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[China Trend Report] TCL CSOT’s T8 Project to Invest in Generation 8.5 Inkjet Printing Technology
According to the ‘China Trend Report’ published by UBI Research, TCL CSOT plans to apply the generation 8.5 inkjet printing OLED technology to the T8 line. It is expected that some layers will be formed by vapor deposition in the inkjet printing method rather than the complete inkjet printing method. The location is likely to be Guangzhou.
TCL CSOT’s T8 line was scheduled to start construction in March 2022 using the inkjet method, but there were rumors that the schedule continued to be delayed due to investment scale and yield issues. There are also talks about the project being canceled altogether. However, it seems that TCL CSOT has continuously improved its technology by continuously collaborating with JOLED. They also announced related contents at DTC 2021 held in November 2021.
It is is expected that mainly OLEDs for IT and automobiles will be mass-produced at the T8 line. The investment schedule and details of the TCL CSOT T8 project can be found in the ‘March China Trend Report’.
[MWC 2019] The new form factor, foldable phone wars heat up
Reporter : Daejeong Yoon
Smartphone makers are promoting the new form factor, foldable phones at MWC 2019 started on February 27 and it runs until 29 in Barcelona Spain.
The show is buzzing with products from big-name tech companies, including Samsung Electronics and Huawei,TCL, LG Electronics being unveiled. That includes a variety of phones with foldable screens.
Samsung unveiled foldable phone ‘Galaxy Fold’ to customer, highly touted at the Samsung Galaxy unpacked event.
In folding ‘Galaxy Fold’ features a 7.3-inch QXGA + resolution OLED screen and it was built to be compact size with 4.6-inch HD + resolution OLED when folded.
And Huawei announced its own foldable phone “Mate X” uses roll out foldable technology, it is surrounded by a 6.6-inch main OLED on the front and a 6.38-inch on the back. It is 8.7 inches when it is opened, 1.4 inches bigger than Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Fold.
Mate X’s front display has 2480 × 1148 resolution with a 19.5: 9 aspect ratio. The back OLED has a 2480 × 892 resolution with a 25: 9 aspect ratio. When you flip it open, the resolution is 2480 × 2200 with an aspect ratio of 8: 7.1. .
Also, TCL announced the prototype device uses the company’s proprietary “DragonHinge” mechanism to fold and unfold the screen, it has 7.2-inch screen.
According to TCL, this device will build a production version that is slated for release by 2021.
Lastly, LG showed off V50 which is similar to a folding phone, it does have an optional case with a whole second screen on it. With two near-identical phone displays next to each other, the functional split-screen allows multitasking and gaming easily.
CES2019, the biggest issue of TV is LG Electronics OLED TV R
Reporter : Daejeong Yoon
The CES, held in early January of each year, is the most important event to understand all of the consumer electronics trends of the year. This year, TV makers from all over the world exhibited a variety of products to attract spectators to the event.
When OLED TV occupied more than 50% of the premium TV market with more than $ 2,000, the LCD TV industry sought to prevent the OLED TV market from expanding by exhibiting 8K LCD TVs to CES. However, the attention and admiration of the spectators were poured into OLED TV R.
The 8K TV market began to open slightly from last year, in preparation for the 8K broadcast starting from the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. LCD TV companies displayed 8K LCD TVs of various sizes to preoccupy the market with the keyword of 8K. LCD TV, however, has not been recognized by viewers as a new TV product since Sharp has already exhibited steadily.
Another reason is OLED TV R displayed by LG Electronics. In the main body with built-in speaker, OLED TV rises up and goes down again. A lot of people came to see OLED TV R to shoot.
<LG Electronics, OLED TV R>
Last year, micro LED TVs became more prominent. In addition to Samsung Electronics, Sony, TCL and Hisense exhibited micro LED TVs this year. It seems that the gap of micro LED TV technology between Korean companies and Chinese companies is only about one year. In the micro LED TV market based on assembly technology that does not require special manufacturing technology, China, which is the world’s best LED industry and infrastructure, is expected to dominate the market soon.
However, as LG Display has a unique OLED TV manufacturing technology, which has a very complicated panel structure and manufacturing process, the technological gap between Korea and China is expected to be more than five years difference. In this situation, OLED TV R, released by LG Electronics, once again realizes that Korea’s OLED technology is the best in the world.
On the other hand, TV companies’ display of OLED TVs, except for LG Electronics, has stagnated. These companies are not yet receiving 8K OLED panels and rollable OLED panels from LG Display. Even Sony does not have any special features, only OLED TVs that are well known so far.
As a result, the CES TV show was notable only for LG Electronics.
It is judged that LCD TV using mini LED that TCL has released can compete with OLED TV in this exhibition. The contrast ratio is displayed as 1,000,000: 1 similar to OLED TV. Black is a very good product that has a vibrant color and contrast ratio similar to OLED TV. However, a holo-effect was found around the bright screen displayed on the black desktop. It is a phenomenon that the surroundings appear to spread brightly. As it is invisible to non-specialists, it is competitive in price and is a product that can compete well with OLED TVs.
