PMOLED (Passive Matrix OLED): introduction and basics - Page 22

MagnaChip today announced the launch of its newest PMOLED offering, the HM16EP7002. This product is currently being offered to customers, which include the leading OLED product suppliers globally.

The MagnaChip HM16EP7002 PMOLED device has a 96x96 resolution with 262k color depth. The device also offers a 96x64 resolution option should the customer prefer this solution. It can be adapted to a mobile sub display and MP3 player and provides superior moving picture quality compared with other devices such as Color STN and TFT displays.

Osram Opto Semiconductors said it expects to roll out 12 new PMOLED displays by the end of this quarter.

The displays will come in three sizes (0.9" 80x48, 1.5" 96x64 and 1.6" 128x64) and a choice of four colors (lime green, jungle green, tiger orange and scarlet red). The new displays will address the industrial, medical and white-good industries

Hanbit XD405 MP3 Player with an OLED display This one has a flip-out USB plug, built-in speaker, LED flashlight, and a 2-color PMOLED display. Supports MP3 and WMA along with an FM tuner. Records voice notes, and from the radio, and from a line-input jack. There's even a write-protect switch like you get on some USB pen-drives. Runs on 1 AA battery for up to 20 hours. Available in capacities from 128mb to 1gb.

Digitimes reports that Univision Technology, RiTdisplay and Lightronik Technology all enjoyed growth in OLED sales in January 2005 - due to high demand for MP3 players.

Univision plans to introduce 1- to 1.5-inch full-color PMOLED panels in the second or the third quarter of 2005.

Leadis announced a new area-color PMOLED display driver, the LDS518. This driver includes integrated display RAM, on-chip oscillator and many user programmable display features.

The LDS518 driver IC supports a maximum display resolution of 128x64 and 4-gray scale color. The company says that this is a cost-effective solution offering optimal price/performance features.

Anders Electronics is now offering a range of PMOLED displays made by Osram Opto Semiconductors. Anders will provide engineering and design-in support for Osram’s Pictiva OLED displays in the UK, Germany and Switzerland.

The Pictiva range includes display formats ranging from 80 columns x 48 rows to 128 columns x 64 rows. Available color options are green, yellow and orange. They are designed to be driven by standard IC driver technology that supports both parallel and serial interfaces.

Leadis reported their Q4 2004 results today. Net sales were $33.3 million. STN sales increased 16% compared to the previous quarter, but OLED sales (PMOLED display drivers) declined 64%.

Samsung SDI said recently that they intend to double its PMOLED capacity this year, aiming to sell 28 million OLED panels in 2005 (up from 14 million in 2004). Samsung is upbeat on PMOLED panels as a result of demand from high-end mobile phone makers.

Samsung expects OLED revenue to reach $615 million in 2005 and $1.1 billion in 2006. These numbers originate from iSuppli.

Orion Electric hopes to reach sales of 30 billion Won ($29 million) in 2005 from PMOLED panels. The company recently started shipping new 65K-color panels to MP3 makers.

Towards the end of 2005 Orion will add a new production line that will double the company's capacity to two million panels.

PMOLED panels have started to appear in cars. In fact, three new automobiles (the Aston-Martin DB9, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Chevrolet Corvette) features PMOLED displays. ABI research says that such OLED car displays have one main advantages, they last longer than the lamps used to illuminate conventional dashboards.

While the PMOLEDs cost more than conventional dashboards, fewer warranty claims can save a lot of money for luxury car manufacturers and dealers, and greater satisfaction for customers. The PMOLEDs used in those three cars above were made by Yazaki Corporation.