LCD controller board suppliers continue facility upgrades

Acquiring more SMT lines is the priority as makers of LCD controller boards pursue automation for improved production efficiency and output quality at lower cost.

Companies in mainland China turning out LCD controller boards highlight enhanced manufacturing capability to handle any requirement. Automation is more widely adopted, with SMT lines relegating traditional through-hole machines to a secondary operation.

Many makers procured advanced production and test equipment in recent years to support facility upgrades. The machines are from key international brands, including Panasonic, Siemens and Omron, and major local companies such as ETA, GKG and Desen.

Shenzhen Leadtek Technology Co. Ltd introduced fully automatic SMT equipment and other machineries in 2017.

Such acquisitions are expected to continue as a measure to elevate output quality further and ensure greater manufacturing efficiency that also helps strengthen environmental protection compliance and reduce costs. At present, most companies offer LCD controller boards that meet CE, FCC, RoHS and UL standards.

In addition, the majority of suppliers emphasize competence to provide one-stop solutions from product design, material sourcing, assembly and inspection to aftersales service. They maintain in-house R&D, QC and support teams for this. STG Electronic Co. Ltd has formed relationships with clients based on this customization business model.

These initiatives extend to the local industry's objective to benefit from the high definition trend. Based on orders, control boards for 4K LCDs are the most advanced in terms of resolution that mainland makers have released. Such models adopt ICs from overseas providers. Shenzhen Tech-source Electronics Co. Ltd has introduced JYR-U08C-SDP+#1-#6581 model, which supports up to 4096x2160 pixels at 60Hz and integrates four scaling engines for processing 4Kx2K A/V streams at 30Hz.

Mainland companies are confident of positive outlook for the line as a result of healthy overseas and domestic demand.

In particular, they look forward to opportunities from the local LCD market, which is projected to be $15.9 billion in scale in 2022 from $15.27 billion in 2017, according to Qianzhan Research Institute. Smartphones, digital cameras, notebook PCs, monitors, car entertainment and TVs will drive this steady increase. Displays used in eSports are one emerging sector. Shipments of such LCDs surged by 1,300 percent in 2016 from the previous year, according to IDC, and high growth is expected in the next one or two years.

Many companies are therefore expanding production. Shenzhen Leadtek will target an increase of more than 10 percent in 2018. LCD controller boards represent 80 percent of its total shipments.

Of the suppliers of PCBs, PCB assemblies, LCD modules and related categories in the mainland, more than 200 cater to requirements for LCD controller boards. Locally owned enterprises make up over 70 percent of the latter pool and foreign companies, mostly from Hong Kong and Taiwan, the remainder.

The product's share of total shipments per manufacturer varies widely from 20 to 80 percent. For enterprises such as Shenzhen Tech-source, deliveries consist entirely of LCD controller boards. At Hengcheng Electronics Technology (HK) Co. Ltd and STG, the respective portions are 15 and 10 percent.

Regardless of the current allocation for the line, most domestic suppliers are ready to shift resources to meet any increase in orders.

Shenzhen Leadtek, which boosted output by 30 percent in 2017, is planning to raise volume by at least 10 percent this year. It turns out controller boards for LCDs mainly used in mobile electronic devices.

To differentiate themselves from international competitors operating in the mainland and attract market attention, local makers highlight price-performance ratio and better service delivery.

The production bases for the category are in the coastal electronics hubs in Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, and Shanghai. More than half of the suppliers gather in the first two areas, specifically in the cities of Shenzhen and Dongguan in Guangdong and Xiamen in Fujian. Players entering the line will flock to these locations, owing to their established industry chains.

Typical output

Makers of LCD controller boards have the capability to handle SMD components in sizes of 0201, 0402 and 0603. The common PCBs used have four, six and eight layers, 9.8mil minimum line width and spacing, and 1.6 to 2.4mm board thickness. The key applications are displays for mobile electronics and computers.

Mainstream production is for 2K LCDs, encompassing applications with 1920x1080 pixels.

Suppliers can generally customize controller boards for any requirement. Interviewees Hengcheng, STG, Shenzhen Leadtek and Shenzhen Tech-source Electronics Co. Ltd continue to turn out units that support from VGA resolution.

Most manufacturers ensure products are free of lead and halogen in compliance with RoHS.

Components localization is still an ongoing effort in the mainland as the semicon industry remains dominated by foreign suppliers. As such, domestic companies in the LCD controller boards line rely primarily on overseas providers of ICs and MCUs. The key sources of the first input include Genesis, STMicroelectronics and AUO, while MCUs are mostly from Microchip and Holtek. Other makers also use MCUs from local sources such as Longjing.

For PCBs, transformers, coils, inductors, capacitors, resistors and interface components, companies turn to the domestic supply unless otherwise specified.

Outlay for manufacturing inputs and labor rose in the past year, prompting some makers to make corresponding price adjustments. In 2018, costs and quotes are expected to become stable.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our China-based market analyst for representing current trends in LCD controller boards from China makers.

Controller board for 1920x1080-pixel LCDs

Hengcheng Electronics Technology (HK) Co. Ltd's LCD controller board, XM.R2660.A model, supports 1920x1080-pixel resolution. Processed using SMT, the product adopts a Realtek RTD2660 or RTD2660H chip, and has PC-RGB, CVBS, HDMI and DC terminals, and a constant-current LED backlight with 5W maximum power output. It requires a 9 to 40V supply. On standby, the power consumed is less than 1W.

Order quantity is negotiable. Delivery takes 15 days.

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LCD controller board supports 640x480 to 1024x768 pixels

Model LTK-N2 V2 controller board from Shenzhen Leadtek Technology Co. Ltd is compatible with 640x480 to 1024x768-pixel LCDs. It has CVBS and VGA input, and TTL and LVDS output ports. The product is assembled using SMT.

The maker requires an order of at least 100 units for delivery within 15 days.

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3840x2160-pixel LCD controller board

This controller board from Shenzhen Tech-source Electronics Co. Ltd, JRYL06A-N model, adopts MStar's MST9U13Q1 chip and suits LCDs with 3840x2160-pixel resolution at 60Hz. It has VGA, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort input ports, while the output interface is an 8-lane eDP (HBR) or V-by-one UHD at 60Hz. Frame rate control, overdrive, image rotation, and PIP, PBP, quad display modes are supported. There is an RS-232 interface, and an audio output for a 2x10W or 8ohm speaker or headphones. SMT is used.

The minimum order is 500 units. Delivery lead time is 5 days.

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LCD controller board uses BGA

STG Electronic Co. Ltd offers model STG-LCD03 LCD controller board based on high-precision BGA technology and RoHS guidelines. The product undergoes in-circuit and function testing, and automated optical and X-ray inspection. The first two tests can be customized. The maker offers BGA rework services.

The minimum order quantity is negotiable. Delivery is within 7 days.

The maker requires a minimum order of 10,000 units. Delivery lead time is 7 days.

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