< TCL, 8K QLED TV with mini LED>
TCL announced “Establishing large-area OLED panel production plant”, is solution processed RGB OLED mass production accelerated?
China TCL will invest RMB 42.8 billion (US$ 6.71 billion) in Shenzhen to establish a factory for large-area OLED panel production. According to South China Morning Post, TCL recently announced that it will produce 90,000 units on the basis of 70-inch panel in the new production line of Gen 11 (3370 mm x 2940 mm) with the goal of mass production in March 2021 in the data submitted to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The main products are to be known as 65-inch and 75-inch OLED panels, and 65-inch, 70-inch and 75-inch display panels with 8K resolution.
TCL will form a partnership with the China Development Fund for the necessary financing and will set up a new production line at TCL’s semiconductor subsidiary with RMB 20.3 billion.
Large-area OLED to be produced by TCL is expected to adopt solution process RGB. At the ‘4th OLED Korea conference’ hosted by UBI Research in March, James Lee, deputy chief engineer of TCL mentioned about the development of next-generation premium TV with the screen size of 70-inch or more and 8K resolution, based on the solution process.
Lee said, “The price difference between OLED TV and premium LCD TV is estimated to be reduced to 1.4 times when the price of large-area OLED panel is lowered by the operation of LG Display’s Gen 10.5 plant in 2020. We are developing solution process technology for large area OLED and it will be applicable to Gen11 factory. ”
Gen 11 production line is capable of producing six sheets of 75-inch OLED panels, being able to achieve a yield three times higher than Gen 8.5 production line and a cutting efficiency of over 95%. In addition, it is possible to produce large-area OLED panels with a real RGB structure instead of the WRGB structure when solution process is applied. Based on this, TCL emphasized that the construction of the Gen 11 solution process OLED mass production line is essential. Meanwhile, TCL has jointly established JUHUA Printing Display Technology with Tianma, a Chinese company, in 2016 through CSOT, which is a subsidiary of TCL, and is continuously developing the inkjet printing process by a Gen 4.5 R&D pilot plant.
TCL “대면적 OLED panel 생산 공장 신설” 발표, solution process RGB OLED 양산 가속화 되나
중국 TCL이 선전에 428억 위안(67억 1천만 달러)을 투자하여 대면적 OLED panel 생산을 위한 공장을 신설한다.
사우스차이닝모닝포스트에 의하면, TCL은 최근 선전 증권거래소에 제출한 자료에서 2021년 3월 양산을 목표로 Gen 11(3370 mm x 2940 mm) 신설 양산 라인에서 70 inch panel 기준으로 월 9만대를 생산한다고 밝혔다. 주력 제품은 65 inch와 75 inch OLED panel과 8K 해상도의 65 inch, 70 inch, 75 inch display panel 인 것으로 알려졌다.
TCL은 자금 조달을 위해 중국 지원 개발 기금과 파트너쉽을 맺을 것이며, TCL 반도체 자회사에서 203억 위안을 들어 새로운 생산 라인을 설립 할 것으로 알려졌다.
TCL이 생산 할 대면적 OLED는 solution process RGB 방식일 것으로 예상된다. 지난 3월 유비리서치가 주최한 ’4th OLED Korea conference’에서 TCL의 James Lee deputy chief engineer는 solution process를 기반으로 70 inch 이상의 대형 화면과 8K 해상도의 차세대 premium TV 개발을 언급한 바 있다.
Lee deputy chief engineer는 “2020년 LG Display의 Gen 10.5 공장이 가동되어 대면적 OLED panel의 가격이 하락하게 되면 OLED TV와 premium LCD TV의 가격 차이는 1.4배 수준까지 줄어들 것으로 예상된다”며, “TCL은 현재 대면적 OLED용 solution process 기술을 개발 중으로 Gen11 공장에 적용이 가능할 것”이라고 밝혔다.
Gen 11 생산 라인에서는 75 inch OLED panel이 6장 생산 가능하며, Gen 8.5 생산 라인 대비 3배 증가한 생산량과 95% 이상의 면취율 달성이 가능하다. 또한, solution process 적용 시 WRGB 구조가 아닌 real RGB 구조의 대면적 OLED panel 생산이 가능하다. TCL은 이를 바탕으로 Gen 11 solution process OLED 양산라인 건설이 필수 요소라고 강조한 바 있다.
한편, TCL은 산하 업체인 CSOT를 통해 2016년 중국 기업 Tianma와 함께 JUHUA Printing Display Technology라는 합작사를 설립, 4.5세대 R&D 파일럿 공장을 만들어 잉크젯 프린팅 공정을 지속적으로 개발하고 있다.
Inkjet might take advantageous position for Gen11 super large OLED mass production line!
Toshiaki Arai, chief technologist of JOLED and James Lee, deputy chief engineer of TCL made presentations for the solution processed OLED on March 7 at the ‘4th OLED Korea conference’ held at Novotel Ambassador Hotel in Gangnam, Seoul, hosted by UBI Research.
