lcd panel material manufacturer
Flat-panel displays are thin panels of glass or plastic used for electronically displaying text, images, or video. Liquid crystal displays (LCD), OLED (organic light emitting diode) and microLED displays are not quite the same; since LCD uses a liquid crystal that reacts to an electric current blocking light or allowing it to pass through the panel, whereas OLED/microLED displays consist of electroluminescent organic/inorganic materials that generate light when a current is passed through the material. LCD, OLED and microLED displays are driven using LTPS, IGZO, LTPO, and A-Si TFT transistor technologies as their backplane using ITO to supply current to the transistors and in turn to the liquid crystal or electroluminescent material. Segment and passive OLED and LCD displays do not use a backplane but use indium tin oxide (ITO), a transparent conductive material, to pass current to the electroluminescent material or liquid crystal. In LCDs, there is an even layer of liquid crystal throughout the panel whereas an OLED display has the electroluminescent material only where it is meant to light up. OLEDs, LCDs and microLEDs can be made flexible and transparent, but LCDs require a backlight because they cannot emit light on their own like OLEDs and microLEDs.
Liquid-crystal display (or LCD) is a thin, flat panel used for electronically displaying information such as text, images, and moving pictures. They are usually made of glass but they can also be made out of plastic. Some manufacturers make transparent LCD panels and special sequential color segment LCDs that have higher than usual refresh rates and an RGB backlight. The backlight is synchronized with the display so that the colors will show up as needed. The list of LCD manufacturers:
Organic light emitting diode (or OLED displays) is a thin, flat panel made of glass or plastic used for electronically displaying information such as text, images, and moving pictures. OLED panels can also take the shape of a light panel, where red, green and blue light emitting materials are stacked to create a white light panel. OLED displays can also be made transparent and/or flexible and these transparent panels are available on the market and are widely used in smartphones with under-display optical fingerprint sensors. LCD and OLED displays are available in different shapes, the most prominent of which is a circular display, which is used in smartwatches. The list of OLED display manufacturers:
MicroLED displays is an emerging flat-panel display technology consisting of arrays of microscopic LEDs forming the individual pixel elements. Like OLED, microLED offers infinite contrast ratio, but unlike OLED, microLED is immune to screen burn-in, and consumes less power while having higher light output, as it uses LEDs instead of organic electroluminescent materials, The list of MicroLED display manufacturers:
LCDs are made in a glass substrate. For OLED, the substrate can also be plastic. The size of the substrates are specified in generations, with each generation using a larger substrate. For example, a 4th generation substrate is larger in size than a 3rd generation substrate. A larger substrate allows for more panels to be cut from a single substrate, or for larger panels to be made, akin to increasing wafer sizes in the semiconductor industry.
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STONE Technologies is a proud manufacturer of superior quality TFT LCD modules and LCD screens. The company also provides intelligent HMI solutions that perfectly fit in with its excellent hardware offerings.
STONE TFT LCD modules come with a microcontroller unit that has a 1GHz Cortex-A8 CPU. Such a module can easily be transformed into an HMI screen. Simple hexadecimal instructions can be used to control the module through the UART port. Furthermore, you can seamlessly develop STONE TFT LCD color user interface modules and add touch control, features to them.
Becoming a reputable TFT LCD manufacturer is no piece of cake. It requires a company to pay attention to detail, have excellent manufacturing processes, the right TFT display technology, and have a consumer mindset.
Now, we list down 10 of the best famous LCD manufacturers globally. We’ll also explore why they became among the top 10 LCD display Manufacturers in the world.
Interface Devises Business includes Display and Senor, Sensor, and Application Solutions. As a leading company in the global semiconductor display industry, BOE has made the Chinese display industry develop from scratch to maturity and prosperity. Now, more than one-quarter of the global display panels are made by BOE, with its UHD, flexible display, microdisplay, and other solutions broadly applied to well-known worldwide brands.
