With the continuous development of display technology, OLED (organic light-emitting diode) has become the standard configuration of high-end smartphones, TVs and other devices due to its excellent color performance, contrast ratio and thinner design advantages. However, despite the many advantages of OLEDs, their application in large-format displays has been limited by manufacturing costs and production processes. Recently, Applied Materials announced a breakthrough technology designed to dramatically reduce the cost of OLED production and improve its application prospects in large-format devices such as tablets, PCs, and TVs.
Advantages and challenges of OLED technology
OLED displays are made of organic materials that are self-illuminating, so they can present more vibrant colors and higher contrast without the need for a backlight. Compared with the traditional liquid crystal display (LCD), the image quality of OLED is undoubtedly better, especially in the performance of black, which can achieve a "true black" effect and a more layered picture. In addition, OLED screens are capable of extremely thin panels due to their backlight-free design, which makes it widely used in consumer electronics such as smartphones and TVs.
However, the production process of OLED is relatively complex and the raw materials are expensive, especially in the manufacture of large-size displays, facing the problems of high cost and low yield. These factors limit the adoption of OLED technology for tablets, PCs, and large-format TVs, especially in the low-to-mid-range market.
Breakthrough proccess of Applied Materials
Applied Materials' latest technology breakthroughs address these long-standing bottlenecks, particularly in terms of increasing productivity, reducing costs, and improving yield for large panels.
Optimize the deposition and patterning process of organic materials
In the production process of OLED panels, the deposition and patterning of organic materials are key steps. Through an innovative process, Applied Materials is able to more efficiently and evenly deposit organic materials on the display panel substrate, thereby improving material utilization, reducing waste and reducing production costs.
Improve production yields
One of the biggest challenges when producing large OLED panels is how to reduce defects on the panel. In the traditional OLED production process, the defect rate tends to increase significantly when the panel size increases, affecting the quality of the final product. Applied Materials improves consistency in the production process through refined control technology, which reduces defects and improves production yields.
Image: Applied Materials' breakthrough technology brings OLED displays to tablets, PCs, and TVs (Source: OLED)
Extend the service life of OLED panels
A major problem with OLED displays is the burn-in effect, which is the possibility that certain pixels can be permanently damaged after the same picture has been displayed for a longer period of time. In addition, the lifespan of OLEDs is relatively short, especially when used with high brightness for long periods of time. Applied Materials' breakthrough technology has made significant progress in enhancing the durability and stability of OLED panels. By improving the material selection and manufacturing process, it can effectively extend the service life of OLED screens and reduce the risk of screen burn-in, especially for tablets, PCs and TV devices that need to be used for a long time.
Large-scale production capacity
In addition to innovations in materials and processes, Applied Materials is also optimized for large-scale production of OLED panels. This technology enables OLED panels to be produced on larger production lines at higher speeds and lower costs. This means that OLED screens can not only meet the needs of the high-end market, but are even expected to enter the low-end market, thereby greatly expanding the market coverage of OLED.
Future outlook
With Applied Materials' breakthrough technology, OLED display technology is poised to break beyond the limitations of high-end smartphones and TVs and enter the broader consumer electronics market, including tablets, PCs, and even larger TVs and monitors. This will bring consumers a better display experience, and also promote the application innovation of OLED in multiple industries.
For tablet, PC, and TV manufacturers, the adoption of OLED technology will mean the ability to deliver higher quality displays and an improved user experience. More importantly, with the reduction of production costs, OLED display is likely to become one of the mainstream display technologies in the future, gradually replacing traditional LCD displays.