Toshiaki Arai, chief technologist of JOLED announced that JOLED will focus on the medium-size OLED market for 10 ~ 30 inch tablets with solution processed OLED. He explained “OLEDs for mobile devices are currently targeting over 500 ppi and at least 800 ppi, which is hard for today’s printing technology. However, current printing technology is competitive enough since the medium-size OLED for tablets is 300 ppi level”.
He also added, “While it is required to divide the mother glass with the deposition technology currently in use, JOLED’s oxide TFT and solution process OLED can be adopted to Gen 8.5 as well as Gen 11 without cutting the mother glass. Thus, we expect panel production to be increased significantly.
James Lee, deputy chief engineer of TCL commented that the next-generation premium TVs are to implement 70-inch or larger screen, full black representation, high-definition at 8K resolution, and design differentiation such as slim & flexible. He said “solution process technology enables large RGB OLED implementation, which can improve image quality and reduce cost by using less material. TCL is currently developing solution process technology, which might be expected to be applied to its planned Gen 11 factory. ”
He commented “OLED TV prices are now approaching the price of LCD TVs based on 65-inch standards. In 2021, OLED TVs and LCD TVs will not differ in price, and OLED TVs will become the mainstream of the premium TV market. ”
Also he emphasized “Gen11 OLED needs to improve mura (unevenness) free technology, but it can produce six sheets of 75-inch OLED panels, and it is three times the production volume of GEN 8.5, with a cutting efficiency rate of 95% or more. In order for OLED TV to become the mainstream of the TV market, it is necessary to establish Gen 11 solution process OLED factory. ”
Gen11 초대형 OLED 양산라인, inkjet으로 선점!
3월 7일 유비산업리서치 주최로 서울 강남 노보텔앰배서더 호텔에서 열린 ‘제 4회 OLED Korea conference’에서 JOLED의 Toshiaki Arai chief technologist와 TCL의 James Lee deputy chief engineer는 solution process OLED를 주제로 발표를 진행했다.
JOLED의 Toshiaki Arai chief technologist는 solution process OLED로 10~30 inch대 태블릿용 중형 OLED 시장을 집중 공략할 것을 밝혔다. Toshiaki Arai chief technologist는 “mobile 기기용 OLED는 현재 500 ppi를 넘어 최소 800 ppi 이상을 목표로 하고 있어 현재 프린팅 기술로는 힘들다. 하지만 태블릿용 중형 OLED는 300 ppi 수준이기 때문에 현재 프린팅 기술로는 충분히 경쟁력이 있다”고 설명했다.
이어서 “현재 적용 되고 있는 증착 기술은 원장 분할이 필수이지만, JOLED의 oxide TFT와 solution process OLED는 Gen8.5를 넘어 Gen11에서도 원장분할 없이 공정이 가능하기에 패널 생산량도 대폭 확대 될 수 있을 것”이라 전망했다.
TCL의 James Lee deputy chief engineer는 차세대 premium TV는 70 inch 이상의 대형 화면과 완벽한 블랙표현과 8K 해상도의 고화질, slim & flexible 등의 디자인 차별화 임을 언급하였다. James Lee deputy chief engineer는 “solution process 기술이 대형 RGB OLED 구현이 가능하여 화질 향상이 가능하고 적은 재료 사용으로 원가 절감에도 기여할 수 있을 것”이라며, “TCL은 현재 solution process 기술을 개발 중으로 Gen11 공장에 적용이 가능할 것으로 예상된다”고 밝혔다.
이어서 “현재 65 inch 기준 OLED TV 가격이 LCD TV 가격에 근접하고 있다”며 “2021년에는 OLED TV와 LCD TV 가격이 차이가 없을 것이며 OLED TV가 premium TV 시장의 주류로 자리잡을 것”이라 설명했다.
또한, “Gen11 OLED는 Mura free 기술 향상이 필요하지만, 75 inch OLED 패널을 6장 생산이 가능하며 Gen8.5 대비 3배 증가한 생산량과 95% 이상의 면취율이 가능하다”고 설명하며 OLED TV가 TV 시장의 주류로 자리잡기 위해서는 Gen11 solution process OLED 공장 건립이 반드시 필요할 것이라 강조했다.
[CES 2018] OLED TV exhibition from major set manufacturers
On 8 January 2018, the largest electronic show is held at Enclave Convention Center in Las Vegas, United States.
Major electronic companies such as LG Electronics, Sony, Vestel, Changhong, Skyworth presented OLED TV as main exhibition. In particular, Samsung Electronics’ “Micro LED” exhibition received a great deal of attention. Samsung Electronics unveiled the world’s first “micro LED” technology-applied 146-inch modular TV, “The Wall.” People came to see the product and it was heated up in a hot issue. Samsung Electronics emphasized that this product is a future screen that is unlimited in image quality, size and form. Through the implementation of the local dimming 3000, “The Wall”, which was unveiled at the exhibition show is developed by brightness, contrast ratio, color reproduction and black display compared to the existing display.
<‘Micro LED TV ‘The Wall’ of Samsung Electronics’>
Especially, the existing “Mini LED” products were exhibited along with “The Wall” for comparison of exhibition. And the excellence of “Micro LED” was outstanding. “Mini LED” products was little far from the large display as pixels and the lines of each module were shown on the screen.
