The OLED-Info newsletter (April 20, 2023)

Samsung Display signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ferrari to develop a display solution for implementation in Ferrari’s next-generation models.

Samsung Display will develop a bespoke 'innovative automotive display solution' based on its OLED display. The company did not say much more - it will be interesting to see what kind of display will SDC develop for Ferrari.

According to a new report by The Elec, Samsung displays for Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 phone series will use the same material stack (M12) that were used in the iPhone 14. The M12 was used in the upper-range iPhones 14 series, but this year in the iPhone 15 series, all four models will use the same material stack.

The Elec also says that Samsung's next foldable phones will also use the same M12 stack, used in the previous generation foldables (Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4).

In 2022, Japan Display (JDI) announced that it has developed a "historic breakthrough in display technology" - a new OLED deposition process which they refer to as eLEAP, that is said to be cost effective and can be used to create freeform OLEDs that are brighter, more efficient, and longer lasting compared to OLEDs produced using mask evaporation (FMM).

We now hear that Chin-based LCD maker HKC Corp has signed an agreement with JDI to adopt its technology for mass production of AMOLED displays. Under the agreement HKC will invest billions to build AMOLED factories in China, while JDI will provide the manufacturing expertise and technologies, including eLEAP. The plan is to begin mass production in 2025, with the first applications to be in automotive displays and wearable devices.

Today we published a new edition of our Automotive OLED Market Report, with all the latest information. The new edition includes three new car models, updates from Samsung, JDI and JOLED, new market forecasts and more. The adoption of OLED technologies by the automotive is accelerating and expected to continue in the future.

Reading this report, you'll learn all about:

• OLED advantages and challenges
• PMOLED and AMOLED displays adopted in cars today
• Why OLED lighting is exciting for car makers
• All about flexible and transparent OLEDs

The report package also provides:

• A directory of all OLED automotive display makers
• OLED lighting roadmaps
• Personal contact details into leading OLED produces
• Car concepts with OLED technologies
• Free updates for a year

This OLED Automotive market report provides a great introduction to OLED display and lighting solutions for the automotive industry. This is a great guide for anyone involved with the automotive market - car makers, suppliers and aftermarket solutions.

Researchers at the University of Chicago, led by Sihong Wang (above) and Juan de Pablo, developed a stretchable OLED device that uses TADF emitters to enable high efficiency and high stretchability.

The researchers say that this is the highest-efficiency stretchable display demonstrated to date, as all previous designs used fluorescent OLED emitters. The TADF stretchable device achieves 10% EQE and a stretchability of 125%. The substrate of this new device is a newly synthesized polymer.

LG Display has been negotiating a WOLED TV panel supply agreement with Samsung Electronics for a long time, and last year the company were close to an agreement, but finally halted discussions in July 2022, and Samsung continued to launch its QD-OLED TV range.

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According to new reports from Korea, the two companies have resumed there negotiations, with Samsung interested in buying around 200,000 to 300,000 panels for next year's TVs.

Apple's interest in OLED displays for future iPad tablet device is not secret, and many analysts estimate that the first such device will be released in 2024.

One of Apple's requirement is for superior performance for its tablets compared to smartphone AMOLED displays - and so developers are relying on a tandem OLED structure. According to a new report from Korea, LG Display is developing another unique technology for Apple's iPads.

Omdia says that the utilization at display production fabs is on the rise, recovering from 66% in January 2023 to 74% in the second quarter, as demand for TVs, laptops, monitors and smartphones is on the rise.

However, this is mostly true for LCD displays. OLED producers are still facing low demand, and fab utilization remains below 60%. The industry has yet to recover from the oversupply it experienced in 2022. This is true for both mobile AMOLED displays and OLED TV panels.