Kateeva Promotes Two Key Executives

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com
Kateeva today announced two executive promotions: Conor Madigan, Ph.D. adds Chief Operating Officer (COO) to his current role of President, and Eli Vronsky becomes Chief Product Officer.
Kateeva Chairman and CEO Alain Harrus called Madigan and Vronsky highly accomplished technology experts with strong leadership authority. “Their independent skillsets are extraordinary; together, they’re a powerhouse,” he said. “Nurturing Kateeva from its earliest days, they relentlessly executed on a vision to enable unimaginable display technology innovation. Yet while they disrupted the display industry with a breakthrough production equipment solution, they applied practical business skills along the way, building solid teams, creating best practices, and fostering a corporate culture that guided Kateeva from startup to today’s strong technology company. The Board and I are thrilled to expand their roles.”
Madigan adds global customer satisfaction to his new responsibilities as President and COO. This includes field operations in Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan. He will continue to manage global marketing and manufacturing, as well as Kateeva’s research and development organization, which incorporates new product development and technology innovations. Also, he’ll lead Kateeva’s expanding Intellectual Property (IP) department – a role he’s held since the company’s inception. This core unit safeguards the ongoing innovations that are empowering Kateeva’s YIELDjet™ products for highest performance in flexible OLED mass-production fabs, and contributing to the development of next-generation products. Madigan co-founded Kateeva in 2008. He reports to Harrus.
As Chief Product Officer, Vronsky owns Kateeva’s product development organization, and leads the company’s high-powered engineering team. An expert in printer technology, Vronsky is chief architect of the fundamental YIELDjet printing system architecture, including the revolutionary process monitoring systems and printing algorithms that helped make Kateeva’s YIELDjet platform the world’s first mass-production-worthy inkjet printer for flexible OLEDs. When it debuted in 2013, the technology provided the breakthrough that liberated display manufacturers from the rigid constraints of glass substrates, to spark the flexible OLED revolution. Much of Kateeva’s highest-value customer-enabling IP surrounds Vronsky’s inventions. Today, he’s applying the same innovation to Kateeva’s new product initiatives. He joined Kateeva in 2008. Previously, he was Executive Vice President of Product Development. He reports to Madigan.

Japan Display (JDI) Sells Small-to-Medium LCD Module Factory at USD 16.15 Million

Source = Japan Display

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Japanese media reported that Japan Display (JDI) is expected to sell small-to-medium sized LCD module factory located in south China to Chinese panel company Jiangxi Holitech. The sales price is USD 16.15 million.

The factory is attached to Morningstar Optronics Zhuhai (MOZ), Taiwan’s LCD module company Star World Technology’s subsidiary company. Taiwan Display is the major shareholder, and JDI owns the entirety of Taiwan Display. Through the sales of MOZ factory, Taiwan Display is to own 100% of Star World Technology stakes.

JDI used to own 3 LCD module production subsidiary companies, JDI Device and JDI Electronics in Suzhou, and Shenzhen JDI in Shenzhen, to supply touch panel for Chinese smartphone companies.

According to Japanese media, JDI is expected to confirm detailed plans regarding the sales of these three subsidiary companies.

Innolux Constructing Gen8.6 LCD Factory… Mass Produce 50 inch, 100 inch TV Panel

Source = innolux

Source = innolux

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com
On 26 June, Digitimes reported that Innolux, TFT-LCD panel company, is constructing the world’s first Gen8.6 LCD factory in Taiwan. Quoting the company’s associate vice president Hung Mao-sheng, Digitimes reported that Innolux will begin installation in June and could start mass production by the end of 2016.
The monthly capacity of the factory is to be 50,000 glass substrates, and expected to mass to produce TV panel for 50 inch, 58 inch, 100 inch as well as 45 inch and 23.6 inch. Hung described this company as the largest supplier of 23.6 inch and 40 inch TV panel at present.
As the average size of LCD TV is increasing, Innolux decided on the factory to maintain competitiveness and respond to market demand. It is organized into three businesses, mobile products, TV products and AII ( automotive, IT, industrial and special-use products such as medical and aviation ).
In January 2015, this company reduced its total number of employees to 68,000 from 98,000. The number of employees at LCD module production line decreased to 42,000 from 70,000,

