Abstract

Increasing Importance of LTPS TFT-LCD, AM-OLED, E-Paper Technology

Comparing the large-sized panels on display at FPD International 2007 with those displayed at FPD International 2006 shows that, while a-Si TFT-LCD has remained the mainstream large-sized panel technology, its share of all panels has fallen significantly, from 96.2% in 2006 to 82.8% in 2007. With a-Si TFT-LCD having already reached maturity -in terms of both display functions and product applications -panel makers are now focusing on the development of other display technologies. At 10.5%, E-paper's share of the products on display was significantly higher than in 2006, and there was also a slight increase in the shares held by LTPS TFT-LCD and AM-OLED. Taiwan's CPT has continued its efforts to commercialize Color Sequential LCD technology for large-sized panel applications; the outlook for this technology appears to be very promising.

Increasing Efforts to Develop Niche Application Markets

Whereas in 2006, a total of 69 LCD TV panels were showcased at FPD International, in 2007 this figure had fallen to 49; LCD TV panel's share of all panels on display at the exhibition fell from 43.4% to 23.4%. As panel makers continue to refine their LCD TV panel technology, the disparities between individual manufacturers in this area have narrowed. At the same time, the LCD TV panel market has come to be dominated by a handful of leading manufacturers, forcing other panel makers to focus on the development of niche products that offer significant growth potential. The niche markets that panel makers have been exploring include digital signage, medical applications, information boards, digital cinema format monitors, and broadcasting applications. The products on display at FPD International 2007 reflected a particularly strong interest in the digital signage market; 11.0% of the large-sized panels that were being showcased at FPD International 2007 fell into this application category. Panels for medical applications accounted for another 6.2% of the total; 2007 also saw Japanese panel makers showcasing panels for digital cinema format monitor and broadcasting applications for the first time ever.

Impact of Adopting Soda-Lime Glass Substrates for 5G Lines

Samsung has already begun using soda-lime glass substrate on a trial basis in the production of 19.0-inch SXGA a-Si TFT-LCD panel for use in monitor production. Preliminary estimates indicate that the adoption of soda-lime glass substrate will cut the cost of glass substrate by around 6%; however, the transformation requires a series of innovative new production process methods. To replace alkali-free glass substrate with soda-lime glass substrate, Samsung reduced the operating temperature of its 5G TFT-LCD production line from 300蚓 - 400蚓 to under 300蚓, as the melting temperature of soda-lime glass substrate is less than 300蚓. Up until now, soda-lime glass substrate has mainly been used in low-cost TN-LCD and STN-LCD production. Soda-lime glass substrate tends to suffer from Na+ diffusion, which affects liquid crystal reaction. This is not a serious problem with TN-LCD or STN-LCD panel due to the high electrical resistance of the liquid crystal material (around 10僕~10像 Ω-cm). However, with TFT-LCD panel every pixel has one or more transistor layers, the resistance of which must be maintained at 10僕~10像 Ω-cm. Na+ diffusion would make it impossible to maintain this level of resistance, which is why TFT-LCD panel makers have chosen not to adopt soda-lime glass substrate before now, despite its cost advantages. Recently, however, advances in liquid crystal technology have made it possible to produce high-resistance (10像 Ω-cm and higher) liquid crystal material, encouraging manufacturers to begin trial production with soda-lime glass substrate.

Samsung has begun trials with the use of soda-lime glass substrate in a-Si TFT-LCD panel production. If these trials are successful, and Samsung is able to begin volume production using soda-lime glass substrate, then the impact on the flat-panel display industry as a whole will be immense. The impact will be felt most directly by alkali-free glass substrate manufacturers such as Corning, NEG, Asahi, and NHT. With a lower operating temperature, and with glass substrate ingredients easier to obtain, using soda-lime glass substrate in TFT-LCD panel production would result in a significant lowering of the entry barriers in the flat-panel display glass substrate business. Taiwanese glass manufacturers in particular would be encouraged to expand into soda-lime glass substrate production. However, panel makers will not be able to begin using soda-lime glass substrate in TFT-LCD panel production until they have brought the operating temperature of their TFT-LCD panel production lines down from 300蚓 - 400蚓 to under 300蚓. The widespread replacement of alkali-free glass substrate by soda-lime glass substrate in the a-Si TFT-LCD panel industry will depend on whether makers are willing and able to make this change in their 2G to 5G production lines.

Appendix

Research Scope

This report is based on data collected at the FPD International 2007 exhibition held in Yokohama, Japan. The research focuses on the panel specifications, display technology, panel display functions and applications of the large-sized panel products showcased at the exhibition by Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, Chinese, European, and US panel manufacturers.

Definitions

For the purposes of this report, large-panel displays are defined as displays where the active area measures 11.0 inches or more diagonally (from corner to corner).

List of Companies