August 2018

IHS posted an interesting article which details a new backplane technology that Apple is developing. So-called Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO) combines both LTPS TFTs and Oxide TFTs (IGZO, Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide). LTPO is applicable for both OLED and LCD displays.

In LTPO, the switching circuits are using LTPS while the driving TFTs will use IGZO materials. This could lead to a power saving of around 5-15% compared to the currently-used LTPS backplanes. The main drawback of LTPO, however, is that the IGZO TFTs are larger and so the display density may be compromised. IHS says that Apple may introduce this into future iPhones - but it also says that LTPO will be limited to low-density displays at first which is a bit confusing.

LG unveiled its first Micro-LED TV prototype at IFA 2018. The large 173" panel uses individual micro-LEDs to create an emissive display, that can rival OLEDs.

It is not clear yet whether LG actually intends to develop this technology commercially for the consumer TV market and compete with its OLED TV business. Samsung's Micro-LED project seems to be more advanced as it started accepting pre-orders in June 2018 and will soon ship its Micro-LED TVs for commercial applications - and is also looking to release its first consumer-premium Micro-LED TV in 2019.

LG's high-end 65" OLED G8 OLED TV is finally shipping - at least in Europe. The price is €4,999, and £4,999 in the UK. It will hopefully ship soon in the US as well.

The OLED G8 sports a unique on-glass design that extends the glass to the soundbar. The OLEDG8 is powered by LG's new a9 "intelligent processor" that promises better color and fast smart TV (webOS) operations. The TV supports Google's Assistant for natural language control, Dolby Atmos, HDR and 4K HFR.

In January 2018 LG Display unveiled its first 88-inch 8K (7680x4320) OLED panel, and today LG Electronics demonstrated its first TV that uses this panel, at the IFA 2018 trade show.

LG did not reveal the model number, price or release date of its to-be flagship OLED TV.

Kyulux announced that it has signed joint-development agreements (JDAs) with both LG Display and Samsung Display. The LGD agreement was signed in January 2018 while the SDC one was recently signed. Both agreements focus on deep blue Hyperfluoresence / TADF emitters.

Kyulux hopes that by collaborating with the two leading OLED producers, it will be able to accelerate its material development - and it aims to have commercial red, green and blue HF/TADF emitters ready by mid 2019.

LG Electronics finally started shipping its flagship 2018 television - the 77" Wallpaper OLEDW8. The price of LG's leading OLED TV is around £14,500 in the UK and around 11,700 Euro in Germany.

The 65-inch model, the OLED65W8 is shipping in the UK for £7,999 - or just over $10,000 USD. Interestingly both TVs are not shipping in the US yet.

China-based AMOLED producer Everdisplay has started to mass produce VR AMOLED displays. The company's first such panel is a 2.95" 1080x1200 (547 PPI) panel that features a refresh rate of 90Hz, a maximum brightness of 100 nits and a MIPI Interface.

This new panel is now available through the OLED Marketplace. Let us know if you are interested in acquiring this display and use it in your future device.

Last month it was reported that JOLED raised around $400 million from four new investors - auto parts maker Denso ($270 million), major trading house Toyota Tsusho ($90 million) and Sumitomo Chemical and Screen Holdings.

JOLED now confirmed this funding round. The total sum raised was actually a bit higher than reported - JPY47 billion, or about $424 million. It also said that these new investors are not just financial ones - JOLED will cooperate with DENSO to develop automotive OLED displays, while Toyota Tsusho will support this business using its automotive sales channels. Sumitomo Chemical will also enhance its already existing collaboration with JOLED to further develop OLED Printing materials.

JOLED announced today that it signed an agreement with Screen Finetech Solutions and Panasonic Production Engineering to co-develop, manufacture and sale printing equipment for large-area OLED production (mostly OLED TVs).

The three companies aim to quickly commercialize a new business that will be based on JOLED's manufacturing technology. JOLED plans to license its inkjet printing technology to OLED makers. JOLED has been developing its technology in collaboration with Panasonic since its founding in 2015. JOLED's technology was originally developed in Panasonic at around 2006.

Visionox announced a complex restructuring move, that seems to indicate that the company (which recently reversed-merged with Black Cattle Foods) aims to focus on its AMOLED business and sell its PMOLED business.

The new restructuring, or the PMOLED business sale, involves several China-based companies - including local municipalities, financial investors and even a travel company.