[Manufacturing World Japan 2016] VR Rapidly Expands to Manufacturing Industry

Artcraft booth visitor is experiencing virtual reality using VR device and joystick

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com
VR(virtual reality) technology is rapidly expanding to manufacturing industry as well the contents sector such as films and games. In particular, technologies including 3D rendering and motion technology, fused with VR, are anticipated to create synergy in diverse areas such as product design, architecture, facility management, etc.
The participants in 3D & Virtual Reality Expo of Manufacturing World Japan 2016 (22-25 June) greatly increased compared to last year. According to the organizer REED, the IVR participating companies increased by approximately 20 with around 80 companies, particularly virtual reality related companies.
In this exhibition, many virtual reality related technologies that can be utilized in building housing, interior design, automotive design, maintenance, etc. were presented.
Informatix, Zenkei, Artcraft, etc. exhibited contents production and viewer software that allow hypothetical/actual indoor and outdoor spaces to be observed in 360° 3D using VR. Through VR, the users can look around housing, interior, construction sites, etc. Several companies including Artcraft included joysticks. The users can observe the space in detail using the joystick, open/close doors, and vividly experience the area.
Crescent, Digital Garden, etc. showed automotive applied technology that fused virtual reality and motion tracking. The users can maintain the internal automotive parts of the virtual reality with the VR device, and also climb on. These movements can be shown in graphics through motion tracking camera and virtual reality experienced by the user.

Manufacturing World Show Director Takeshi Fujiwara

At the exhibition, Takeshi Fujiwara, the event’s show director, told OLEDNET that they have been expecting VR’s vitalization in manufacturing industry, hosting IVR for 24 years, and the proportion of it increased by a groundbreaking number. Until now, it has been mostly handled in academia such as research labs, but as VR is nearing the general public through construction, game, amusement, etc., Fujiwara explained that he sees this year to be VR’s year of vitalization.

 Fujiwara estimated that VR will particularly affect the design part of manufacturing industry and play an important role in product planning. He added that as the manufacturing industry is a field with long history and key players are over certain age; in passing on technology to the younger generation, VR will strengthen delivery.

UDC Announces Strategic Acquisition of Adesis

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

UDC announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Adesis, Inc. Adesis is a privately held contract research organization (CRO) with 43 employees specializing in organic and organometallic synthetic research, development, and commercialization. Adesis is a critical technology vendor to companies in the pharmaceutical, fine chemical, biomaterials, and catalyst industries, and has worked with Universal Display over the last few years to help advance and accelerate a number of Universal Display’s product offerings.

“This acquisition is part of our strategic growth plan. We believe that it will provide additional highly-skilled resources to further advance our initiatives for the development and delivery of next-generation proprietary emissive material systems in the rapidly evolving OLED industry,” said Steven V. Abramson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Display. “Moreover, we expect it to enable us to leverage our twenty-plus years of experience in developing and commercializing cutting-edge chemistry technologies to help expand Adesis’ businesses across its end-markets including pharma, biotech and catalysis. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Andrew Cottone, President of Adesis, Dr. Ving Lee, Chief Scientific Officer, and the vastly experienced Adesis team to UDC.”

“We are very excited to become part of UDC and build additional synergies between both companies, and further enhance the growth of UDC’s OLED leadership,” said Andrew Cottone, President of Adesis, Inc. “In addition, we anticipate that Adesis will benefit from UDC’s financial and business acumen to better support our clients with world-class technology and expertise, and reinforce our positioning for continued growth as a specialty chemical CRO.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Universal Display will acquire all outstanding shares of Adesis, Inc. in a merger for approximately $36 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016, subject to customary closing conditions. Following the closing, Adesis will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Universal Display Corporation. Andrew Cottone will continue as the President of Adesis, and Steve Abramson will become the Chairman of the Board of Adesis.

[ Manufacturing World Japan 2016] Plenty of VR Contents·SW…360° Comic Books ect.