LG Electronics, Sony, Changhong and other companies presented 65-inch and 77-inch OLED TV display products including Sound Acoustic OLED TV products. In particular, Konka reflected the trend that TV is a part of furniture, not just electronic products and it consists of a set design that took advantages of Chinese traditional atmosphere.
In addition, many set manufacturers have demonstrated the advantages of OLED TV, which is the lightest and thinnest through “Wall Paper TV” and “Slim” concepts.
<A8F Bravia OLED TV of Sony>
<OLED TV of Kongka>
‘TCL’, which occupies a side of QLED TV showed more advanced QLED TV in image quality and color reproduction range. According to the person in charge of TCL, QD dominated the portion of the current market therefore, many manufacturers are producing Quantum dot LCD, and also considering OLED TV launches. The person in charge emphasized that they are building factories in China that produce only OLED.
LG Electronics is a leading OLED TV company and showed OLED which is being developed continuously through making tunnels of OLED TV. They revealed that LG Electronics is the world’s first OLED TV set manufacturer. People look forward to seeing OLED growth in the future through CES the first electronic exhibition show in 2018.
[CES 2018] 주요 set 업체들의 OLED TV 전시
2018년 1월 8일부터 미국 라스베거스 엔클레이브 컨벤션 센터(Enclave Convention Centre)에서 최대 전자쇼인 CES가 열렸다.
LG Electronics와 Sony를 중심으로 Vestel, Changhong, Skyworth 등 주요 전자회사에서 OLED TV를 메인 전시품 중 하나로 내세운 가운데 Samsung Electronics의 ‘마이크로 LED” 전시에 대한 관심 또한 뜨거웠다. Samsung Electronics는 세계 최초로 “마이크로 LED” 기술을 적용한 146인치 모듈러 TV “더 월(The Wall)”을 공개, 제품을 보기 위한 인파로 제품 앞 열기가 어느때 보다 뜨거웠다. Samsung Electronics는 이에 대해 궁극의 화질, 크기, 형태에 제약없는 미래 스크린임을 강조했다. 이번 전시 공개한 “더 월”은 로컬 디밍 3000 구현을 통해 기존 디스플레이 대비 밝기, 명암비, 색재현력, 블랙 표현등을 개선하였다.
<Samsung Electronics의 마이크로 LED TV ‘The Wall’>
특히 이번 “더 월”과 함께 기존의 “미니 LED”제품을 비교전시하여 “마이크로 LED”의 우수성을 강조하였다. “미니 LED” 제품은 화면상에 픽셀들이 보이며 각 모듈들의 라인도 보여 큰 디스플레이라는 느낌이 부족하였다.
LG Electronics와 Sony, Changhong 등은 Sound Acoustic OLED TV 제품을 중심으로 65인치와 77인치 OLED TV 전시제품들을 선보였다. 특히 Konka는 중국 전통적인 느낌을 살린 세트 디자인으로 TV가 단순한 전자제품이 아닌 가구의 일부라는 트렌드를 반영하였다. 이와 더불어 많은 세트 업체에서 “Wall Paper TV”와 “Slim” 컨셉을 통해 가장 가볍고 얇을 수 있는 OLED TV의 장점을 드러내었다.
<Sony의 A8F Bravia OLED TV>
<Kongka의 OLED TV>
QLED TV의 한 진영을 차지하는 TCL은 이전 전시회들 보다 화질, 색재현율 등에서 보다 발전된 수준의 QLED TV를 선보였다. TCL의 관계자에 따르면 현재는 시장 상황이 QD가 우세하여 Quantum dot LCD를 제작, 사용하고 있지만 향후 OLED TV 출시 또한 고려하고 있으며 중국에 OLED만을 생산하는 공장을 짓고 있음을 강조하였다.
LG Electronics는 OLED TV 선두 업체로 OLED TV 수십개를 이어 터널을 만들어 세계 최초 OLED TV 세트업체임을 드러내는 전시를 통해 지속적으로 발전하는 OLED를 보여주었다
2018을 여는 첫 전자쇼 CES를 통해 앞으로 더욱 성장할 OLED를 기대해 본다.
[iMiD 2017] TCL, Solution process OLED와 QLED에 개발 집중
TCL의 Xiaolin Yan CTO는 29일 부산 벡스코에서 열린 iMiD 2017 기조연설에서 white OLED TV 이후의 premium TV로 solution process OLED TV와 자발광 QLED TV를 언급했다.
Yan CTO는 현재 premium TV 시장을 주도하고 있는 white OLED TV는 QD LCD TV 대비 뛰어난 화질과 디자인 차별화, 고해상도 구현, 자연 친화적인 특성으로 premium TV의 모든 요구 조건을 충족하고 있다고 언급했다.
또한, 현재 QD LCD TV보다 높게 책정 되어 있는 가격도 solution process를 적용하면 극복이 가능할 것으로 예상하며 2019년에 대량 생산도 가능할 것으로 전망했다.
