Flexible displays in 2012

30 Dec 2011

Much has been said about the emergence of flexible displays in 2012. Samsung's announcement that it will be introducing flexible active matrix (AM)OLED technology to the consumer market has sparked a lot of interest.

In reality, however, these displays will not by physically flexible; instead situated behind a rigid substrate. The flexibility of the screen allows for new concepts in design, as Samsung has shown with its new smartphone featuring a curved screen.

Continuing development

Progress has been made on the medium throughout 2011, with various companies developing technologies involved. The Flexible Display Centre at Arizona State University (ASU) launched a prototype together with Universal Display (UDC), using the latter's OLED technology and materials. The centre has added to its tooling over the course of the year, as it increases production of prototypes ready for commercialisation.

One company that has been progressing with its work on flexible displays is AUO.

Katie Chen, of the company's corporate communications division says: 'All rigid criteria for AMOLED also apply to flexible AMOLED. Besides, depending on different applications, different degrees of bending or rolling are also considered. The first milestone should be "unbreakable [glass-free] displays," for applications up to a large-sized smartphone.

'AUO has developed a 4-inch flexible AMOLED with low temperature processed metal oxide TFT as backplane driver. It is only 0.3mm thick, and is trendy, ultra slim, and resistant. The panel can be applied to diverse personal portable display products in the future.'

Pricing fears

There are worries that the technology will be expensive, as all new products are. The amount of development required, as well as new materials, is likely to push costs significantly higher than those of rigid display.

Chen comments: 'Substrate will be the most important topic. High flexibility and low water permeation are necessary. The handling of flexible substrate during processing is also very important.

'Regarding the cost, the new function requires extra investment; but extra investment will also bring added value. The project is mainly funded by the company and partially by the government to complete the development of flexible AMOLED from small to mid-sized displays.'

AUO believe that the announcement from Samsung will spur interest and therefore the market. However it remains to be seen just went truly flexible displays will be mass produced and sold. Looking at the progress in 2011, it is simply a case of when, not if.

The next issue of +Plastic Electronics includes an exclusive feature analysing the potential progress of flexible displays in 2012. To read this article now subscribe to +Plastic Electronics magazine.