Panel makers in Asia have been struggling with the oversupply of LCD products and have reported profit drop in the second quarter of 2018 compared to last quarter and last year. 

Mini LED as an enhanced version of conventional LED backlight has been considered as a transitional technology between conventional LED and Micro LED. According to the estimation of LEDinside, the revenue of Mini LED products is expected to reach US$689 million by 2022. Before the second half of 2018 started, many LED companies have reported their progress and shipping schedule of Mini LED products including applications of automotive lighting and mobile devices.

Foxconn Technology Group and its subsidiary Innolux will buy stakes in Vizio, the U.S. based television brand as the group’s strategy to expand market in North America. 

Innolux illustrated that by the end of this year, the company expected to launch Mini LED public information display (PID) and large size TV application was estimated to release in 2Q19. As for automotive products, due to the time consuming verification process, were scheduled in 2020.

While more companies join in the development of Micro LED, only a few are able to manufacture RGB Micro LED chips. Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn is reported to acquire shares of Epileds, a Taiwan-based LED wafer and chip maker, from Catcher Technology, specialized in light metal technology and originally a shareholder of Epileds.

As time is moving forward to the second quarter of 2018, more and more rumblings and updates about Micro/Mini LED emerged and have been circulating in the industry. In February, LEDinside collected and revealed information of Micro LED development from nearly 50 companies around the globe. Here, we would like to share some progress updates released after that from 10 companies.

Currently in the industry, on one hand, Apple has been very active in developing Micro LED; on the other, display makers AU Optronics (AUO) and Innolux just announced to roll out Mini LED applications by the end of 2018.

Innolux announces January 2018 consolidated revenues and unaudited net income for 2017.

Innolux yesterday (February 6) demonstrated a 10.1-inch AM Mini LED display at a shareholder meeting. This new technology will be officially commercialized in the automotive electronics market, said Chin-Lung Ting, Executive Vice President of Innolux Corporation. Before that, the Taiwan-based company will continue the development of other devices.

WitsView, a division of TrendForce, reports that global LCD TV panel shipments increased quarter by quarter in 2017. 1H17 showed less momentum for holiday sales due to the high prices, but shipments rebounded in 2H17 as the prices declined and TV makers prepared for the year-end sales. Moreover, the new production capacities of BOE’s Gen 8.5 fab in Fuqing and HKC’s Gen 8.6 fab in Chongqing have been focusing on middle-size TV panels (43" and 32" respectively), bringing the annual shipments beyond expectation to 263.83 million pieces, an increase of 1.3% compared with 2016.

Innolux today announced its December 2017 consolidated revenues. The company reported unaudited consolidated revenues of NT$27 billion in December 2017, a decrease 1.1% M-o-M and a decrease of 15.9 % Y-o-Y.

Self-driving car, electric vehicle and internet of vehicles are three major trends of automotive panels. Innolux takes part in the 2018 CES to exhibit the world’s first AM Mini LED automotive panel.

Japan-based Yano Research Institute issued on 4th September a research report projecting the market value of Micro LED in 2017 to be USD 7 million following Sony’s launch of CLEDIS display that features Micro LED technology. The market is slowly shaping up. 

The LED industry had quite a peaceful time in 1H17. Apart from a few M&As, the most-discussed technology would be Micro LED. Lots of high-tech giants worldwide have already started a series of R&D and the number of participants is getting bigger. The supply chain of Micro LED, although of limited mature technologies, is slowly shaping up. Here, LEDinside lists out major events and milestones made on the path of developing Micro LED in the first half of 2017.

A recent Nikkei Asian Review report claiming Innolux would be scaling back LCD supplies to competitors because of Foxconn group policy was refuted by the LCD panel subsidiary recently.

Apple’s rumored switch to Samsung supplied OLED panels could be short-lived, said Innolux CEO.

LED chip manufacturer Chi Mei Technology Corp went out of business last month after a surprise exodus by the company’s board members. A staggering amount of NT$5.6 billion in unpaid debts has lead to anger from creditor banks. The phones were ringing off the hook yesterday (7) for Chi Mei’s top shareholder Innolux with calls from legal persons and investors. Innolux expressed that during today’s (8) online conference, chairman Tuan Hsing-chien will be there himself to offer explanation.

The creditor banks for Chi Mei Lighting Technology Corporation are demanding the company’s shareholder groups like Innolux Corportation and Chi Mei Corporation to repay the company’s debt. However, Innolux Corportation’s response was that the responsibility for resolving the debt was solely that of the creditor banks and that all Chi Mei employees are welcome to work at Innolux. Chi Mei Corp only expressed regret over the situation.

Innolux Display Corp., a Taiwan-base panel maker, has teamed up with Nichia, a global leading LED chip maker, in a bid to lead the industry of LED monitors by shipment volume, the Taiwan Economic News reports, citing company sources.