Yan CTO는 “solution process 공정은 원장 분할 없이 공정 진행이 가능하기 때문에 Gen 10.5에서 75 inch 패널 생산이 용이할 것”이라며 “뿐만 아니라 전면 발광 방식의 RGB OLED TV 생산도 가능할 것”이라 예측했다. 다만, 이를 위해서는 재료와 장비의 궁합과 잉크 형성 공정 기술 개발 등이 이루어져야 한다고 강조했다.
이어서 자발광 QLED TV를 언급하며 “QLED 구조는 OLED 구조와 매우 흡사하기 때문에 진입 장벽이 낮아 기술 적용이 용이할 것”라며 “현재 OLED 대비 blue 발광층의 수명과 효율이 매우 낮은점과 카드뮴 사용 없이 성능이 확보되어야 한다”고 언급했다.
마지막으로 solution process OLED TV와 자발광 QLED TV의 상용화를 촉진하기 위한 광동 JUHUA에 printing technology 설립을 언급하며 차세대 프리미엄 TV 개발을 위해서는 재료와 장비 업체, 패널 업체들의 협력이 필요하다고 강조했다.
[iMiD 2017] TCL, Development focusing on Solution process OLED and QLED
TCL’s Xiaolin Yan CTO addressed solution process OLED TV and self-emitting QLED TV as premium TV after white OLED TV at iMiD 2017 keynote address in BEXCO, Busan on 29th.
Yan CTO noted that white OLED TV, which is currently leading the premium TV market, meets all the requirements of premium TV due to its superior image quality, design differentiation, high resolution realization and nature-friendly characteristics compared to QD LCD TV.
In addition, the price that is higher than the current QD LCD TV is expected to be overcome by applying the solution process, and mass production is also expected in 2019.
Yan CTO predicted that the “solution process would be easy to produce 75-inch panels at Gen 10.5 because the process can be performed without splitting the ledger,” and “it is also possible to produce full-emission RGB OLED TVs.” However, he emphasized that the compatibility of materials and equipment and the development of ink forming process technology should be done.
Following to that, “QLED structure is very similar to OLED structure, so it is easy to apply the technology because of the low entry barriers,” he said. “The lifetime and efficiency of the blue light emitting layer compared to the current OLED is very low, and performance must be ensured without the use of cadmium.”
Lastly, He mentioned the establishment of printing technology in Guangdong JUHUA to promote the commercialization of solution process OLED TV and self-luminous QLED TV, and emphasized the cooperation of material, equipment and panel makers to develop next-generation premium TV.
iMiD 2017 Industrial Forum, a networking event to predict the next generation OLED market
■ “Finding a new OLED market” – Discussing OLED replacement in view of OLED application development
■ Discussing new technologies of future display (LCD, QD-LCD, OLED)
The potential of future OLED development is inexhaustible as OLED can be applicable to all industries including VR / AR, automotive, aerospace, and lighting not content with smart phone and TVs. There has been growing public interest in OLED in many different industries. To meet the market demand, Ubi Research, a market research company co-hosts ‘iMiD2017 Industrial Forum’ with Korea Display Society (KIDS) in BEXCO, Busan on 30th of August.
The forum will proceed with a panel discussion among key specialists and presentation, which will enable people from many different industries to exchange information not only on the display market but also current OLED market status, technology and explore a new market potential generated in the future.
In the first session ‘look for a new OLED market’, OLED replacement will be presented in view of OLED application development. The key players include Dr. Teruo Tohma, WooSeok Jeong, principal research fellow at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Julian K chang, Managing director of Boeing Corporation, Professor TAKUYA KOMODA at Yamagata University, senior researcher, Michi Hisaishi, ALPINE Michihisa Onishi.
The second session, ‘Discussion of New Technologies in Future Display’ will provide insight into the latest products and technology trend of TV manufacturers competing with one another to dominate the next generation display market. Nam-Suk Oh, CEO of Samsung Electronics will present an updated LCD TV using Quantum dots technology under the title of “Quantum Dot and Advance of LCD-TV”.
In the OLED TV camp, under the title of “OLED, Now and Future”, Joon-Young Yang at LG Display will review the current status of OLED TV led by the current market trends, and also address OLED future implemented in a wide range of ‘flexible and rollable’ designs.
Weir Cao, senior researcher at TCL, will present both the technology status of the Colloidal Quantum Dots and TCL products applied to LCD in the market, under the topic of “TCL Display Technology with QDs”. The premium TV strategies are expectedly revealed. Lee Choong-hoon, CEO of Ubi research co-host of this forum, offered a time to summarize the premium TV market on the topic of ‘OLED TV market outlook by premium TV market expansion’ by analyzing the presentations of the companies that presented earlier.
For more information on the 17th iMiD2017 Industrial Forum, please visit iMiD2017 official website (http://imid.or.kr/2017/indi_forum.asp).
차세대 OLED 시장을 예측할 수 있는 네트워크의 장, iMiD 2017 Industrial Forum
OLED는 스마트폰과 TV 뿐 아니라 VR/AR, 자동차, 항공, 조명 등 전 산업으로의 확산 혹은 융합이 가능하다는 점에서 앞으로의 OLED 발전 가능성은 무궁무진하다. 이 때문에 다양한 산업에서의 OLED 관심은 지속적으로 증가하고 있다.
