Panasonic - Page 9

Panasonic unveiled a 56" 4K (3840x2160) OLED TV panel prototype that was produced using an all-printing method. Panasonic calls this the "RGB all-printing method" and they say that all the organic materials were deposited using ink-jet printing. Panasonic says that their OLED panels deliver superb image quality, high contrast and fast response rate. The panels are efficient, ulta-thin and light weight. Panasonic considers OLED as a "promising option for next-generation displays".

Panasonic's panel uses a top-emission structure with a transparent cathode, which results in a more efficient panel (Sony's OLEDs use the same structure, this may be Sony's technology). The panel's TFT substrate was supplied by Sony (so it's probably an Oxide-TFT based panel) as part of the two companies collaboration. Interestingly, even though it seems that they use red, green and blue sub-pixels, Panasonic applied a color filter layer as well - to tune the emission color and achieve high color purity and "superb color reproduction".

LG Display's CEO, Han Sang-beom, says that the company is in talks with Japanese TV makers for the supply of OLED TV panels. Han says that the Japanese companies are "very much interested in OLED panels".

Last week LG Display finally launched their first OLED TV, the 55" 55EM9700 - which costs around $10,000 in Korea and $12,000 in the US (will start shipping in March). LG capacity is still very low so it seems strange that they will be able to supply other companies besides LGE. Still it seems that even though LG plans to invest heavily in OLED TV production in 2013, a commitment from another maker for OLED panels will make LGD more confident in its OLED investment.

Update: according to Panasonic's 3-year plan unveiled on March 2013, the company will keep making Plasma TVs.

There are reports that Panasonic considers whether to stop plasma R&D by March 2013, and focus on OLED TVs and other display technologies instead. Panasonic will still produce plasma TVs (and industrial-use displays) for the "time being". The main reason for this move is the technological improvements in LCDs in past years.

Sony OLED TV prototype

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, with plans to invest ¥30 billion ($385 million) in a pilot AMOLED production line in Himeji (this was already reported in April).

Panasonic Idemitsu OLED Lighting (PIOL) started to offer OLED lighting kits. For ¥78,500 (about $950) you get three OLED lighting panels, two stands (which including dimming controls) and an AC adapter. The OLED lighting panels are 97x90 mm in size (2 mm thick), offer a luminance of 3,100 cd/m², a lifetime of 10,000 hours (LT70) and an efficiency if 26-30 lm/W. Each panel in the kit has a different color temperature (3000K, 4000K and 5000K).

PIOL's panels have a high CRI (over 90) and they target museums and exhibitions. Panasonic made panels have already been used in at least two museums: Kyoto's MOMAK museum and Panasonic's own Shiodome museum.

According to Sony's home-entertainment product chief, Masashi Imamura, the OLED collaboration with Panasonic is "running smoothly". The two companies may offer OLED TV products after March 2014.

Sony OLED TV prototype

Sony and Panasonic announced their OLED technology partnership in June 2012 - saying that the two companies will jointly develop printing based technologies for OLED TV mass production. According to the original plans, the technology will be "established during 2013", but obviously setting up a mass production facility will also take time.

According to a report from Nihon Keizai, Panasonic has taken steps to streamline its R&D and put more focus on OLED TV development. The company plans to invest ¥30 billion ($385 million) in a pilot AMOLED production line in Himeji (this was already reported in April). According to the report Panasonic wants to use PLEDs and ink-jet printing in its upcoming fab. Panasonic's P-OLED/Ink-jet development dates back to the OLED TV joint-venture with Sumitomo in 2009.

Sony OLED TV prototype

The report also details the collaboration between Panasonic and Sony. The two companies have quite different technologies - Panasonic with its P-OLED and printing processes and Sony with small-molecules and VTE. It is claimed that Sony will mostly supply capital for Panasonic, and not technology. Sony's own OLED technology will be used though by Japan Display to make small sized panels.

Panasonic announced they will soon release two new OLED lighting panels (and modules). The new panels will feature daylight white (5000K) and natural white (4000K) and will complement the already available bulb-color (3000K) panels). The panels, made by Panasonic Idemitsu OLED Lighting (PIOL) are already shipping and the modules (which include a built-in control circuit) will ship in August.

The panels feature a CRI of over 90, a lifetime of 10,000 hours (LT70) and an efficiency if 26-30 lm/W. They are 2 mm thick. The panels luminance: 2,600 cd/m² (5000K), 2800cd/m² (4000K), 3000cd/m² (3000K).

Sony and Panasonic announced today that the two companies will jointly develop technologies for OLED TV panels mass production. According to the release, they will develop printing based technology, which will enable low-cost mass production. They plan to establish the technology during 2013, by integrating their unique technologies.

Sony XEL-1

Sony and Panasonic will also "study" collaboration of OLED mass production. The current plan is for each company to develop and commercialize its own OLED panels, but it's possible that they will also jointly produce the panels in the future.

Yesterday we reported that Panasonic wants to find a partner for OLED TV development, and today Reuters reports that the company is already in talks with Sony. The two companies want to share their technologies, with an aim to start producing TVs by 2015.

Sony OLED TV prototype

In the last couple of months it was reported that Sony will buy OLED TV panels from LG Display, AUO and Samsung, or maybe develop its own OLED TV technology. So now a Panasonic collaboration joins the rumor mill. Hopefully we'll know soon who's Sony's real partner on OLED TVs... One possible explanation is that Sony will buy OLED panels in the short term but also seeks to make its own in the long term.

Update: new reports suggest that the partner is no other than Sony...

Panasonic posted heavy losses for 2011 ($9.7 billion!) and of the tasks of the new president Kazuhiro Tsuga is to turn around the loss-making TV division. Panasonic already confirmed OLED TV development, and today we hear that they are seeking a partner. Back in 2009, Panasonic teamed up with Sumitomo to jointly-develop OLED TVs, based on Sumitomo's PLED materials and technology, but we do not think this partnership is still in place.

There are reports that Panasonic decided to establish a Gen-6 OLED TV pilot production line in their Himeji LCD plant. The investment will total around ¥20-30 billion ($245-370 million).