LG Display is a leading manufacturer of thin-film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD) panels, OLED, and flexible displays.LG Display began developing TFT-LCD in 1987 and currently offers Display panels in a variety of sizes and specifications using different cutting-edge technologies (IPS, OLED, and flexible technology).
Founded in 2003, Innolink listed its shares in Taiwan in 2006. In March 2010, it merged with Chi Mei Optoelectronics and Tong Bao Optoelectronics, the largest merger in the panel industry. Qunchuang is the surviving company and Chi Mei Electronics is the company name. In December 2012, it was renamed As Qunchuang Optoelectronics.
With innovative and differentiated technologies, QINNOOptoelectronics provides advanced display integration solutions, including 4K2K ultra-high resolution, 3D naked eye, IGZO, LTPS, AMOLED, OLED, and touch solutions. Qinnooptoelectronics sets specifications and leads the market. A wide range of product line is across all kinds of TFT LCD panel modules, touch modules, for example, TV panel, desktop and laptop computer monitor with panels, small and medium scale “panels, medical, automotive, etc., the supply of cutting-edge information and consumer electronics customers around the world, for the world TFT – LCD (thin-film transistor liquid crystal display) leading manufacturers.
AU Optronics Co., LTD., formerly AU Optronics Corporation, was founded in August 1996. It changed its name to AU Optronics after its merger with UNIOPtronics in 2001. Through two mergers, AU has been able to have a full range of generations of production lines for panels of all sizes.Au Optronics is a TFT-LCD design, manufacturing, and r&d company. Since 2008, au Optronics has entered the green energy industry, providing customers with high-efficiency solar energy solutions.
Sharp has been called the “father of LCD panels”.Since its founding in 1912, Sharp developed the world’s first calculator and LIQUID crystal display, represented by the living pencil, which was invented as the company name. At the same time, Sharp is actively expanding into new areas to improve people’s living standards and social progress. Made a contribution.
BYD IT products and businesses mainly include rechargeable batteries, plastic mechanism parts, metal parts, hardware electronic products, cell phone keys, microelectronics products, LCD modules, optoelectronics products, flexible circuit boards, chargers, connectors, uninterruptible power supplies, DC power supplies, solar products, cell phone decoration, cell phone ODM, cell phone testing, cell phone assembly business, notebook computer ODM, testing and manufacturing and assembly business, etc.
Kyocera was founded in 1959 as a manufacturer of technical ceramics. Industrial ceramics is a series of advanced materials with unique physical, chemical, and electronic properties. Today, most of Kyocera’s products are related to telecommunications, including semiconductor components, RF and microwave packaging, passive electronic components, wireless mobile phones and network equipment, crystal oscillators and connectors, and optoelectronic products for optoelectronic communication networks.
Tianma microelectronics co., LTD., founded in 1983, the company focus on smartphones, tablets, represented by high order laptop display market of consumer goods and automotive, medical, POS, HMI, etc., represented by professional display market, and actively layout smart home, intelligent wear, AR/VR, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other emerging markets, to provide customers with the best product experience.IN terms of technology, the company has independently mastered leading technologies such as LTPS-TFT, AMOLED, flexible display, Oxide-TFT, 3D display, transparent display, and in-cell/on-cell integrated touch control. TFT-LCD key Materials and Technologies National Engineering Laboratory, national enterprise Technology Center, post-doctoral mobile workstation, and undertake national Development and Reform Commission, The Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and other major national thematic projects. The company’s long-term accumulation and continuous investment in advanced technology lay the foundation for innovation and development in the field of application.
We have thousands of standard products that are in stock and available from our Seattle, WA and Hong Kong warehouses to support fast product development and preproduction without MOQ. The stock covers TN, STN LCD display panels, COB, COG character LCD display, graphic LCD display, PMOLED, AMOLED display, TFT display, IPS display, high brightness and transflective, blanview sunlight readable display, super high contrast ratio display, lightning fast response displays, efficient low power consumption display, extreme temperature range display, HMI display, HDMI display, Raspberry Pi Display, Arduino display, embedded display, capacitive touch screen, LED backlight etc. Customers can easily purchase samples directly from our website to avoid time delays with setting up accounts and credit terms and shipping within 24 hours.