이러한 수요를 충족시키기 위해 시장조사 전문 기관인 유비리서치는 오는 30일(수)에 부산 벡스코에서 ‘iMiD 2017 Industrial Forum’을 한국디스플레이학회(KIDS)와 공동 개최한다.
본 포럼은 각 분야 Key Player들의 발표와 토론(Panel Discussion)이 진행된다. 이는 디스플레이뿐만 아니라 다양한 산업 종사자들에게 OLED의 현 상황과 기술, 시장에 대한 정보를 교환하고 향후 창출될 신 시장을 모색하는 자리가 될 것으로 예상된다.
첫번째 ‘OLED 신시장을 찾아라’ 세션에서는 OLED application 발전으로 본 OLED replacement에 대한 발표가 진행된다. Key Player로는 테루오 토마(Teruo Tohma)박사, 한국전자통신연구원(ETRI)의 정우석 책임연구원, Boeing사의 Julian K chang총괄위원, 야마가타 대학교 타쿠야 코모다(TAKUYA KOMODA)교수, ALPINE사의 미치히사 오니시(Michihisa Onishi) 수석연구원이 발표할 예정이다.
두번째 ‘미래 디스플레이의 신기술에 대한 논의’ 세션에서는 차세대 디스플레이 기술경쟁이 펼쳐지고 있는 각 TV업체들의 최신 제품과 기술동향에 대해 확인 할 수 있다. LCD TV 진영을 대표하는 삼성전자 노남석 상무는 “Quantum Dot and Advance of LCD-TV”라는 주제로 Quantum dots 기술을 활용하여 개선 된 LCD TV에 대해 발표 할 예정이다.
OLED TV 진영에서는 LG 디스플레이의 양준영 담당이 “OLED, Now and Future”라는 주제로 현재 시장 및 트렌드에 따른 OLED TV의 현황에 대한 리뷰뿐만 아니라 flexible과rollable 등 다양한 디자인 구현이 가능한 OLED의 미래를 논의할 예정이다.
이어서 TCL의 Weiran Cao 수석연구원은 “TCL Display Technology with QDs”라는 주제로 TCL에서 연구개발중인 Colloidal Quantum Dots 기술현황과 LCD에 적용하여 출시 중인 TCL 제품에 대해 발표할 예정으로, 중국의 프리미엄 TV에 대한 전략을 확인할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.
이번 포럼 공동주최사인 유비리서치 이충훈 대표는 ‘프리미엄 TV시장 확대에 따른 OLED TV시장 전망’을 주제로 앞서 발표한 업체들의 발표를 시장 관점에서 분석하여 프리미엄 TV 시장의 전망을 정리할 수 있는 시간을 마련하였다.
‘제17회 iMiD 2017 Industrial Forum’에 대한 더 자세한 정보는 iMiD 2017 공식홈페이지(http://imid.or.kr/2017/indi_forum.asp)를 통해 찾아볼 수 있다.
[MWC 2017] Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, HUAWEI, and TCL Compete over OLED Smart Watches
In MWC 2017, the competition over smart watches proceeded fiercely.
The unveiling of Gear S3 by Samsung Electronics in the last IFA 2016 attracted great attention from the smart watch market. The disclosures of products that can compete with Samsung Electronics’ Gear S3 at MWC 2017 are gaining great popularity among viewers.
LG Electronics displayed G-Watch 2 Sports with 1.38-inch P-OLED and G-Watch Style with 1.2-inch P-OLED, HUAWEI exhibited HUAWEI Watch 2 and HUAWEI Watch 2 Classic with 1.2-inch AMOLED panel, and TCL showed MOVETIME with 1.39-inch AMOLED panel.
The smart watches shown by LG Electronics, HUAWEI, and TCL adopted flexible AMOLED (P-OLED) and circle types to save the designs of existing watches, and LG Electronics’ G-Watch 2 and HUAWEI’s HUAWEI Watch 2 can be used as devices independent of smartphones because they have separate sims.
LG Electronics’ G-Watch 2 Sports is equipped with 1.38-inch circle type AMOLED panel, Google Android Wear 2.0, 768MB RAM, 4GB internal memory, and 430mAh battery, and it supports IP68-level waterproof and dustproof functions and wireless charging function.
On the other hand, G-Watch 2 Style is equipped with 1.3-inch circle type AMOLED panel, Google Android Wear 2.0, 4GB internal memory, and 240mAh battery, and it supports IP67-level waterproof and dustproof functions.
HUAWEI Watch 2 is equipped with a 1.2-inch circle type AMOLED panel, Qualcomm® Snapdragon ™ Wear 2100, 1.1GHz quad-core CPU, Google Android Wear 2.0, 4GB internal memory, 768MB RAM, and 420mAh battery, and it supports various types of Watch face, an equippable Sim (4G), and IP68-level waterproof and dustproof functions.
