Topic:  Industry It’s reported that AU Optronics Corp., the largest TFT-LCD panel manufacturer in Taiwan, has decided to restart an active matrix-organic light-emit diode (AM-OLED) research project in the fourth quarter after two years of suspension.

B.D. Liu, vice president of AUO Technology Center, pointed out that his company plans to restart AM-OLED display development in the fourth quarter to meet the market demand.
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Topic:  Industry AU Optronics (AUO) plans on basing its OLED development using a-Si technology, and the company estimates it will enter into mass production in 2011. Quote:  AU Optronics (AUO) plans on basing its OLED development using a-Si technology, and the company estimates it will enter into mass production in 2011.

CT Liu, vice-president and general manager of consumer product display business group of AUO indicated that AUO is going to start developing OLED again in the fourth quarter of this year and concentrate on commercializing small-sized panels.

Liu mentioned that OLED panels have a higher contract ratio, lower power consumption and are much thinner compared to the thin film transistor (TFT) LCD panels. And as OLED technology matured, costs will drop below than of TFT. AUO will also focus its development on efficient OLED manufacturing processes. Liu explained that a-Si technology is more suited for OLED panel making because a-Si has better yield rates and more stable circuits compare to LTPS technology.

Although Liu noted that the panel maker has made several breakthroughs concerning materials and equipment recently, AUO estimates that it will take at least three years for the technology to be mature enough for mass production. Hence AUO plans to mass product small- to medium-size OLED panel in 2011, and then larger-sized panels in another 3-5 years.

In related news, the Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) OLED subsidiary Chi Mei EL (CMEL) estimates that its second vapor deposition line will go online early in 2009 and the company plans to use its 5G or 5.5G low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) panel production to produce large-size OLED panels. CMEL noted that it will start mass producing 7.6-inch OLED panels in the second half of this year. News Source:  Digitimes

Topic:  Industry The use of LEDs for the backlight's light source has created new business opportunities in the maturing NB panel market. In contrast to CCFLs, white LEDs provide higher color saturation and are mercury-free and less power-consuming--making them more environmentally friendly.    .. Read more

Topic:  Industry Recently, at Rubicon Technology’s 2Q08 earnings conference call with industry analysts, the company's president and CEO discussed the future of the LED market. 
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Topic:  Industry HB Chen, vice-chairman and CEO of AU Optronics (AUO) indicated that the company's goal of adopting LED backlighting for all of its notebook panels by 2011 may be achieved one year earlier in 2010. Quote:  HB Chen, vice-chairman and CEO of AU Optronics (AUO) indicated that the company's goal of adopting LED backlighting for all of its notebook panels by 2011 may be achieved one year earlier in 2010. 
Chen also estimates the penetration rate for LED backlit notebook panels in the overall market will exceed 20% for the second half of this year.

However, the rising penetration rate of LED backlighting in the second half of the year will have a weaker effect than usual on overall shipments for the entire year, Chen explained that while the breakdown for annual notebook panel shipments between the first and second half of the year is usually on a 4:6 ratio, this year the ratio is expected to be 5:5 due to weakening economic conditions in the US market, rising energy costs and inflation concerns.

Chen pointed out that AUO's optimism about the LED industry is a major reason the company established Lextar in April 2008 to develop LEDs for LCD panel backlighting applications. Chen indicated that the revenue contribution from Lextar will not begin until the second half of 2009, but he added that Lextar will begin cooperating with Japan-based LED makers to avoid any patent disputes.

As for Lextar targeting other LED applications such as for general lighting, Chen added that AUO will join in such competition at the right time in the future. News Source:  Digitimes