Toshiba, Matsushita Bringing OLED to TVs
April 11, 2007 | by Geoff Duncan
Toshiba and Matsushita have announced that within three years they plan to introduce organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels for use in televisions.
Toshiba and Matsushita have announced they plan to introduce organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels for use in televisions within three years via a joint venture, Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Company, (TMD). The joint venture has introduced a 20.8-inch OLED display panel, and aims to begin commercial production of OLED panels for flat-screen televisions by 2009. TMD says the 20.8-inch panel represents the world's largest screen size for polymer-type OLED displays. The company had previously built a 17-inch panel in April 2002, but has since focused on 2- to 3.5-inch OLED panels for use in mobile phones and other portable devices. The 20.8-inch panel offers a resolution of 1,280 by 768 pixels (WXGA) and handles 16.7 million colors. No specifications on contrast, brightness, or refresh rates have been released, but such specs wouldn't necessarily be indicative of OLED displays to be released in three years' time. OLED panels emit light from electroluminescent films stored on the display's glass substrate; OLED displays consume very little power, provide wide viewing angles, thin profiles, and high contrast. The TMD display uses three color-emitting layers (red, blue, and green) and applies each using an ink-jet like coating process. The company says it is managing light at the nanometer level in individual pixels to improve efficiency, raise brightness, and lower power consumption. TMD won't be alone trying to bring OLED to the television market: rival Sony is also developing OLED displays for televisions. TMD's 20.8-inch display will be on show at the third annual FPD Expo (Display 2007) in Tokyo from April 11 to 13.
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Ian Bell on Apr 11th, 2007 at 9:06 AM:
I remember seeing a Sony 19" OLED display at CES a few years ago. It was amazing how truly deep the blacks were, and how vibrant the color was. But to top it off, the whole display was like 1/4" thick, the thinnest TV I have ever seen.
Ian Bell on Apr 11th, 2007 at 9:06 AM:
Hi BC, maybe this helps. Found this on TechWeb:
"Initially developed for display applications, OLEDs offer bright, colorful images with a wide viewing angle and low power. They do not need backlights as do LCD screens. OLEDs are commonly constructed on glass, but can also be fabricated on plastic and other flexible substrate films, such as Universal Display's Flexible OLED (FOLED)."
Ben Krupt on Apr 11th, 2007 at 10:15 AM:
Do you think the prices on these TVs will be the same that LCD or Plasma were when they were first introduced?
Jason Howard on Apr 11th, 2007 at 10:22 AM:
@Ben: I would bet they are more expensive. They only just introduced this 20 inch screen. Pricing, I bet, will be comparable to what LCD and Plasma were when they first came out. Ie, only for early adopters.
James on Apr 11th, 2007 at 11:02 AM:
This technology is the in its infancy but will result in the kind of wi-fi USA Today like the movie Minority Report had. That is if newspapers still exist by then.
DK on Apr 11th, 2007 at 11:52 AM:
BC, why does it matter?
It matters mostly because of the efficiency. It is nice because of the light-weight and it is more convenient because of its size. But the biggest reason that it MATTERS is because it is more efficient.
OLED is more efficient than LED, and LED is more efficient that plasma or LCD, which are arguably more efficient than your standard CRT. (But people buy bigger plasma & LCD screens which can offset efficiency gains over CRTs, depending on size differences.)
[This is why LED, or possibly OLED, lights are to eventually replace incandescent lights, once they become available & accepted by consumers. Although flourescent lights are efficient, consumers generally don't like the light output.]
OLED TVs will be more efficient, light-weight, and thin, and could provide superior viewing as well. And I think that is the holy-grail of TV design.
And from everything I've read the material for OLED screens is not particularly expensive, it is the R&D money that makes it expensive. And this means that the price could come down more quickly once the costs have been recovered and the competition heats up.
Bruce Westberg on Apr 11th, 2007 at 2:24 PM:
One other feature of OLED displays is that they can be manufactured on FLEXIBLE substrates (like wall paper) which allows you to roll up your laptop display instead of folding it. Also the potential for larger (billboard size) displays is greater, all other displays require a rigid (glass) substrate and or cover which adds considerably to the weight
Brent Reusing on Apr 11th, 2007 at 2:40 PM:
Cambridge Display Technology (OLED), Inc. is going to play a role in this I'm sure. They helped develop the technology.
JPCola on Apr 11th, 2007 at 4:51 PM:
OLED is definitely a promising technology. OLED is significantly better than LCD or Plasma. No LCD or Plasma can compare to the color range and the quickness of change vs. OLED. However, what about the life of the OLED? Last I remembered, reds have 8000 hrs half-life, and other colors around 12000 hrs half-life.
Rich on Apr 11th, 2007 at 7:54 PM:
Well BC, electroluminescence is a wonder. It will give off very bright light and at low power. The best part is that it can be cold (no radiating heat like LCD's and Plasmas, of course neither are as bad as CRT's). So, no heat, low power and brighter pictures. Wow, one must wonder what will be next. Try wikipedia on electroluminescence, that may help explain more for you. My watch has an EL backlight and i've also made lightsabers using EL wire. It's pretty amazing stuff.
Rich on Apr 11th, 2007 at 8:00 PM:
JPCola, that is my understanding also. That could prove fatal. It really depends on the technique they use. If they have as many EL lights as pixels then seeing one go out would probably not be noticeable. I'm sure they are working those issues. Remember though that the life really depends on the voltage you apply to the lights, so even though they are brighter than plasma and lcd, they don't need much voltage to be so bright; apply more voltage and you have an even brighter screen, but the life goes down quicker. That's what I understand anyway.
Jarrod on Apr 12th, 2007 at 2:31 AM:
these sound VERY cool. cant wait.
for you people that have seen stargate atlantis, im hoping these tv's could kinda come to be like the ancient displays. which are a piece of as thin as glass. watch and you would see.
Steven Foley on Jun 22nd, 2008 at 3:24 PM:
Imagine having museum quality art hanging on the wall in each room of your house. And better yet, one day this technology will allow the ceiling in your bedroom to show the entire Milky Way with shooting stars and all. I think this will be the biggest transformation in human consciousness since cave painting art.
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bc on Apr 11th, 2007 at 9:03 AM:
why does it matter? Don't current plasmas and lcd screens offer similiar benefits? What makes OLED technology so much better?