LG

The technology roadmap for flexible displays

In July IDTechEx released its market forecasts for OLED displays, predicting a rapid rise of plastic and flexible displays. Recent announcements from major consumer electronics companies have just confirmed this trend.

Greener low-cost transistor heralds advance in flexible electronics

Researchers report a new, inexpensive and simple way to make transparent, flexible transistors that could help bring roll-up smartphones with see-through displays and other bendable gadgets to consumers in just a few years.

The Apple Watch is a sign that flexible displays are finally coming

The Apple Watch was officially announced earlier this month, with the promise that it will come with a flexible display. However, there is some confusion about what the term means and what the benefits are for consumers. Dr Guillaume Chansin, co-author of the IDTechEx report "OLED Display Forecasts 2014-2024: the rise of plastic and flexible displays" gives his view on flexible displays.

OLED lighting market- latest updates and market forecasts

Interest in OLED lighting is picking up again. This year LG Chem announced that it was cutting costs from 600 $/klm to $200/klm in an attempt to carve out a market for its OLED lighting panels in the face of stern competition from inorganic LED lighting.

LG Display - OLED encapsulation

LG Display is investing heavily in flexible OLED technology and is researching several different approaches to encapsulation. This profiles focuses on the hybrid approach it is taking to encapsulating its flexible devices using in-line deposition alongside the use of a barrier film.

ITO replacements: time to take-off or fizzle out

Over the past five years there have been a large number of companies developing Transparent Conductive Film (TCF) alternatives for Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). Including material providers and film providers, research and events firm IDTechEx has profiled almost 100 organizations working across more than 12 types of transparent conductive film technologies.

Smart Wristwatches: Something Missing

Almost no one wants to wear more than one wrist-mounted device. In fact there has been some trend towards young people abandoning wristwatches because all those functions exist in their carried mobile phone. The trend in mobile phones has been to larger ones. The idea of that functionality being on your wrist goes completely against the trend.

Niche applications to help OLED lighting market reach $1.9 billion

In the new report OLED Lighting Opportunities 2014-2025: Forecasts, Technologies, Players External Link IDTechEx has assessed the technology and markets for OLEDs in the lighting sector. We find that the market will be slow to take off until 2019-20 but will reach $1.9 billion in 2025.

Barrier technology reaching maturity - commercialization status

OLED displays are the biggest opportunity for flexible encapsulation and for that reason, IDTechEx has highlighted the most significant advances in the technology but also discusses the maturity of each of the different encapsulation approaches proposed by different developers. In a series of two articles, IDTechEx analysts discuss the significant advances witnessed in the past year towards commercialization of flexible displays and compares different technologies being developed.

LG first to commercialize 4K OLED TV

LG Electronics has announced the start of sales of the world's first OLED TV with 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution.

LG Display

LG Display is investing heavily in OLED technology. Having lost the initiative to Samsung in the production of small OLED panels, LGD is eager to stay ahead on large OLEDs, particularly in TV. In 2013, LG commercialized a 55" OLED TVs in several regions, despite the fact that the price was much higher than that of the equivalent LCD model. LG Display is now setting up a new fab for the mass production of OLED TVs.

ITO replacements: time to take-off or fizzle out

Over the past five years there have been a large number of companies developing transparent conductive film (TCF) alternatives for ITO. Including material providers and film providers, IDTechEx have covered almost 100 organizations, working across more than 12 types of transparent conductive film technologies.

Progress with Printed Electronics

In this article we focus on the current status of the main printed electronics technologies for components in consumer goods and healthcare applications, providing for each one market drivers, case studies and key suppliers, cost structures and challenges.

AU Optronics

AU Optronics (AUO), headquartered in Taiwan, was formed in 2001 during the merger of Unipac and Acer Display. Since 2000, the company has been working intensely on the research and development of OLEDs. The milestones in the evolution of this technology include a 65-inch full-HD television in 2013 (Oxide TFT and FMM OLED patterning), and a 5-inch display with a resolution of 443 pixels per inch (ppi) in 2013.

Samsung Display

Samsung Display (SDC) is the leading manufacturer of AMOLED displays. SDC was spun off in April 2012 as a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. In July 2012 Samsung Mobile Display was merged into Samsung Display, consolidating the OLED and LCD businesses together. This profile specifically looks at the AMOLED side.

Market Analysis of Thin, Flexible and Printed Batteries

The battery market today is dominated by traditional batteries such as coin cell batteries, Triple-A batteries and lithium ion batteries with the former being largely used in mobile phones, laptops and electrical vehicles. The emergence of new trends such as wearable devices and Internet of Things (IoT) is however changing the space. New features such ultra-thinness, small physical footprints, flexibility and light weight are becoming increasingly prized. New players and/or old players with new technologies are gearing up to meet this emerging need. In this article we will first look at the activities of several large companies on energy storage solutions aimed at wearable devices. We will then consider WSN and the threat of energy harvesting therein before considering medical applications. Finally, we will give our latest ten-year market forecasts segmented by application and battery type.

Assessing The Metal Oxide Thin Film Transistor Backplane Technology

The display industry continues to rapidly change and seek new markets. Long term trends are still prevalent and shape global activity.

The rise of plastic and flexible OLED displays

IDTechEx forecasts that the market for plastic and flexible OLED displays will rise to $16bn by 2020.

The Rise of Thin, Flexible and Printed Batteries

IDTechEx has studied the technologies and markets for thin film, flexible and/or printed batteries. IDTechEx will disseminate its key findings. Here, IDTechEx will qualitatively benchmark the different technologies that fall under its categorization including single use zinc batteries, printed zinc-based rechargeable batteries, thin film lithium ion and lithium metal batteries.

Can the world's most promising electric-car battery be saved?

Over the last half-dozen years, a swarm of companies from around the world including General Motors has snapped up licenses for a lithium-ion electrode that promised to deliver the next big step in making electric cars competitive with conventional vehicles.