Informatix’s GyroEye, VR Software at Manufacturing World Japan 2016

Tokyo = Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Plenty of VR related contents and software products were exhibited in Manufacturing World Japan 2016 (22-25 June).

Transmedia presented Drop in VR which is a platform which allows users to create, manage and publish VR contents. The user-created 3D modelled contents can be uploaded to the Drop in VR server, and edited by adding music, clips, and other functions.

The produced contents can be downloaded and enjoyed through a VR device. At the exhibition, Transmedia demonstrated VR contents that allows comic books to be viewed in 360°, edited by Drop in VR. The company explained to the OLEDNET that they will begin testing in September and begin Drop in VR service by the end of the year.

Informatix revealed a 3D viewer software GyroEye that can be used in housing or office design. Using GyroEye, hypothetical space can be compared before construction and after construction in 360° through VR. Informatix explained that in August, GyroEye and Germany’s Zeiss’ VR device VR one+ will be released together.

ZENKEI began VR platform Stereo 6 for viewing scenery in 22 June. Stereo 6 is a comprehensive system that allows clips from 6 cameras to be transformed into 360° contents and experienced through VR.

Dynamo Amusement, showed their VR contents Megalodon, and used Samsung Electronics’ Gear VR and Galaxy S6 for demonstration. The company explained that Megalodon, a 5-minute CG produced contents showing deep sea underwater world, will be released in the summer.

[Manufacturing World Japan 2016] Gear VR + Galaxy S6 4D Movie Experience

Dynamo Amusement demonstrated 4D VR contents using Gear VR

 Tokyo = Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

At Manufacturing World Japan (22-25 June, Tokyo Big Sight), 4D movie was demonstrated through Gear VR.

Dynamo Amusement, a contents company, showed their VR contents Megalodon, and used Samsung Electronics’ Gear VR and Galaxy S6 for demonstration. The company explained that they used these devices as they were popular although the content is not exclusive to these products.

For the demonstration, visitors could sit in chairs installed in the Dynamo Amusement booth wearing Galaxy S6 equipped Gear VR. The focus could be controlled using the wheel on Gear VR.

Megalodon is a clip that shows the deep sea underwater world using CG technology. The moving chairs and air jets are not different from existing 4D contents, but the VR screen provided realistic experience, much more vivid, including the scene where the viewer is swallowed by a giant shark.

However, the picture quality remains an issue. Despite using the wheel to focus, the clear picture was not produced. This is dependent on the resolution of the smartphone connected to the VR device, the Galaxy S6 used in the demonstration has AMOLED panel of 577 ppi, 2560 x 1440. Nonetheless, with Samsung’s recent reveal of 806 ppi AMOLED for VR at 5 inch mark, future picture quality improvement is anticipated.

Additionally, despite the vividness directly ahead, concentration was difficult due to the not insignificant weight of the device. A total weight of 518 g, Gear VR’s 380 g and Galaxy S6’s 138 g, can be heavy to be placed on the head for a long period of time. For longer uses, the weight has to be reduced.

Dynamo Amusement’s Megalodon has the running time of 5 minutes, to be released this summer.

Galaxy S Series Luminance Increase Trend Shows Blue Materials Luminance Needs to be Improved by 3.7 Times

Galaxy S Series`s Blue Materials Luminance Needs to be Improved by 3.7 Times (Source = UBI Research)

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

If the Galaxy S Series luminance increase trend continues, it is estimated that the luminance will reach 754 nits within 2-3 years. In order to produce Galaxy S with 754 nits, the luminance of blue emitting materials, that will be used for the product’s AMOLED, is analyzed to require improvement by approx. 3.7 times.

According to AMOLED Characteristics Analysis Report of Galaxy S Series, published by UBI Research, the analysis of luminance increase trend of Galaxy products from S4 released in 2013 shows Galaxy S series with full white luminance of 430 nits and peak white of 754 nits is expected to be produced within 2-3 years. The Galaxy S4 luminance is 338 nits (peak white), and the luminance increased to S7’s 505 nits via S5 and S6’s 400 nits mark. Calculating based on this trend, the future product is analyzed to have 754 nits of luminance.

