Two of Japan's leading consumer electronics companies have announced they will jointly develop next-generation organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays and modules for TVs and other large-screen applications.
Panasonic Corp. (NYSE: PC) and Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE) plan to leverage their printing technologies for next-generation OLEDs, which use ink-jet type technology in the manufacturing process. Sony and Panasonic aim to establish mass-production technology during 2013 to improve the overall manufacturing efficiency of the displays, according to a joint press release.
Sony is also part of a Japanese government-backed display joint venture with Toshiba and Hitachi. (See: 'Big Three' Emerge in LCD Market .) Japan Display, which was launched in April, manufactures LCDs. LCD is currently the dominant technology for TVs, but vendors have been struggling with overcapacity and eroding LCD prices. South Korea's Samsung Corp. spun its LCD business off as a wholly owned subsidiary to focus on OLED technology.
Although Samsung is currently considered the leader in OLED displays, today's release notes that Sony launched the world's first OLED TV in 2007. The release adds:
Sony has actively promoted the research and development of next-generation OLED technologies such as hybrid OLED element devices and processing (manufacturing) technologies that combine deposition and printing methods, thin film transistor (TFT) drivers such as oxide TFTs, and flexible organic TFTs, and has presented its development results at academic conferences.
One of the advantages of OLED is displays can be printed on flexible substrates such as plastic. Panasonic utilizes an "all-printing method" to manufacture large-sized screens at a lower cost. The press release continues:
Panasonic owns the unique production and equipment technologies which enable the production of OLED panels through this method. Panasonic is also pursuing the future possibility of OLED panels, and is carrying out research and development of advancements in flexible OLED panels and aiming to develop large-sized, high quality sheet-type displays.
A good combination if it can be handled carefully. Both have the best of technology devices and the pats wiull make an excellent combination or a final product.
@Hospice_, what i meant was the there are other important issues in the world, which will be more interesting to check rather than checking the condition of display technology. As far as money making is concerned then the stock market is more interesting etc.
".if one can see the future then display technology will not be at the top in the list to see."
Why not? The technology will improve and will be cheaper, but we will still need some visualization devices to show content on. It may be in the form of a tiny device with more powerful capabilities.
It will be really interesting to see what kinds of products can be envisioned using the capabilities of a flexible display medium. Any care to speculate on possibilities?
It would be wonderful to zoom forward 50 years to see what display technology looks like. This is very exciting news from Sony and Panasonic and I believe they will make great strides in low cost large format OLED.
The sooner more competition enters the market the sooner prices will go down. The ink-like technology has a lot of potential for cost savings once the materials are perfected.
Panasonic Corp. (NYSE: PC) and Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE) plan to leverage their printing technologies for next-generation OLEDs
@Barbara, I think this is welcome move. Recently both Panasonic and Sony were experiencing financial woes and this pact will definitely help them to build innovative products and thus will help them to improve their financial condition.
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Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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