Panasonic - Page 8

Update: now it seems that a different Panasonic executives claims that Plasma R&D will continue. Panasonic will continue to produce PDP and perhaps they will also update models, but perhaps what they mean is that they will not improve on the plasma panel technology itself (but rather add features such as smarter interface, etc)?

In December 2012 we heard reports that Panasonic may stop plasma R&D by March 2013, and focus on OLED TVs and other display technologies instead. While Panasonic still makes Plasma TVs, today the company confirmed that plasma development has ceased and some of the engineers were indeed shifted to work on OLED displays.

In January 2013 Panasonic unveiled a 56" 4K2K OLED TV panel prototype that was produced using an all-printing method. Panasonic is using Sumitomo's PLED materials and is collaborating with Sony on production technology. Some reports say that Panasonic aims to release their first OLED TVs in 2015.

At CES 2013 Panasonic unveiled a 56" 4K (3840x2160) OLED TV panel prototype that was produced using an all-printing method. Back in January we assumed Panasonic were using SMOLED materials, but now Sumitomo Chemical revealed (as part of their 2013-2015 plan presentation) that this TV prototype used the company's PLED materials.

Panasonic has been working on OLED printing technologies for quite some time and back in 2009, they teamed up with Sumitomo to jointly-develop OLED TVs, based on Sumitomo's PLED materials and technology. I thought this partnership is not active anymore, but evidently I was wrong on that one.

According to OLEDW (quoting Japan's Sankei Shimbun), Sony and Panasonic are planning to setup an OLED TV production joint venture in 2013. There's no production schedule, but it's likely that Sony and Panasonic are aiming to start doing so in 2014 or 2015.

The two companies announced their OLED technology partnership in June 2012 - saying that the two companies will jointly develop printing based technologies for OLED TV mass production. Back then it was rumored that they may indeed choose to do the actual production together as well, but nothing has been decided till now.

Earlier this week we reported that Samsung and LG will attempt to resolve their OLED technology patent disputes and settle the lawsuits outside of the courts. Now DisplaySearch posted an interesting article in which they speculate that the two Korean companies may cooperate on OLED TV technologies.

DisplaySearch gives three reasons for this possible cooperation:

CES 2013 was exciting - what with the new OLED TVs and Flexible OLED prototypes and launches. Barry Young from the OLED Association, one of the world's top OLED experts, gave us his views on the new OLED developments from Samsung, Sony, LG and Panasonic. Thanks Barry!

Sony and Panasonic both showed 4K2K 56" OLED TVs, with some parts jointly developed. How close are these two companies to actual mass production?

According to OLEDW (quoting Japan's Sankei Shimbun), Panasonic's current plan is to introduce OLED TVs in 2015. By then they will finish development of the ink-jet printing processes, and will be able to start mass production. Panasonic hopes that the printing process will enable them to produce OLEDs at a much lower cost compared to evaporation based technologies used by rivals. Earlier reports suggested Panasonic actually hopes to start production earlier in 2014.

Panasonic is collaborating with Sony on OLED TV production technologies. Earlier this month they unveiled a unveiled a 56" 4K (3840x2160) OLED TV panel prototype that was produced using an all-printing method.

Update: according to some people, Sony's (and Panasonic's) new OLED prototypes actually use white OLEDs with color filters (WOLED-CF) and not RGB sub pixels with color filters. Hopefully I'll get more information on this soon...

During CES 2013, both Sony and Panasonic unveiled 56" 4K OLED TV panel prototypes. Both panels use Sony's Super Top Emission structure. Those panels used color filters, which caused some confusion, so I thought I'd explain Sony's technology.

Super Top Emission utilizes RGB OLED subpixels, a microcavity structure and color filters. Sony says that this simultaneously enhances color purity, attains higher contrast and achieves lower power consumption.

Panasonic Idemitsu OLED Lighting (PIOL) unveiled new OLED lighting panels and also revealed the company's roadmap till 2018. The company currently produces 100x100 mm panels, and they are now showing new 150x50 mm and 200x50 mm panels that will be released in the spring of 2013.

The new panels will offer the same performance as PIOL's current panels: 10,000 lifetime (LT70), 30 lm/W and color temperatures of 3000K, 4000K and 5000K. PIOL confirmed that the only difference to the current panels is the shape. PIOL's panels have a high CRI (over 90) and they mostly target museums and exhibitions (some of the panels have already been used in at least two museums: Kyoto's MOMAK museum and Panasonic's own Shiodome museum).

So, CES is now over, it's time for a summary post. A few days after announcing that accepting pre-orders for their 55" OLED TV in Korea, LG announced that the OLED TV is coming to the US - for $12,000. LG also unveiled a 55" curved OLED prototype.

Samsung unveiled a newer 55" OLED TV, but sadly the company did not detail their launch plans or pricing. Samsung had a 55" curved OLED TV of their own, quite similar to LG's set. Samsung "relaunched" their YOUM flexible AMOLEDs, showing some very neat prototypes. Again, these OLEDs aren't being produced yet, we can only hope they'll start production in 2013.

According to Pocket-Lint, Panasonic plans to stop producing LCD TV panels in its Himeji plant, and instead use the fab to produce OLED TVs and 4K 20" tablet LCD panels. Panasonic is using printing technologies to produce its OLED TVs (with some help from Sony, too) - and they're confident their OLED panels will be "significantly cheaper" than what others makers can do.

Back in September 2012 it was reported that Panasonic has taken steps to streamline its R&D and put more focus on OLED TV development, and earlier it was reported that the company plans to convert a production line in Himeji to AMOLED production (an R&D line at first). Back then Panasonic said they will continue to produce LCD TVs, but now it seems the company will buy its LCD TV panels from a third party, and focus on tablet 4K displays and 4K OLEDs.