The report reveals that for Galaxy S7, the luminance of red materials is 142 nits, green 338 nits, and blue 26 nits. To actualize 754 nits screen, the red materials have to improve luminance by approximately 1.5 times, green 1.2 times, and blue 3.7 times. UBI Research explained that for high resolution screen with limited size, emitting materials performance improvement is a must and that technology development should be focused on blue emitting materials.

* Luminance figures (nits) quoted in the article have been measured by UBI Research, with Auto Brightness function switched off. Future luminance forecast is also without this function.

Just What is QLED…2019 QLED Mass Production is Garbage?

Barry Young Suggested “Don`t Believe the Garbage about QLED in 2019” (Source = Samsung)

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

An article by Barry Young, the managing director of the OLED Association, in Display Daily created much excitement in Korean display industry when domestic media picked up the story on 14 June. The article includes Young’s suggestion, “don’t believe the garbage about QLEDs in 2019”.

Clarifying this comment, experts unpack this to mean Young’s pessimistic outlook for QLED mass production in 2019 forecast rather than for QLED itself.

Barry Young discussed QD in an article titled Drinking the QD Kool-Aid in Display Daily. It is estimated that the comment is aimed at the recent speculation that Samsung Electronics will mass produce QLED TV as the next generation product in 2019 rather than OLED TV. While Samsung Electronics has not announced their official position regarding QLED TV mass production timing, some sectors within the market believe it will be possible by 2019. However, many have differing opinions.

QLED is a display that uses quantum dot for emitting layers’ host and dopant while maintaining the common layers used in the existing OLED. Quantum dot, emitting layer materials used in QLED, utilizes inorganic materials and can lower the production cost in comparison to OLED’s emitting layer materials. That the process does not require evaporation as it can be carried out through ink jet printing is another advantage, and some also believe that QLED color purity is superior to OLED.

Despite these, some experts point out that it is difficult for QLED to become the main force of the premium TV market, surpassing OLED, in a short time. QLED has to solve several technological issues including lifetime and emitting efficiency. When mass producing QLED, pin holes occur and reduce device lifetime, and as the hole and electron are not balanced the emitting efficiency falls. Furthermore, as even research has not been carried out regarding QLED lifetime and degradation, whether it will be commercialized by 2019 is also in question.

Meanwhile, Young refuted the argument that QD-LCD’s picture quality is superior to OLED. He proclaimed that QD Vision and Nanosys are making “very questionable statements” about how “OLED TVs were outperformed by LCD’s with QD enhanced LED backlights” without considering merits of OLED such as contrast ratio, viewing angle, response time, color accuracy, and form factor as well as luminance and color area.

Manufacturing World Japan 2016 Biggest Opening Yet…Automotive, VR, Medical Device, etc.

Manufacturing World Japan(Source=REED)

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd., the largest trade show organiser in Japan, announced that Manufacturing World Japan 2016, Japan’s leading trade show for the manufacturing industry, is coming back at Tokyo Big Sight from June 22 – 24, 2016 with the largest scale in its history.

According to the huge supports from manufacturing industry of Japan and Asia, the number of exhibitors in 2016 is expected to reach 2,350 exhibitors from all around the world. This figure is the largest ever in the history of Manufacturing World Japan and 5% increasing from last year.

The number of visitors is expected to be 83,500 and they will pack the show floor during 3 days show period. From the survey of visitor pre-registration, motivation of visitors for purchasing from exhibitors is extremely high.

The number of international exhibitors of 2016 show is expected to be 365 and this figure is 14% increasing from last year. This is the largest number in Manufacturing World’s history. “This fact means that this event is evolved to be the global trade show and there is a huge demand from international exhibitors to develop the new business with Japanese manufacturers,” said Takeshi Fujiwara, Show Director of Manufacturing World. “We hope there will be great number of good meetings between international exhibitors and Japanese visitors at Manufacturing World Japan 2016 and it leads to the innovations which can make the greater cars, consumer electronics, trains, airplanes etc.”

