We've got some interesting updates regarding Chimei Innolux (CMI) OLED program. As a reminder, CMI was born as a merger between Innolux, CMO and TPO. Both CMO (through its CMEL subsidiary) and TPO had active OLED programs, and CMEL were even producing panels up until the merger. CMI's own OLED plans are still unclear.
Back in February 2011 we reported that CMI indeed plans to start producing OLEDs in two plants - a Gen-3.5 (620x750mm) LTPS/OLED Plant in Jhunan, Taiwan and a Gen-5.5 (1,300x1,500) IGZO-TFT plant in Tainan (also in Taiwan). Later on there were reports that CMI actually scrapped all OLED plans for now. But in March the company unveiled a couple of new AMOLED prototypes (3.2" and 3.5", shown above).
Today we have heard some new information from a trusted source. It seems that the ex-CMEL group in Tainan indeed gave up the Gen-3.5 AMOLED production, and are working only the Gen-5.5 AMOLED fab - any even so this project is 'not very active' - so we can't expect mass production any time soon. This plant will indeed not use LTPS but rather IGZO (InGaZnOx, an oxide semiconductor).
CMI 3Q 2010 presentation
The second group is the ex-TPO one in Junan. They have an G-3.5 LTPS LCD plant and are 'studying' AMOLEDs, using a WOLED+CF structure with a new encapsulation technology. But yield is still very low, and mass production is not expected any time soon from this group either. TPO's technical issues have a long history - the company kept announcing AMOLED production plans and delaying them several times. In any case, at least now we know that the 3.2" and 3.5" prototypes unviled in March came from the ex-TPO group (those prototypes indeed used a WOLED+CF structure).
CMI's financial situation is not very good at present - and they cannot invest in next-gen display technologies currently. We'll keep you updated on OLED news from CMI when we have them...