Meanwhile, LG Electronics and HUAWEI devoted considerable spaces to the smartwatch exhibition at their booths in the MWC 2017 exhibition, and it suggests that there will be big changes in the smart watch market which is dominated by Samsung and Apple.
<G-Watch 2 Sports of LG Electronics>
<HUAWEI Watch 2 of HUAWEI.>
[MWC 2017] 삼성전자, LG전자, 화웨이, TCL, OLED 스마트 워치로 대결
MWC 2017에서는 스마트워치 경쟁도 치열하게 진행되었다.
삼성전자는 지난 IFA 2016에에서 Gear S3를 공개하며 스마트워치 시장에서 큰 관심을 불러일으켰었다. 이번 MWC 2017에서는 삼성전자의 Gear S3에 대항할 수 있는 제품들이 공개되어 관람객들의 큰 호응을 얻고 있다.
LG 전자는 1.38inch P-OLED를 적용한 G-Watch 2 Sports와 1.2inch P-OLED를 적용한 G-Watch Style을, 화웨이는 1.2inch AMOLED panel을 적용한 HUAWAI Watch 2와 HUAWAI Watch 2 Classic를, TCL은 1.39 inch AMOLED panel이 적용된 MOVETIME을 전시하였다.
LG전자와 화웨이, TCL에서 공개한 smartwatch들은 circle type으로서 기존 시계의 디자인을 살리기 위해 flexible AMOLED (P-OLED)를 적용하였으며, LG전자의 G-Watch 2와 화웨이의 HUAWAI Watch 2는 별도의 sim을 장착하여 스마트폰과 독립된 기기로 사용 가능하다.
LG전자의 G-Watch 2 Sports는 1.38inch circle type AMOLED panel과 Google Android Wear 2.0, 768MB 램(RAM), 4GB 내장메모리, 430mAh 배터리를 탑재하였으며, IP68 등급의 방수/방진 기능 과 무선충전 기능을 지원한다.
반면 G-Watch 2 Style은 1.3inch circle type AMOLED panel과 Google Android Wear 2.0, 4GB 내장메모리, 240mAh 배터리를 탑재하였으며, IP67 등급의 방수/방진기능을 지원한다.
HUAWAI Watch 2는 1.2inch circle type AMOLED panel, Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Wear 2100, 1.1GHz quad-core (CPU), Google Android Wear 2.0, 4GB 내장메모리, 768MB 램(RAM), 420mAh 배터리를 탑재하였으며, 다양한 종류의 Watch face, Sim 장착(4G)가능, IP68 등급의 방수/방진 기능을 지원한다.
한편, LG 전자와 화웨이는 이번 MWC 2017전시회 부쓰에서 상당한 영역에 smartwatch 전시를 할애하였으며, 이를 미루어 보아 삼성전자와 Apple이 주도권을 쥐고있는 smartwatch 시장에 큰 변화를 가지고 올 것으로 예상된다.
<LG전자 G-Watch 2 Sports>
<화웨이의 HUAWEI Watch 2>
LCD, Busy Playing Catching Up to OLED…
Following smart phone, other devices equipped with display such as tablet PC, monitor, and TV are mostly using OLED panel. In turn, LCD is attempting to replicate key points of OLED panel to catch up.
The first is LTPS TFT technology. When Samsung Display started producing AMOLED using LTPS TFT, it was overlooked by the LCD sector as it financially needed twice the amount of investment compared to a-Si TFT technology and therefore thought it to have no business value. However, as the smart phone resolution is getting higher, LCD companies are also employing LTPS TFT that has high mobility.
The second is the ultra slim thickness of OLED panel that does not have BLU. To answer the smart phone’s need for a thin body with light weight, LCD is thinning the panel by slimming the glass substrate further and further. Nowadays, even TV sector of LCD is busy trying to become thinner. In CES2015, Sony exhibited ultra slim LCD TV with thickness of approximately 4.9mm.
<CES2015, Sony Floating Style 65” UHD LCD TV>
The third is curved design. LG Elec. and Samsung Elec. exhibited curved OLED TV using thinness of OLED panel in CES2013. With the products on the market, LCD TV also reduced thickness and began selling curved LCD TV.
<CES2015, Hisense Curved LCD TV>
Hisense, a Chinese brand, exhibited LCD TV with curved design in CES2015. Samsung Elec. decided that the main product of 2015, SUHD LCD TV, will have curved design, as well as releasing a curved LCD monitor. However, despite reducing the thickness LCD cannot yet be applied to smart phones.
The fourth is color reproductivity rate. The existing LCD TV can only produce approximately 80% of NTSC standard, which is limited compared to 110% of OLED. LCD sector criticized OLED’s color reproduction to be excessive; however, they recently developed new technology of applying quantum dot materials onto BLU and launched the sales of LCD TV with almost 120% of NTSC. Furthermore, it is deceiving the public by calling the QD BLU LCD TV as Quantum Dot TV packaged as a non-LCD TV.