Many of our customers require customized OEM display solutions. With over two decades of experience, we apply our understanding of available display solutions to meet our customer’s requirements and assist from project concept to mass production. Using your ideas and requirements as a foundation, we work side by side with you to develop ideas/concepts into drawings, build prototypes and to final production seamlessly. In order to meet the fast changing world, we can provide the fastest turnaround in the industry, it takes only 3-4 weeks to produce LCD panels samples and 4-6 weeks for LCD display module, TFT LCD, IPS LCD display, and touch screen samples. The production time is only 4-5 weeks for LCD panels and 5-8 weeks for LCD display module, TFT LCD, IPS LCD display, and touch screen.
Manufacturer of optical coatings, flat panel/LCD glass, instrument glass, & CRT filter glass. Products include anti-reflective/anti-glare coatings, transparent conductive coatings, fiber optic coatings, beam splitters, cover glass, etched glass, heater glass, glass sandwiches, lighting wedges, & circular polarizers. Applications include EMI/RFI protection, contrast adjustment, & optical instruments. Capabilities include precision glass cutting to tolerances of plus/minus .005 in. & precision glass edging to tolerances of plus/minus .002 in. Additional capabilities include custom manufacturing of laminated products. Services & products meet Military Spec.
In recent time, China domestic companies like BOE have overtaken LCD manufacturers from Korea and Japan. For the first three quarters of 2020, China LCD companies shipped 97.01 million square meters TFT LCD. And China"s LCD display manufacturers expect to grab 70% global LCD panel shipments very soon.
BOE started LCD manufacturing in 1994, and has grown into the largest LCD manufacturers in the world. Who has the 1st generation 10.5 TFT LCD production line. BOE"s LCD products are widely used in areas like TV, monitor, mobile phone, laptop computer etc.
TianMa Microelectronics is a professional LCD and LCM manufacturer. The company owns generation 4.5 TFT LCD production lines, mainly focuses on making medium to small size LCD product. TianMa works on consult, design and manufacturing of LCD display. Its LCDs are used in medical, instrument, telecommunication and auto industries.
TCL CSOT (TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd), established in November, 2009. TCL has six LCD panel production lines commissioned, providing panels and modules for TV and mobile products. The products range from large, small & medium display panel and touch modules.
Established in 1996, Topway is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the design and manufacturing of industrial LCD module. Topway"s TFT LCD displays are known worldwide for their flexible use, reliable quality and reliable support. More than 20 years expertise coupled with longevity of LCD modules make Topway a trustworthy partner for decades. CMRC (market research institution belonged to Statistics China before) named Topway one of the top 10 LCD manufactures in China.
Established in 2013, Eternal Material Technology is committed to the research, development and manufacturing of electronic materials and providing technical services. EMT is leading the industry with its products of OLED and color photoresist materials.
The Company engages in the R&D, manufacturing, and sale of LCD panels. It offers LCD panels for notebook computers, desktop computer monitors, LCD TV sets, vehicle-mounted IPC, consumer electronics products, mobile devices, tablet PCs, desktop PCs, and industrial displays.
New Vision Display is a custom LCD display manufacturer serving OEMs across diverse markets. One of the things that sets us apart from other LCD screen manufacturers is the diversity of products and customizations we offer. Our LCD portfolio ranges from low-cost monochrome LCDs to high-resolution, high-brightness color TFT LCDs – and pretty much everything in between. We also have extensive experience integrating LCD screen displays into complete assemblies with touch and cover lens.
Sunlight readable, ultra-low power, bistable (“paper-like”) LCDs. Automotive grade, wide operating/storage temperatures, and wide viewing angles. Low tooling costs.
