Abstract

High Resolution Demand to Drive an Across-the-board Improvement in LCD TV Panel Display Quality

Of the 69 LCD TV panels that were on display at FPD International 2006, 55.1% were high-resolution models, 81.2% featured wide viewing angle, 79.7% had high brightness, 63.8% had high contrast, 82.6% provided rapid response time, and 43.5% had high color saturation. Due to the combined efforts of the LCD TV manufacturers and the TFT-LCD panel makers, a new era of high-definition LCD TV has dawned. Given the growing demand for high-definition LCD TVs, LCD TV panel makers are expected to continue to upgrade their panel specifications. In particular, panel makers will need to focus on improving display features, including color saturation, contrast and resolution -as they are to remain competitive.

LCD TV Panel Makers Continue to Focus on the Mainstream Panel Sizes

Analysis of the product development strategies adopted by the LCD TV panel makers that had new panels on display at FPD International 2006 shows that the LCD TV panel contract manufacturers, such as AUO, have been focusing on the mainstream product sizes: 40-inch and smaller. For these manufacturers, the main purpose of exhibiting at FPD International 2006 is to demonstrate to potential customers that they have mature technology for producing panels in the mainstream sizes. These companies are therefore also targeting the mainstream products in their efforts to improve panel display performance, rather than seeking to introduce a wide range of new panels with high-end specifications.

Panel Makers with LCD TV Brands Focus on 40-inch and Larger Panel Sizes with High-end Specs

Unlike the contract manufacturers, those LCD TV panel makers with LCD TV brands have focused more on 40-inch and larger panels with mid-range or high-end specifications. For these companies, exhibitions such as FPD International provide an opportunity to show off their ability to develop high-end products for customers, the media, and even ordinary consumers who may be visiting the exhibition. In their product development strategies, these manufacturers concentrate improving LCD TV panel features for the high-end market. Both Sharp and Samsung have adopted strategies along these lines.

Appendix

Research Scope

This report examines panel manufacturers which participated in the FPD International 2006 exhibition held in Yokohama, Japan in the fall of 2006. The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panels exhibited at FPD International 2006 by Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese FPD panel makers are the focus of this research. Particular attention is paid to panel sizes, panel resolutions, and other display features.

1. Panel resolutions higher than 160ppi are classified as high resolutions

2. Horizontal and vertical viewing angels wider than 176 degree and 176 degree respectively are classified as wide viewing angles

3. Panel brightness higher than 450 cd/㎡ is classified as high brightness

4. Panel response speed below 8 ms is classified as high response speed

5. Panel contrast ratio above 1000:1 is regarded as high contrast ratio

6. Panel color saturation above 92% is regarded as high color saturation

Glossary of Terms

List of Companies