Hybrid backplane technology boosts AMOLED display industry

From IGZO as successor to LTPS, the trend has morphed into the best of both to enable low power consumption for next-gen displays.

After emphasizing the use of low-temperature polysilicon or LTPS backplane in recent years, tier-one suppliers of AMOLED displays in China are now moving toward the next hot technology. Initially expected to pursue indium gallium zinc oxide or IGZO, as key companies did in the LCD category, the trend has veered into a hybrid of these backplanes, following the lead of Apple and Samsung.

Apple is said to be adopting low-temperature polycrystalline oxide or LTPO in premium iPhone models to be launched in 2021 based on supply chain activities, according to Digitimes. The company developed this technology for its Smart Watch Series 4 in 2014 and tapped it again for the Smart Watch Series 5 in 2019. Samsung's take, hybrid oxide and polycrystalline silicon or HOP, appeared in Galaxy Watch Active 2 in 2019 and is expected in coming devices, as reported by South Korea-based The ELEC.

In China, display manufacturers, including OLED specialist Visionox, are ready to venture into the development of this backplane technology.

Chinese companies are also into flexible AMOLED screens, which are growing in popularity. Visionox has presented a 7.92in model for Xiaomi foldable smartphones scheduled for release at the end of 2020. The devices have an outer bend radius of 8mm and inner bend radius of 2.85mm. BOE's displays, meanwhile, have been adopted by Huawei, Motorola, LG and Oppo in their high-end flexible smartphones.

Globally, shipments of bendable screens for smartphones are projected to increase by 50 percent in 2020, while rigid variants will drop by 12 percent, according to Omdia.

In terms of output, AMOLED displays with amorphous silicon or a-Si backplanes continue to dominate in China. These offer lower reliability and definition than their LTPS counterparts, but have a higher yield rate and are available in more sizes.

LTPS types are mostly small and midsized, and can only be sourced from midsize and large companies. BOE, Visionox, Tianma, EverDisplay and CSOT are China's leading suppliers.

Adoption of AMOLED displays in smartphones is on the rise, anticipated to account for 39 percent in this application by the end of 2020. In 2019, the technology's worldwide share was only 27 percent.

In China, useof AMOLED screens in smartphones increased by 165 percent in 2019, with shipments reaching 55 million units. High growth is expected in the next two years and will be driven by wider 5G deployment.

The display is also projected to find traction in TVs. Globally, total turnover in AMOLED TVs is forecast to hit $7.5 billion in 2025, according to IHS Markit. It was $2.9 billion in 2019, taking up nearly 21 percent of the TV sector.

Besides phones and TVs, AMOLED technology will be increasingly adopted in AR/VR devices, laptops and automotive displays.

This shift in displays has encouraged AMOLED screen manufacturers in China to boost production. CSOT is on its fourth expansion phase and has raised investment from $5.14 billion to $5.73 billion. Full-scale manufacturing will be realized by the end of 2021, and help the company achieve 26 percent CAGR in its shipment of small and midsize AMOLED displays by 2023.

Samsung Display remains the world's largest supplier of AMOLED screens, accounting for over 85 percent of shipments.

China's shipments come mostly from BOE, EverDisplay, Visionox and Tianma, with respective shares of 30.2, 28.6, 22.9 and 18.3 percent, according to Sigmaintell.

Hundreds of companies make up the AMOLED display production sector in China. Locally owned operations represent more than 80 percent of this pool, and foreign businesses the rest.

Over half of these companies are in the east and southeast regions, specifically in the provinces of Guangdong and Jiangsu. Some large suppliers are in the north and central areas. BOE has factories in different locations.

Domestic and foreign incoming manufacturers are expected to flock to these areas, which boast a comprehensive industry chain and an established transportation infrastructure.

0.95 to 7.56in selection

Mainstream AMOLED displays in China come in 0.95 to 7.56in, round and rectangular, and a-Si and LTPS variants for wearable and mobile devices, automotive electronics and medical equipment. Large screens are available from major suppliers.

In terms of resolution, the choices include 272x340, 320x320, 390x390, 600x800, 720x1080 and 1080x1920dpi.

Customization is widely accepted, and represents between 30 and 60 percent of shipments.

Main materials and components include ITO film, polarizers, chips, substrates and adhesives. Most chips are from Samsung and Manachip, andlocal providers such as Sinowealth and GigaDisplay. Manufacturers accommodate buyers' requests on input source.

The costs of materials and components are expected to remain steady, but prices of AMOLED displays may continue dropping in the months ahead due to competition.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our China-based market analyst for representing current trends in AMOLED display modules from China makers.

2.4in AMOLED display module, renders in 128x64 dots

From Shenzhen Newvision Technology Co. Ltd, the N240-2864AYSNG01-C23 is a 2.4in AMOLED display module with 128x64-dot resolution. It has an SP0301 driver IC and 1/64 duty. Emitted color is yellow. Module dimensions are 60.5x37.1x1.82mm, with the active area in 55.01x27.49mm. The unit operates in -40 to 70 C.

An order of at least 1,000 units is for delivery within 45 days.

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1.2in AMOLED display module, 390x390 pixels

The 1.2in AMOLED display module offered by Shenzhen Oric Electronics Co. Ltd, the ORC-O012002N-V01, has 390x390 pixels. A touch panel is optional. The unit uses MIPI or SPI and an RM67162 driver IC. It is 33.22x34.72x0.68mm, with the active area 30.42mm in diameter.

The 1,000-unit minimum order is delivered within 7 days.

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1080x1200-pixel AMOLED touch display module

The 3.8-OLED-0883 from Xu Ding Electronics Technology Co. Ltd is a 3.8in AMOLED touch display with 1080x1200-pixel resolution, 16.7 million colors, 72 percent NTSC ratio, 3,000:1 contrast ratio and 80-degree viewing angle.The 67.6x78.95x1.01mm unit has an active area of 64.8x72mm.

The supplier requires a minimum order of 1,000 units. Delivery is within 20 days.

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1280x1024-pixel AMOLED display module

Yunnan Olightek Opto-Electronic Technology Co. Ltd's SXGA060 model is a 0.6in AMOLED display module integrating a low-power silicon-based 0.18µm CMOS. The unit, with 9.3x9.3µm pixel pitch and 11.941x9.550mm viewing area, has 1280x1024-pixel resolution and more than 10,000:1 contrast ratio. It operates in -40 to 65 C.

The supplier has no minimum order requirement. Delivery lead time is 15 days.

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