Among the many advantages of working with NVD as your LCD screen manufacturer is the extensive technical expertise of our engineering team. From concept to product, our sales and technical staff provide expert recommendations and attentive support to ensure the right solution for your project.
As a leading LCD panel manufacturer, NVD manufactures custom LCD display solutions for a variety of end-user applications: Medical devices, industrial equipment, household appliances, consumer electronics, and many others. Our state-of-the-art LCD factories are equipped to build custom LCDs for optimal performance in even the most challenging environments. Whether your product will be used in the great outdoors or a hospital operating room, we can build the right custom LCD solution for your needs. Learn more about the markets we serve below.
With the rapid development of my country’s display industry, the global display industry structure has undergone major changes. At present, the LCD industry is mainly concentrated in China, Japan, and South Korea. With the release of the new production capacity of mainland panel manufacturers, mainland China will become the world’s largest LCD production area shortly. So, what are the top ten LCD manufacturers in the world, and how do they rank?
LG Display (Chinese name is LG Display) is currently the world’s No. 1 LCD panel manufacturer, affiliated to LG Group, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, with R&D, production, and trading institutions in China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States and Europe.
LGDisplay’s customers include Apple, HP, DELL, SONY, Toshiba, PHILIPS, Lenovo, Acer, and other world-class consumer electronics manufacturers. Apple’s iPhone4, iPhone4S, iPhone5, iPad, iPad2, TheNewiPad, and the latest iPad mini all use LG Display’s liquid crystal display panel.
Innolux is a professional TFT-LCD panel manufacturing company founded by Foxconn Technology Group in 2003. The factory is located in Shenzhen Longhua Foxconn Technology Park, with an initial investment of RMB 10 billion. Innolux has a strong display technology research and development team, coupled with Foxconn’s strong manufacturing capabilities, and effectively exerts the benefits of vertical integration, which will make a significant contribution to improving the level of the world’s flat-panel display industry.
Innolux conducts production and sales operations in a one-stop manner and provides overall solutions for group system customers. Innolux attaches great importance to the research and development of new products. Star products such as mobile phones, portable and car-mounted DVDs, digital cameras, game consoles, and PDA LCD screens have been put into mass production, and they have quickly seized the market to win market opportunities. Several patents have been obtained.
AU Optronics was formerly known as Daqi Technology and was established in August 1996. In 2001, it merged with Lianyou Optoelectronics and changed its name to AU Optronics. In 2006, it acquired Guanghui Electronics again. After the merger, AUO has a complete production line for all generations of large, medium, and small LCD panels. AU Optronics is also the world’s first TFT-LCD design, manufacturing, and R&D company to be publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). AU Optronics took the lead in introducing an energy management platform and was the first manufacturer in the world to obtain ISO50001 energy management system certification and ISO14045 eco-efficiency assessment product system verification, and was selected as the Dow Jones Sustainability World in 2010/2011 and 2011/2012. Index constituent stocks set an important milestone for the industry.
Founded in April 1993, BOE is the largest display panel manufacturer in China and a provider of Internet of Things technology, products, and services. Core businesses include display devices, smart systems, and health services. Display products are widely used in mobile phones, tablet computers, notebook computers, monitors, TVs, vehicles, wearable devices, and other fields; smart systems build IoT platforms for new retail, transportation, finance, education, art, medical and other fields, providing ” “Hardware products + software platform + scenario application” overall solution; the health service business is combined with medicine and life technology to develop mobile health, regenerative medicine, and O+O medical services, and integrate the resources of the health park.
At present, BOE’s shipments in notebook LCD screens, flat-panel LCD screens, mobile phone LCD screens, and other fields have reached the world’s first place. Its successful entry into Apple’s supply chain will become the world’s top three LCD panel manufacturers soon.