Requirements for quality from Japanese manufacturers being well known as extremely high, all exhibitors will exhibit their latest products/technologies/solution with all their skills. Though this show has been recognized as the place where the world’s highest quality products/technologies/solution are gathered for these years, Show Management is sure that the 2016 show should be the most exciting show in its history gathering 2,350 exhibitors. If you would like to see the finest skills of metal processing/micro fabrication by the craftsman’s effort and history, you should come and visit Manufacturing World Japan 2016. If you have a trouble on your product which you have been struggled for a long term, you should not miss Manufacturing World Japan 2016.

For free entry to Manufacturing World Japan 2016, visitors need to apply for the visitor registration through the official website. Now visitor registration is open at the official website. Access to the following URL and complete the registration form for Exhibition Ticket.

VIP Exhibition Ticket Registration (Only visitors above manager level): http://www.japan-mfg.jp/en/vip/

Exhibition Ticket Registration: http://www.japan-mfg.jp/en/inv/

Group Visit Application (The group with more than 6 people): http://www.japan-mfg.jp/en/To-Visit_Tokyo/Group-Visit/

Shows held inside Manufacturing World Japan 2016

· 20th Mechanical Components & Materials Technology Expo [M-Tech]

· 27th Design Engineering & Manufacturing Solutions Expo [DMS]

· 7th Medical Device Development Expo [MEDIX]

· 24th 3D & Virtual Reality Expo [IVR]

Manufacturing World Japan 2016: http://www.japan-mfg.jp/en/

Samsung Display, Spurs on OLED for Notebook and Tablet

삼성디스플레이의 OLED HP Labtop

Samsung OLED Equipped HP Spectre 360 (Source = HP)

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

With diverse merits, OLED application is increasing to include notebook, tablet, monitor, etc. Accordingly, Samsung Display’s OLED panel is being actively expanding to this market.

HP recently began shipping Spectre 360, a notebook equipped with Samsung Display’s 13.3 inch OLED with resolution of 2560 x 1600. Previously, in CES 2016 (6-9 Jan) Samsung Electronics revealed Samsung Display’s 12 inch OLED equipped Galaxy Tab Pro S, and HP and Dell also presented Samsung Display’s 13 inch mark OLED equipped labtop.

In SID 2016 (22-27 May), Samsung Display presented 2560 x 1440 resolution 13.3 inch and 14 inch OLED for notebook and actively targeted the notebook market. Following this, a Korean press reported that Samsung Display will stop production of TN panel, low resolution LCD panel for notebook and monitor. That Samsung Display is actively targeting the notebook market is analyzed to be a strategy to create premium market advocating diverse advantages of OLED.

Due to superior contrast ratio, OLED’s picture quality is clearer in comparison to LCD, and easy to create premium market as the weight can be lighter than LCD. Burn in effect, considered one of OLED’s drawbacks, is also known to have been much improved.

As the price of OLED is higher than LCD at present, specialist market, such as medical, should be targeted first. However, when the price competitiveness improves in future, popularization of OLED is anticipated. Accordingly, Samsung Display is actively taking action in notebook and tablet OLED market expansion. UBI Research reported that 2016 Q1 OLED panel shipment for tablet increased by more than 10 times compared to the same period in 2015.

According to UBI Research’s 2016 OLED Display Annual Report, the 11 inch – 13 inch, notebook and monitor use, OLED panel shipment is expected to record 100,000 units this year, and this is expected to increase by 10 times in 2020.

Samsung’s 806 ppi AMOLED, to Synergize both VR and Smartphone

SDC`s 806 ppi OLED Panel for VR

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Samsung Display’s recently revealed 5.5 inch 806 ppi AMOLED is expected to contribute to the expansion of the global VR (virtual reality) market as well as providing synergy for both Samsung Electronics’ future VR and smartphone business.

In SID 2016 (22-27 May), Samsung Display revealed 5.5 inch AMOLED with resolution of 806 ppi. This 4K UHD display has the highest resolution for 5 inch mark AMOLED in industry.

The response speed of AMOLED is approximately 1,000 times faster than LCD and can actualize much superior picture quality due to exceptional contrast ratio. The reduced amount of harmful blue light is also another merit of AMOLED, and it is becoming the general trend for display for VR display.

