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Samsung to Convert Fab L8-1 for Use in OLED/QD Hybrid
November 05, 2018 As previously reported, Samsung Display will start bringing in equipment for pilot production of QD-OLEDs starting in December.The location is the 8th generation Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) line 'L8' located in Tangjeong, Asan City, Chungnam Province. L8 is divided into L8-1 and L8-2, which currently have a capacity of 170,000 and 190,000 Gen 8.5 TFT substrates/month.The QD-OLED pilot line will use part of L8-1. L8-1 is currently producing 48-55 inch a-Si LCD TV panels.A portion of the L8-1 line will be used to create a 25,000-27,000 substrate/month QD-OLED pilot line. It will make full use of the existing LCD plant facilities and introduces only some core pre-processing equipment. Digitimes claims the equipment Samsung has chosen for the new pilot fab, include
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Samsung is very experienced in LTPS and the use of excimer lasers built by Coherent and installed by AP Systems, is not surprising. But the use of LTPS over the less expensive amorphous oxide is a sign that Samsung is not ready to trust their current proficiency in using oxide technology. The TFE is expected to be from the Kateeva/Applied Materials configuration not APS since it is already used on smartphones. A few years ago Samsung has a Gen 8.5 OLED TV pilot line using LTPS so the line beam from Coherent does not have to be developed from scratch.
Another surprising comment came from UDC in their conference call on Q3 earnings. Steve Abrahamson said “Samsung reportedly confirmed that the IMID exhibition show in Korea is developing technology for QD OLED or Quantum Dot Organic Light Emitting Diodes for TVs.” He also said “With respect to blue, we continue to make excellent progress in our ongoing development work for commercial phosphorescent blue emission system.” In answer to a follow-up question Abrahamsonsaid, “we think it's a really good movement in OLED that Samsung is moving towards QD OLEDs for TVs. We think it's an exciting development.”
Samsung has indicated that they will use a fluorescent blue material in the pilot line and that they believe that the OLED/QD combination will outperform soluble R, G, B material. If Samsung is successful and others (BOE & CSoT) adopt the approach, it would be a disaster for UDC’s TV plans, unless of course, they can provide a phosphorescent blue that is better than the fluorescent material and at least equivalent to Cynora’s material with a comparable cost structure. Other implications for this transition are Samsung’s continued exiting from the LCD display supply chain with a 2% reduction in Gen 8.5 LCD TV capacity and since Samsung gets most of its glass from Corning the reduction would hit Corning disproportionately. According to Bob O’Brien, DSCC, Corning has other levers to regain this lost share as demand for Gen 10.5 fabs in China accelerates – but this shift can leave Corning with excess capacity in Korea.
Another surprising comment came from UDC in their conference call on Q3 earnings. Steve Abrahamson said “Samsung reportedly confirmed that the IMID exhibition show in Korea is developing technology for QD OLED or Quantum Dot Organic Light Emitting Diodes for TVs.” He also said “With respect to blue, we continue to make excellent progress in our ongoing development work for commercial phosphorescent blue emission system.” In answer to a follow-up question Abrahamsonsaid, “we think it's a really good movement in OLED that Samsung is moving towards QD OLEDs for TVs. We think it's an exciting development.”
Samsung has indicated that they will use a fluorescent blue material in the pilot line and that they believe that the OLED/QD combination will outperform soluble R, G, B material. If Samsung is successful and others (BOE & CSoT) adopt the approach, it would be a disaster for UDC’s TV plans, unless of course, they can provide a phosphorescent blue that is better than the fluorescent material and at least equivalent to Cynora’s material with a comparable cost structure. Other implications for this transition are Samsung’s continued exiting from the LCD display supply chain with a 2% reduction in Gen 8.5 LCD TV capacity and since Samsung gets most of its glass from Corning the reduction would hit Corning disproportionately. According to Bob O’Brien, DSCC, Corning has other levers to regain this lost share as demand for Gen 10.5 fabs in China accelerates – but this shift can leave Corning with excess capacity in Korea.
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