Sharp is known as the “Father of LCD Panels.” Since its establishment in 1912, Sharp Corporation has developed the world’s first calculator and liquid crystal display, represented by the invention of the live pencil, which is the origin of the current company’s name. At the same time, Sharp is actively expanding into new areas to improve the living standards of human beings and society. Contribute to progress.
The company independently masters leading technologies including LTPS-TFT, AMOLED, flexible display, Oxide-TFT, 3D display, transparent display, and IN-CELL/ON-CELL integrated touch control. The company has a national engineering laboratory for TFT-LCD key materials and technology, a national-level enterprise technology center, a post-doctoral mobile workstation, and undertakes many major national-level special projects such as the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The company’s strong technology and scientific research capabilities have become the cornerstone of the company’s sustainable development.
Kyocera Corporation was established in 1959 as a manufacturer of technical ceramics. Technical ceramics refers to a series of advanced materials with unique physical, chemical, and electronic properties. Today, most of Kyocera’s products are related to telecommunications, including semiconductor components, radiofrequency and microwave product packages, passive electronic components, wireless mobile phones and network equipment, crystal oscillators and connectors, and optoelectronic products used in optoelectronic communication networks.
Among the world famous brands, the screen of South Korea"s samsung and LG is known to be produced and sold by themselves.Display screens of other niche brands, and those brands capable of self-production and self-marketing, also have an unassailable position in their own segments, facing various brands.For buyers, how to find suitable suppliers from these LCD panel manufacturers?
The world-renowned LCD panel production line is mainly controlled by several enterprises: au optronics in Taiwan;Chi mei electronics in Taiwan, China;Sharp, Japan;South Korea samsung, South Korea LG;Philips;Boe, etc.These companies supply the world"s main demand for liquid crystal displays.
LG Display is currently the world"s first LCD panel manufacturer. It is affiliated to LG group and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.Its subsidiaries are: LG electronics, LG display, GS caltex, LG chemistry, LG life and health, etc., covering the fields of chemical energy, electronics and appliances, communication and service.LG Display"s customers include Apple, HP, DELL, SONY, Toshiba, PHILIPS, Lenovo, Acer and other world-class consumer electronics manufacturers.LG"s manufacturing base in China is in nanjing, shenyang.
Innolux is a tft-lcd panel manufacturing company founded by foxconn technology group in 2003.The factory is located in longhua foxconn technology park in shenzhen.Innolux has a strong display technology research and development team, coupled with foxconn"s strong manufacturing capacity, to effectively play the vertical integration benefits, to improve the level of the world plane display industry will have a pointer contribution.In March 2010, it merged with chi mei electronics and tong bao optoelectronics.
Au optronics, formerly known as acer technology, was founded in August 1996. It was renamed au optronics after the merger of au optronics and united optronics in 2001.Au optronics is the world"s first tft-lcd design, manufacturing and development company to be publicly listed on the New York stock exchange (NYSE).
Boe, founded in April 1993, is the largest display panel manufacturer in China and a provider of Internet of things technology, products and services.At present, boe has reached the world"s first place in the field of notebook LCD, flat LCD and mobile LCD. With its success in joining the apple supply chain, boe will become the world"s top three LCD panel manufacturers in the near future.
Sharp is known as "the father of LCD panel".Since its founding in 1912, sharp corporation has been developing the world"s first calculator and liquid crystal display, represented by the live pencil, which is the name of the company. At the same time, sharp corporation has been actively expanding new fields, contributing to the improvement of human living standards and social progress.Sharp is already owned by foxconn.
The company has set up tft-lcd key materials and technology national engineering laboratory, national enterprise technology center, post-doctoral mobile workstation, and undertakes national development and reform commission, ministry of science and technology, ministry of industry and information technology and other major national special projects.The company"s strong technology and scientific research capabilities become the cornerstone of the company"s sustainable development.