Even at the same resolution, the visual effects for smartphone and VR device are different. For example, 577 ppi QHD resolution applied to Galaxy S7 can actualize quite clear picture quality for smartphone. However, when the display is directly in front of the eyes, in cases of VR, aliasing effects, when what is on the screen looks jagged, occurs. In order to produce clear picture quality with almost no aliasing effects in VR, expert believe that 1,500 ppi is required at minimum. However, the current VR AMOLED only can actualize up to high 500 mark ppi.

That Samsung Display displayed AMOLED with resolution of over 800 ppi for the first time should be noted. With this resolution, aliasing in VR can be significantly improved even if not perfectly. Furthermore, this AMOLED has the same brightness as the Samsung’s Galaxy S7. Considering the production yield improvement, this display could be used for Galaxy S8 (TBA) that is expected to be released in 2017. For VR device connected to smartphone, smartphone’s resolution is directly related to the VR’s picture quality. This means that the Samsung’s 806 ppi 5.5 inch AMOLED allows for UHD smartphone production as well as the introduction of VR with upgraded picture quality.

UBI Research explained that while some believe that ultra-high resolution is not necessary in small screen such as smartphone, the 4K UHD 5.5 inch AMOLED is significant in that smartphone is linked with VR which market is being opened. He added that the 806 ppi AMOLED recently revealed in SID 2016 by Samsung will contribute to the expansion of the global VR market as well as providing synergy for both Samsung Electronics’ future VR and smartphone business.

Samsung Brings Tizen OS to Smart Signage Portfolio

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Samsung Electronics, will showcase the latest additions to its industry-leading digital signage and visual display solutions portfolio at the InfoComm 2016 tradeshow. Scheduled to take place June 4-10, 2016, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, InfoComm is the largest annual global conference for the professional AV industry and is expected to welcome more than 40,000 attendees from nearly 110 countries.

Under the theme “Collaborate. Attract. Engage.”, Samsung’s booth (#C-6319) will include a variety of next-generation technologies designed to promote more efficient content delivery and display management in corporate, hospitality, public, retail and at-home environments (among others). Highlighted by the integration of the Tizen operating system into many of its newest digital signage technologies, Samsung’s diverse line-up will demonstrate how booth visitors can drive greater engagement, and related sales, through clear, cost-effective message presentation.

“As the world’s leading total digital signage solutions provider, we strive to discover new avenues that help our partners deliver captivating content and a differentiated experience at every stage of the customer journey,” said Seog-gi Kim, Senior Vice President, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are excited to introduce the latest expansion of our cutting-edge visual display lineup at InfoComm 2016, and showcase how these new technologies solve prominent challenges and drive growth in today’s fast-paced business environments.”

Beginning in 2016, Samsung’s new P Series digital signage technologies will feature the enhanced fourth generation Samsung SMART Signage Platform (SSSP 4.0) powered by the Tizen operating system. With Tizen, SSSP will deliver more powerful graphic performance and seamless content playback to expand users’ visual display possibilities while creating a more vivid and memorable experience for their audiences.

The Tizen-powered, fourth-generation SSSP features an upgraded graphics engine to drive faster response time, interactions and loading speeds. The platform additionally enables users to manage display content more rapidly through an optional PC-less all-in-one screen.

The refined SSSP 4.0 platform allows users to build and launch web-based applications by offering HTML5 support and a comprehensive toolset, including Web Simulator and Tizen Emulator. The new platform’s versatility expands users’ content development capabilities while reducing activation time.

A key component of the improved SSSP 4.0 platform, Samsung’s MagicInfo Server 4.0 program enables users to manage their entire display network from any location through a centralized server. Reliable and easy to use, MagicInfo Server 4.0 integrates a dedicated Backup Player and DataLink content streaming functionalities to reduce the manual work required to share essential information.

The enhanced MagicInfo Server 4.0 program additionally offers enterprise users a more capable set of content creation, scheduling and deployment tools. Content managers can leverage an intuitive interface, including drag-and-drop content scheduling, to rapidly identify and implement updates. MagicInfo Server 4.0 further makes content programming easy through a design that does not require JavaScript or additional plug-ins to operate, reducing steps to save valuable time.