<CES2015, TCL QD BLU LCD TV>
The fifth is contrast ratio. OLED TV’s contrast ratio is close to infinite with 1,000,000:1. Compared to this, LCD TV’s contrast ratio was 1,000:1, and unable to showcase dark scenes. Recently, HDR (high dynamic range) technology that brightens bright scenes and darkens dark scenes is strengthening its contrast ratio. Sony is striving to achieve high contrast ratio for LCD TV, similar to OLED TV, and exhibited HDR technology applied BRAVIA in CES2015.
<CES2015, Sony HDR applied LCD TV>
Many key points of OLED such as previously mentioned thickness, contrast ratio, and curvature ratio still need to be improved by LCD panel, and diverse attempts are continually being made to catch up to OLED panel that is entering the market with great strength. However, LCD cannot yet even attempt to match OLED on high speed response time that is needed for programs with fast action such as sports.
OLED holds diversity in color definition and design, and even if LCD keeps on reaching for these characteristics, LCD will remain LCD and will not be able to overtake OLED.
LCD, OLED 따라 가기 정말 바쁘다~~~
스마트폰에 이어 태블릿 PC와 모니터, TV에 이르기까지 디스플레이가 적용되는 기기에 전반적으로 OLED 패널이 사용되자 LCD 역시 OLED 패널 특징을 따라가기 위한 다양한 시도가 이루어지고 있다.
첫째는 LTPS TFT 기술이다. 삼성디스플레이가 LTPS TFT로 AMOLED를 만들 초기에는 LCD 진영에서는 a-Si TFT에 비해 투자비가 약 2배 정도 소요되는 LTPS TFT 방식의 AMOLED는 사업성이 없다고 무시하였으나, 스마트폰의 해상도가 점차 높아지자 LCD 업체들 역시 이동도가 높은 LTPS TFT를 앞 다퉈 채용하고 있다.
두번째는 BLU가 없는 OLED 패널의 초슬림 두께이다. 경량 박형을 요구하는 스마트폰 특징에 부합하기 위해 LCD는 유리 기판을 깍고 또 깍아 패널을 얇게 만들고 있다. 이젠 TV에서도 LCD는 살 빼기에 여념이 없다. CES2015에서 소니는 두께가 약4.9mm인 초슬림 LCD TV를 전시하였다.
<CES2015, Sony Floating Style 65” UHD LCD TV>
세번째는 curved 디자인이다. LG전자와 삼성전자가 OLED 패널의 얇은 두께를 이용하여 CES2013에서부터 curved OLED TV를 전시하며 제품을 판매하자, LCD TV 역시 두께를 줄이고 curved LCD TV 판매에 돌입했다.
<CES2015, Hisense Curved LCD TV>
중국 TV 메이커인 Hisense는 CES2015에서 curved 디자인의 LCD TV를 전시하였으며, 삼성전자는 2015년 주력 제품으로 출시하는 SUHD LCD TV를 curved 디자인으로 결정하였으며, 더불어 모니터도 curved LCD 제품을 출시한다. 하지만 두께를 줄여도 스마트폰용 소형 디스플레이에서는 LCD가 아직 적용되지 못하고 있다.
네번째는 색재현율이다. 기존 LCD TV는 색재현율이 NTSC 기준 약80%애 불과하여 110% 정도의 색을 재현 할 수 있는 OLED에 비하면 표현이 한정적이었다. LCD 진영은 OLED가 표현하는 색상은 너무 과도하다고 폄하하였지만, 최근에는 quantum dot 재료를 BLU에 부착하여 개발한 새로운 기술로서 120%에 가까운 초과도 색재현율을 나타내는 LCD TV 판매에 돌입했다. 더욱이 QD BLU LCD TV의 이름을 Quantum dot TV라고 명칭하며 LCD TV가 아닌 것처럼 포장까지 하고 있다.
<CES2015, TCL QD BLU LCD TV>
다섯번째는 명암비이다. OLED TV는 명암비가 1,000,000:1 이상으로서 무한대에 가깝다. 이에 비해LCD TV는 명암비가 1000:1에 불과하여 어두운 장면은 표현이 불가능하였다. 최근에는 밝은 화면은 더 밝게 하고 어두운 화면은 약간 더 어둡게 표현할 수 있는 HDR(high dynamic range) 기술로서 명암비를 강화하고 있다. 소니는 CES2015에서 HDR 기술을 적용한 BRAVIA를 전시하여, LCD TV로서 OLED TV 처럼 명암비를 표현하고자 노력하고 있다.
<CES2015, Sony HDR 적용 LCD TV>
앞에 기술한 두께와 명암비, curved 디자인의 곡률 반경 등이 OLED에 비해서는 LCD 패널이 개선해야 할 점이 아직 많지만, 새로운 강자로서 시장에 진입하고 있는 OLED 패널을 따라 가기 위한 다양한 시도가 계속 이어지고 있다. 하지만 LCD TV는 스피드가 있는 스포츠 등의 화면을 보기 위해 필요한 고속 응답 속도는 OLED를 따라가기 위한 시도 조차 못하고 있다.
OLED는 화질과 디자인 등에서 다양성을 보유하고 있어, LCD가 추격해와도 OLED는 OLED이고 LCD는 LCD일 뿐인 점은 변화가 없을 것이다.