BOE Technology Group, the Chinese electronic components producer, is expected to be the leader in producing LCD display panels in the coming years, with a forecast capacity share of 24 percent by 2022. China is the country that has the largest LCD capacity, with a 56 percent share in 2020.Read moreLCD panel production capacity share from 2016 to 2022, by manufacturerCharacteristicBOEChina StarInnoluxAUOLGDHKCCEC PandaSharpSDCOther-----------
DSCC. (June 8, 2020). LCD panel production capacity share from 2016 to 2022, by manufacturer [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 28, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1057455/lcd-panel-production-capacity-manufacturer/
DSCC. "LCD panel production capacity share from 2016 to 2022, by manufacturer." Chart. June 8, 2020. Statista. Accessed December 28, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1057455/lcd-panel-production-capacity-manufacturer/
DSCC. (2020). LCD panel production capacity share from 2016 to 2022, by manufacturer. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 28, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1057455/lcd-panel-production-capacity-manufacturer/
DSCC. "Lcd Panel Production Capacity Share from 2016 to 2022, by Manufacturer." Statista, Statista Inc., 8 Jun 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1057455/lcd-panel-production-capacity-manufacturer/
DSCC, LCD panel production capacity share from 2016 to 2022, by manufacturer Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1057455/lcd-panel-production-capacity-manufacturer/ (last visited December 28, 2022)
Spectra-Physics is a leading supplier of lasers for the manufacture of flat panel displays (FPD) including OLED and LCD. Our lasers are proven in a wide range of FPD applications including glass cutting/drilling, ITO patterning, repair and marking. We deliver a broad portfolio of highly reliable, cost-effective lasers for 24/7 flat panel manufacturing backed by our industry-leading global support organization.
The Spirit 1030-100-SHG laser system operating at wavelengths of 515 and 1030 nm has been used for cutting 75 μm thick ribbons of PI and PET plastics, typically used for flexible OLED displays. Figure 1 shows microscope images of PI and PET plastics machined using the Spirit 1030-100-SHG laser. Cutting speeds exceeding 1 m/s for both plastics were achieved when operating the laser at 100 W average power at 1030 nm. It was also possible to achieve high machining quality with minimal thermal damage (HAZ < 50 .m). The demonstrated cutting speed and quality meets the requirements of OLED display manufacturers.. Please see Newport.com for additional information on Flat Panel Display Manufacturing.
As the flat panel display market moves from liquid crystal display (LCD) to organic light emitting diode (OLED) display technology, laser structuring and cutting of heterogeneous materials (comprised of multiple organic material films) with high quality and accuracy is needed. Within OLED technology, substrate material is changing from glass to flexible plastics to create lighter, thinner and more durable displays. See Flexible OLED Manufacturing with High 42 Power Femtosecond Laser for additional information.
Manufacturing of flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays is critical for next-generation consumer electronic devices, including foldable phones. OLED displays are comprised of multiple layers of polymer materials, including polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and cyclo olefin polymer (COP). These materials are transparent to infrared and visible wavelengths and are prone to thermal damage, making them difficult to machine with conventional laser sources. See OLED Materials Processing with High Power UV Picosecond Lasers for additional information.
They filed a Swiss patent for the idea on Dec. 4, 1970. Though it attracted scant attention at the time, the milestone now stands as the birthdate of the liquid crystal display (LCD) – the technological platform which has transformed consumer electronics and presented a brilliant new way to view the world.
Early LCD developers took a few years to figure out that specialty glass, not plastic, was the best stable substrate for the delicate LCD circuitry and the color backplane component. Once they did, they turned increasingly to Corning to supply them with extraordinarily stable, flat, fusion-formed glass, able to preserve the critical properties of the liquid crystal and withstand high processing temperatures.
And LCDs rapidly transformed from “passive matrix” models, mostly used in pocket calculators and digital watches, to “active matrix” LCDs in which each sub-pixel was controlled with an isolated thin-film transistor. AMLCDs enabled wide viewing angles; brilliant, fast-moving images; and high-resolution images that had never been possible before.