Samsung’s new standalone displays (PHF and PMF Series) provide a slim, strong and simple signage solution for environments facing tight or irregular space limitations. Featuring a slim-depth design (29.9mm) and narrow bezel (6.9mm), the PHF and PMF displays are among the thinnest on the market and can accommodate a range of business settings. The Tizen-supported standalone displays are designed for uninterrupted 24/7 content delivery, and an integrated centralized infrared receiver (IR) further ensures continued performance in any environment.

A host of additional design features further enable the PHF and PMF Series displays to deliver clear, brilliant content regardless of location. A non-glare frontal panel reduces natural and ambient light reflection to ensure continuous readability.

InfoComm attendees also will get the first look at Samsung’s new large-format OHF Series outdoor displays. Billed as industry’s leading large-sized outdoor signage, the OHF Series is available in a variety of sizes (46-, 55-, 75- and 85-inch models), with each boasting a slim-depth design for more impactful content delivery.

The OHF Series displays are equipped with SSSP 4.0 and powered by the Tizen operating system, ensuring faster and more reliable content development and delivery. An embedded power box condenses operational components to a single system, conserving space while streamlining management. Engineered for any outdoor environment, the OHF Series displays can withstand temperatures ranging from -30-50oC without impeding content delivery. OHF Series viewers additionally benefit from external magic glass, 2,500nit brightness and a 5,000:1 contrast ratio that ensure messages can be seen clearly at any time and place.

Optimized for a range of indoor retail, corporate and public-viewing applications, Samsung’s narrow bezel (1.7mm bezel-to-bezel) UHF-E video walls combine advanced color management capabilities with the visual enhancements of large-format signage to deliver clear and consistent content. The ultra-slim design eliminates distractions and keeps viewers focused on the display’s content rather than the display itself. Equipped with the same durability and color presentation components as its predecessors, the UHF-E video walls represent a sleek, stylish alternative capable of delivering uninterrupted content in any indoor setting.

Designed for corporate, control room and customer-facing environments, Samsung’s indoor SMART LED displays deliver compelling content and inspire collaboration at a lower total cost of ownership. These displays feature top-tier diodes and customizable pixel pitch compositions ranging from 1.5-2.5mm, providing seamless visibility while simultaneously accommodating users’ specific operational and branding needs. Combined with design elements that produce the same deep contrast, realistic picture quality and color consistency viewers expect from Samsung’s latest televisions, the LED signage portfolio offers users an extra edge to stand out within often-crowded indoor environments.

 

Panel Shortage for Chinese Smartphone Industry…Supply Discussion with Taiwanese Panel Companies

ZTE`s Smartphone (출처=GSMARENA)

ZTE`s Smartphone (출처=GSMARENA)

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

Recently, DigiTimes reported that Chinese smartphone companies are discussing supply with Taiwanese panel companies due to panel shortage. According to the report, executives of Chinese smartphone companies such as ZTE, Vivo, GiONEE, etc. and Chinese panel companies including Truly recently met with Taiwanese panel companies, AUO, Innolux, Chunghwa Pictures Tubes, etc.

The reason that Chinese smartphone companies are experiencing the panel shortage is known to be because their panel suppliers reduced smartphone panel production due to too low prices. However, DigiTimes reported that Huawei is receiving relatively sufficient amount of panels from BOE, Tianma, etc.

Meanwhile, Skyworth, one of key Chinese OLED TV selling companies, showed lower than anticipated OLED TV sales in financial year of 2015 which ended in March. Chinese media reported that this is due to insufficient supply of OLED panel from LG Display.

Silicone Better than Acrylic for Flexible OLED…Momentive Introduces InvisiSil

Momentive demonstrated InvisiSil at SID 2016 (Source = Momentive)

 Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

One of the issues of flexible OLED actualization is acrylic’s vulnerability against lower temperature, and silicone is emerging as a solution. Meanwhile, Momentive is attracting attention with their promotion of silicone based InvisiSil.

