Increased activity in OLED market

Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc and Universal Display have announced the signing of an OLED Technology License Agreement. Under the agreement, Konica Minolta will be able to integrate Universal Display's proprietary OLED technologies into Konica Minolta's white OLED lighting products.

 

The agreement will further accelerate development and commercialization of OLED lighting as Universal Display's technology supports Konica Minolta to introduce energy-efficient and environmentally 'green' white OLED products into the marketplace which are scheduled for 2010.

 

White OLEDs offer a set of new performance features not possible from conventional incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps. Through the use of UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology, white OLEDs should reduce energy consumption and lower the amount of by-product heat, further reducing energy and environmental burdens. White OLEDs are also environmentally benign, especially compared to mercury-containing fluorescent lamps and newer compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Combining these important 'green' features with a very thin, lightweight and durable form factor, white OLEDs offer significant new lighting design opportunities.

 

Although OLED technology is still developing there is currently a notable market presence of OLEDs in electronic devices and displays.

 

Industry sources are claiming that Nokia will make a large shift to active matrix OLED (AMOLED) displays in the near future. The cellphone designer is said to be choosing suppliers it knows have plans to create and manufacture the advanced organic screens. Two Taiwanese firms, AU Optronics and TPO Display, are already said to be gearing up their AMOLED plans and already make displays for Nokia's phones, though others are reportedly under consideration. The Finnish company is using AMOLED plans as a "test" to gauge whether it can rely on these manufacturers for its upcoming plans, according to the claims.

 

It is unknown when Nokia plan to use AMOLED, though multiple partners plan to ramp up production sometime in 2009. The technology is seen as likely for many manufacturers and is said by analysts as a possibility for iPhones and other touchscreen devices.

 

Printed Electronics World reported details of Sony's XEL-1 mini OLED TV which hit Japanese stores last December and the US in January this year. The OLED TV is now due to reach European markets in 2009.

 

Sony is not alone - Matsushita (Panasonic) is expected to build prototype 40-inch OLED displays in early 2009, with plans of offering them to Japanese customers in 2011. Samsung plans to roll out 14-inch OLED TVs in 2010.

 

The American market research firm DisplaySearch recently said they expect about 2.8 million OLEDs to be shipped globally by 2012.

 

OLED technology is not only useful for lighting and displays but also on keyboards and keypads.

 

NKK Switches an American designer and manufacturer of innovative electromechanical switching devices have announced the availability of its new OLED SmartSwitch and SmartDisplay high resolution programmable switches.

 

The OLED SmartSwitch and SmartDisplay are programmable pushbutton switches and displays that feature a programmable and changeable OLED module with 65,536 colors in 16 bit mode, and 256 colors in 8 bit mode. Both devices are capable of displaying full-motion video.

 

OLEDs are still in their infancy as a switch technology, and will increase both longevity of display area and resolutions.

 

For more information attend Printed Electronics Asia 2008 or Printed Electronics USA 2008.