaboration with Oculus VR.

In this collaboration Oculus provides the software while Samsung provides the hardware. As part of the collaboration, Samsung gives Oculus early-access to its next-gen high-resolution (larger than Full-HD) OLED displays.

According to an industry insider I just talked to, Google is in talks with MicroOLED to supply OLED microdisplays for the next generation Google Glass. Google currently use LCoS microdisplays by Himax (they even bought a stake in the Himax Display in July 2013). Our source says that Google isn't happy with the performance of the LCoS microdisplay and wants to upgrade to an OLED. This will be a huge win for the French startup if true.

Back in 2013 it was reported that Google are in talks with Samsung Display to supply OLED microdisplays for the next-gen Glass product. Samsung Display indeed developed a 0.6" XGA OLED microdisplay back in 2011, but as far as I know SDC is not producing any microdipslays at the moment.

US-based OLED inkjet startup Kateeva announced that it is expanding its facilities to create a dedicated manufacturing space - to build YIELDjet OLED ink-jet printing systems. The company aims to deploy YIELDjet systems in the "near future". The company also hired a new senior VP for customer satisfaction.

After years of development, Kateeva finally unveiled their OLED inkjet systems in November 2013. During the unveiling, we discussed Kateeva's technology and business with Dr. Conor Madigan, the company's President and Co-founder.

Universal Display participated in Cowen and Company's 42nd Annual Technology, Media & Telecom Conference. This was a very interested talk - and I recommend listening to it if you're an investor (or interested in investing) in UDC. Here I give some of the updates and highlights from that talk.

In Q1 2014, UDC Introduced a new high performing red emitters for mobile applications. That red emitter is longer lasting, provide a better gamut and is also more efficient. UDC more or less confirmed that the GS5 uses these new materials and that's how Samsung managed to improve the efficiency by 25% compared to the GS4 display. Because these are new materials, SDC go back to the original prices (before accumulative volume discounts).

Mitsui Chemicals announced that its Structbond XMF-T transparent OLED sealant is used in LGD's flexible OLED displays (the 6" 720p plastic-based flexible OLED as used in the G Flex curved smartphone).

Mitsui says that their sealing material offers high barrier properties, moisture resistance, transparency and process manageability.

Peter Misek, an analyst at Jefferies, just returned from a trip to Asia, and he came back with some pretty wild Apple rumors. Peter claims that there are several Apple prototypes "floating around" - including an iPhone with a 5.5" 2K OLED display, a foldable iPhone with a 4" OLED (that opens into an iPad mini) and of course smart watches and wearable devices.

It seems highly unlikely that Apple will adopt an OLED display in its next iPhone. Apple does not like to rely on a single supplier as currently only SDC can produce AMOLED in any meaningful volume. And even SDC does not have the required volume to supply Apple. The foldable iPhone is even less likely and is probably just speculation (or, as Peter himself says, this may just be Apple trying to confuse its competitors).

A couple of weeks ago Acuity Brands launched new editions of their OLED luminaries with the latest LG Chem panels. A day later the company published a video showcasing those luminaires and explaining how perfect those OLED panels are.

Following this launch, I asked Jeannine Wang, Acuity's OLED business group Director of Business Development & Marketing to participate in a short Q&A. She was kind enough to answer my question and share the company's OLED vision. So first of all - thanks Jeannine for your time...

LG Chem announced today that they are going to cut the prices of their OLED panels at Q3 2014. LG Chem is aiming to cut their prices by about 60% (!) - from about $600/Klm to about $200/Klm. LG Chem will offer these prices at first to selected prices that are willing to "stimulate the market with mass-production of OLED luminaires".

LG Chem explains that this price drop was possible because the company changed the glass substrate and the encapsulation materials in their production process. This enables them to create thinner, light and cheaper panels without any effect on the performance. LG Chem will first upgrade and lower the price of their popular 100x100 mm and 320x110 mm panels, and later on they will upgrade all of their panels.

DuPont announced that it is extending its collaboration with the Holst Centre. This collaboration is expected to advance technology in the areas of OLED lighting, wearable electronics, in-mold electronics, sensors and smart packaging.

DuPont says that they hope this collaboration will generate innovation that will be key to unlock new opportunities in this market. The company recently announced advances in nano-silver conductor inks for OLED lighting.

Yesterday I posted that Panasonic reportedly decided to withdraw from the OLED TV business and sell their OLED unit to Japan Display. Today there's a new report from Japan that JDI is now considering to setup an OLED joint venture with both Sony and Panasonic (update: this is now official, the new company will be called JOLED).

The new company would be mostly owned by the Innovation Network of Japan (INCJ) - the same government-backed fund that formed Japan Display back in September 2011. INCJ invested around $2.5 billion in JDI and holds 70% of the shares. JDI was formed by joining the mobile display units of Sony, Toshiba and Hitachi.