According to AUO president H.B. Chen, the breakthrough, coming just six months after AUO's OLED lines came online last December, reflects the company's commitment to cutting-edge thin-film panel products.
Current OLED displays use LTPS (low-temperature poly-silicon) because of its better ability to drive electro-luminescent pixels and achieve superior brightness. The complexity of TFT technology had been a factor deferring its application to OLED displays.
However, LTPS costs more due to low yield and processing that normally requires nine photomasks versus five for a-Si TFT LCD process.
AUO has not set a production schedule for the new product, citing technical obstacles. Many Japanese flat panel makers have shown interest in AUO's OLED products.
AUO's mainstay TFT LCD products are shifting to large-screen models. In addition to expanding its 17-inch output, the company expects that its 20.1-inch LCD monitors and TVs will help fill the capacity of its fifth-generation (5G) lines.
Separately, AUO said its 50-inch PDP (plasma display panel) products will move into pilot production in the third quarter.
Source: DigiTimes