One of the key encapsulation technologies for flexible OLED is TFE (thin film encapsulation) that laminates thin inorganic and organic films, used by Samsung Display. Of these, organic material is formed through inkjet OLED process using acrylic materials. However, acrylic organic materials are easily broken under 0 ℃, which leads to difficulties in producing flexible OLED using these. However, silicone based materials can withstand up to -40 ℃ and are considered strong candidate for acrylic replacement.

Momentive is a company that develops such silicone based materials. In SID 2016 (22-27 May), Momentive opened an exhibition booth and presented InvisiSil Snap Cure silicones. The InvisiSil Snap Cure systems can cure rapidly at room temperature without UV exposure.

Momentive explained that for flexible AMOLED panel to move past edge type and toward true flexible such as foldable and rollable, silicone is much better suited than acrylic. Furthermore, they added that silicone based materials have yet revealed any disadvantages compared to acrylic, and that it is in development for continued application to mass production.

LG Elec. Launched ‘ Stylus 2 Plus ‘ in Taiwan

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com

The LG Stylus 2 Plus, the latest edition of its large-format, begins its global rollout with its launch today in Taiwan. This product will make its way to customers in other key markets in Asia, South America, Europe and North America in the weeks to come.

While the design remains consistent with the original LG Stylus 2, the smartphone features significantly better performance than its original cousin. At its heart is a faster 1.4GHz Octa-Core processor, a sharper 5.7-inch Full HD IPS display and higher resolution 16MP rear camera, with a flash on both sides for clearer photos and videos in low light. Other improvements include more RAM and the choice of colors: Titan, Gold and Brown.

This model carries over the nano-coated stylus which provides the tactile feedback of a quality fountain pen when writing on the screen. Using the stylus is made even more useful with UX features such as Quick Memo and Off Memo and Pen Keeper, which displays a warning when the stylus strays too far from the phone, or vice versa.

“This product offers users a spacious screen, powerful multimedia functionality and a writing experience at a competitive price,” said Juno Cho, president of LG Electronics and Mobile Communications Company. “It’s just another example of the constant refinements we’re making to our mobile products to give LG customers a wide variety of features and designs to choose from.”

AMOLED Growing in Chinese Wearable Market

GEAK Watch 3rd at SID 2016

Hyunjoo Kang / jjoo@olednet.com
 While most of wearable products including VR (virtual reality) device and smartwatch within Chinese market are equipped with LCD display, AMOLED’s presence is growing. Although the quantity is still low, several Chinese companies are presenting AMOLED equipped new wearable products such as VR and smartwatch, fast joining the general trend.
 GEAK, a Chinese smartwatch company, is expected to release new GEAK Watch which is equipped with both AMOLED and e-ink. GEAK exhibited GEAK Watch in the CES Asia 2016 which was recently held in Shanghai, China. In CES Asia 2016, GEAK explained that the new GEAK Watch is the 3rd generation product that utilizes AMOLED in dark and e-ink display such as Kindle in bright conditions. According to the personnel the AMOLED used for the product is produced by Truly, and the release date has not yet been confirmed.
 An expert of Chinese key AMOLED panel company told OLEDNET that while there were PMOLED equipped smartwatch products in China, not many used AMOLED. It was explained that this is due to higher price of AMOLED compared to PMOLED.

DeePoon`s New VR Device ‘M2’

DeePoon, Chinese VR market leader, is expected to release new AMOLED based VR M2 soon. M2 was presented in CES Asia 2016. At the event, DeePoon explained that the company is the only one to release AMOLED VR and AMOLED can actualize higher Hz figure compared to LED installed LCD panel, and has better visual experience when playing games etc.
 Chinese key mobile AMOLED company EverDisplay (EDO) is also releasing AMOLED panel for VR from this year. This company is planning to increase ppi of VR panel each year, and produce flexible AMOLED panel for VR with over 800 ppi before 2020.
 An industry expert explained that although Korea is leading the wearable AMOLED sector, Chinese market is also recognizing that compared to LCD, AMOLED has many advantages such as faster response time and better for human eye due to lack of backlight and blue light.