Corning Incorporated was a critical player in this development, and eventually became the world’s leading supplier of LCD glass substrates. And Corning® EAGLE XG® Glass, the world’s first LCD substrate with no arsenic or other heavy metals, went on to exceed sales of 25 billion square feet, making it one of the most successful products in Corning’s history.
In general, there are two types of displays in the market today: active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) and AMOLED. In its simplicity, the fundamental components required to make up the display are the same for AMLCD and AMOLED. There are four layers of a display device (FIGURE 1): a light source, switches that are the thin-film-transistor and where the gases are mainly used, a shutter to control the color selection, and the RGB (red, green, blue) color filter.
Technology trends TFT-LCD (thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display) is the baseline technology. MO / White OLED (organic light emitting diode) is used for larger screens. LTPS / AMOLED is used for small / medium screens. The challenges for OLED are the effect of < 1 micron particles on yield, much higher cost compared to a-Si due to increased mask steps, and moisture impact to yield for the OLED step.
Although AMLCD displays are still dominant in the market today, AMOLED displays are growing quickly. Currently about 25% of smartphones are made with AMOLED displays and this is expected to grow to ~40% by 2021. OLED televisions are also growing rapidly, enjoying double digit growth rate year over year. Based on IHS data, the revenue for display panels with AMOLED technol- ogies is expected to have a CAGR of 18.9% in the next five years while the AMLCD display revenue will have a -2.8% CAGR for the same period with the total display panel revenue CAGR of 2.5%. With the rapid growth of AMOLED display panels, the panel makers have accel- erated their investment in the equipment to produce AMOLED panels.
There are three types of thin-film-transistor devices for display: amorphous silicon (a-Si), low temperature polysilicon (LTPS), and metal oxide (MO), also known as transparent amorphous oxide semiconductor (TAOS). AMLCD panels typically use a-Si for lower-resolution displays and TVs while high-resolution displays use LTPS transistors, but this use is mainly limited to small and medium displays due to its higher costs and scalability limitations. AMOLED panels use LTPS and MO transistors where MO devices are typically used for TV and large displays (FIGURE 3).
This shift in technology also requires a change in the gases used in production of AMOLED panels as compared with the AMLCD panels. As shown in FIGURE 4, display manufacturing today uses a wide variety of gases.
Nitrogen trifluoride: NF3 is the single largest electronic material from spend and volume standpoint for a-Si and LTPS display production while being surpassed by N2O for MO production. NF3 is used for cleaning the PECVD chambers. This gas requires scalability to get the cost advantage necessary for the highly competitive market.
Nitrous oxide: Used in both LTPS and MO display production, N2O has surpassed NF3 to become the largest electronic material from spend and volume standpoint for MO production. N2O is a regional and localized product due to its low cost, making long supply chains with high logistic costs unfeasible. Averaging approximately 2 kg per 5.5 m2 of mother glass area, it requires around 240 tons per month for a typical 120K per month capacity generation 8.5 MO display production. The largest N2O compressed gas trailer can only deliver six tons of N2O each time and thus it becomes both costly and risky
Individual packages: Specialty gases are supplied in individual packages. For higher volume materials like silane and nitrogen trifluoride, these can be supplied in large ISO packages holding up to 10 tons. Materials with smaller requirements are packaged in standard gas cylinders.
In-fab distribution: Gas supply does not end with the delivery or production of the material of the fab. Rather, the materials are further regulated with additional filtration, purification, and on-line analysis before delivery to individual production tools.
To facilitate these increasing demands, display manufacturers must partner with gas suppliers to identify which can meet their technology needs, globally source electronic materials to provide customers with stable and cost- effective gas solutions, develop local sources of electronic materials, improve productivity, reduce carbon footprint, and increase energy efficiency through on-site gas plants. This is particularly true for the burgeoning China display manufacturing market, which will benefit from investing in on-site bulk gas plants and collaboration with global materials suppliers with local production facilities for high-purity gas and chemical manufacturing.