Digitimes reports that TCL's CSoT is planning to build a new flexible OLED production line in Wuhan. The T5 line is still only at an early planning stage, but investment could reach about $1.4 billion.
The T5 line will be CSoT's 2nd flexible OLED line - it's current T4 line (which has a monthly capacity of 45,000 6-Gen substrates) started production in 2019.
Merck announced that it has acquired over 700 OLED display applications patent families from Konica Minolta. The acquired IP will be used to "further enhance Merck’s position as key supplier of OLED materials".
Merck did not detail the financial terms of this deal.
TADF emitter developer Kyulux announced that it has shipped the first batch of its yellow TADF emitter to Taiwan's Wisechip to be used it the world's first TADF / Hyperfluorescence display, the 2.7" PMOLED announced in October 2019 - which means that the display will likely start to ship soon.
Wisechip's first HF PMOLED is a 2.7" 128x64 monochrome yellow display, that reaches a brightness of 220 nits - 2.5 times brighter than Wisechip's fluorescent yellow PMOLED. The lifetime of this display is 50,000 hours. Wisechip says this display is aimed for the medical, industrial and electronic products markets, and in the future it will launch TADF/HF PMOLEDs for the wearable and consumer electronics markets as well.
LG Display reported its financial results for Q1 2020. LGD's revenues were 4.7 trillion Won ($3.8 billion USD), decreased 26% from the previous quarter and 20% from Q1 2019. The company's net loss in the quarter was 199 billion Won ($161 million USD).
LGD's revenues and earnings were below analysts expectations - the company's business was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic which caused lower demand for smartphones and TV panels (which were also hit due to the postponing of major sporting events). LCD panel prices have also taken a hit.
China-based EverDisplay (EDO) has recently started to produce AMOLED displays for tablets and laptops. The first rigid AMOLEDs are a 11" 1728x2368 and 15.6" 3840x2160 4K rigid displays for tablets and laptops. The first flexible ones are a 12.8" 1888x1728 panel for tablet-like devices and a 15.6" 3840x2160 4K flexible AMOLED for laptops.
These new 11", 12.8" and 15.6" AMOLEDs are now available in the OLED Marketplace. This is great news from EDO, as up until now Samsung Display was the exclusive supplier of AMOLEDs for tablets and laptops. If you are interested in this display for your device or new project, contact us now, or check out more information over at the OLED Marketplace.
BOE and Qualcomm announced plans to establish a strategic collaboration to develop innovative display products featuring Qualcomm's 3D Sonic ultrasonic fingerprint sensors. BOE have already started to embed Qualcomm's sensor in its flexible OLED displays.
BOE also says that this collaboration will result in a streamlined supply chain and reduces the bill of materials (BoM) and R&D expenses expenses. BOE says that it will start shipping the integrated panels and sensors in H2 2020.
A few days ago we reported that MBC studio in Korea will use LGD transparent OLED displays in its 2020 Korean Election broadcast. The broadcast took place yesterday, and included six such T-OLED displays:
LG Display's transparent OLEDs feature a brightness of 150 cd/m2 (peak white brightness of 400 cd/m2) and a transparency of 38% and a color gamut of 120% NTSC. The display can optionally include touch functionality.
DSCC says that the future will bring significant growth for foldable OLED displays - fueled by lower panel prices as production increases and yields improve, lower device prices and improved display reliability as devices improve.
DSCC sees meaningful improvements in devices starting in the second half of 2020. In 2020 around 5 million foldable devices (mostly smartphones) will ship, generating almost $1 billion in revenues. From 2020 to 2025, foldable display shipments will rise to 77 million units (a CAGR of 132%) and revenues will reach almost $8 billion (CAGR of 113%).
LG Display announced that MBC Studio will adopt the company's transparent OLED screens in its Korean 2020 election result broadcast tomorrow (April 15). In February 2019 LG Display started producing its 55" FHD transparent commercial OLED displays, and LGD says that this is the first time its transparent OLEDs will be featured in a high rating broadcast (but this isn't so - see note below on DR1's June 2019 broadcast).
LG Display's transparent OLEDs feature a brightness of 150 cd/m2 (peak white brightness of 400 cd/m2) and a transparency of 38% and a color gamut of 120% NTSC. The display can optionally include touch functionality.
In 2019, Doosan Corp spun-off its OLED materials unit, which is now called Doosan Solus (and is listed on the Korean stock market). Doosan Solus produces host materials for OLED displays (in addition to battery foil materials and bio components used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals).
According to reports from Korea, Doosan Corp is looking to raise funds to bail out its troubled Doosan Heavy I&C company, and is looking to sell its 51% stake in Doosan Solus. The reports suggest that Doosan Corp is looking to get 600 billion Won (almost $500 million USD) for its stake, and a possible buyer is private equity fund SkyLake Investment.
