Japanese companies to jointly develop OLED against Korean competitors

Japanese companies will jointly develop the way to actively develop OLED technology, in order to fight in the field of the same limelight OLED Korean companies. However, the current situation of the Japanese OLED manufacturing industry, the big screen and other key technologies have not yet been developed.

A fine display of flat panel display technology will be held in Tokyo in April this year, the Sony Corp unveiled a screen size of 3.5 inches, the thickness of only 0.2mm thin type OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display panel products, has aroused wide concern in the industry. At present, the thinnest thickness of 11 inches of "XEL-1" type OLED TV main SONY has commercial sales of about 3mm, the thickness of panel parts for the 1.4mm. in the commercial development of the global flat-panel TVs to thinner and more clear direction of development today, do not need light source OLED increasingly shows its unique advantages.

Japan integrates OLED industry chain

According to the research on the status quo of Japan Yano economic, the global OLED market market size and market prospect of a survey from 2003 to 2006, the global OLED market (Sales) were $236 million, $318 million, $545 million, $554 million, forecast 2008 global OLED market will reach $1 billion 180 million, $2 billion 730 million in 2010 in 2012, $4 billion 550 million.

In July 10, 2008, the "Japanese economic news" and other media reports, SONY, SHARP, Toshiba, Matsushita and other Japanese home appliance manufacturers decided to cooperate in the field of ultra-thin large size OLED, basic technology developed jointly with OLED display production needs. The study by the independent administrative institutions of Japan new energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) which is called "green IT" program by the Japanese Ministry of economy support, more than 4 Japanese display manufacturing giant and NEDO in addition to participate in the joint development projects, including chemical, Sumitomo in industry, JSR, Idemitsu, SHIMADZU, Dainippon screen and Hitachi and many other well-known Japanese shipbuilding materials and manufacturing equipment manufacturers. At present, the major research projects have been listed as follows: low damage large area electrode formation technology, large area transparent sealing technology and large area organic membrane technology. Through the integration of various technologies, the project to set up power more than 40 inches Full HD OLED display consumption is reduced to below 40W, and the basic technology development to adapt to the sixth generation (1500mm * 1850mm) above the substrate, high production efficiency to meet the production requirements, the establishment of large size display manufacturing technology.

Key technologies have not yet developed large screen

From the current situation of the Japanese OLED manufacturing industry, the key technologies such as large screen has not yet been developed. If developed by the manufacturers alone, will need to invest huge sums of money. Therefore, the company expects to reduce the cost of research and development through joint development, and early application. The project will start this year, the joint research and development time will continue until 2012.

As early as the end of last year, Matsushita, Canon, Hitachi has been in the flat panel display reached a comprehensive cooperation agreement, Hitachi will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Corporation 49.8% stake into the display and transferred to Canon and Matsushita (24.9%), three companies decided through joint cooperation and common development of the next generation of OLED display panel.

Panasonic signed a licensing contract in 2006 and has applied to large screen of the polymer OLED basic patent of British Cambridge display technology company, and semiconductor research in its Kyoto conducted practical research and development. In July 29th this year, Panasonic announced that it will invest tens of billions of yen in the spring of 2009 to build large scale OLED TV trial production line, and in the establishment of mass production technology in the year, to achieve the commercialization of the product of the OLED class of 40 inches. Panasonic also and materials manufacturers, joint research and development of long life and large screen technology, Hyogo Himeji LCD panel plant and plan in the construction of new Panasonic in a maximum of 40 inch OLED panel production line. The total investment in the production line equipment is expected to reach 100 billion yen (about $910 million), plans to be completed and put into operation in 2011, and to achieve OLED TV commercial sales.

Hitachi also announced the day before the display, in order to further strengthen cooperation with Canon in the small area of OLED, the company has set up in July 1st this year, the Ministry of development OLED". Both technical personnel will be engaged in the integration of the development of the same department of R & D work, and plans to introduce specialized production equipment for the production of special equipment.

SONY plans in fiscal year 2008 the second half to invest 22 billion yen ($200 million), manufacturing subsidiary - SONY mobile display factory in a new OLED panel production line on the LCD panel is located in Aichi higashiura to promote the development of more than 20 inches of the OLED panel to mass production. The new line will use the 3.5 generation (600mm * 720mm) glass substrate. At the end of last year SONY has started production of 11 inch OLED TV, the accumulation of technology in the production of large and medium-sized panel in the future, in order to establish the goal in the second half of 2009, the OLED panel production technology, to achieve 20 inches above the mid sized OLED TV commercial. In addition, Seiko - Epson Corp has also plans to achieve 8 inch panel commercialization this fall.

Korean companies to follow up measures

The Japanese government and enterprises to jointly develop OLED project, aims to establish the Japanese companies in the future of large screen flat-panel TV technology in the field of effective confrontation in the field of the same limelight OLED Korean companies.

South Korea responded immediately. According to the July 25th "Japanese economic news" reported that South Korea's Samsung Group announced the same day, will set up a master of Samsung in September this year