Samsung Display to produce micro-LED backplanes
At the request of parent Samsung Electronics, display affiliate Samsung Display (pvt) has been developing an LTPS backplane designed for mini-LED displays. Samsung Electronics has been offering a line of 8K and 4K mini-LED TVs and plans to expand their offerings later this year with larger size offerings up to 98”. The backplane for such large mini-LED TVs has been built on PCB circuit boards but as Samsung Electronics is also developing smaller mini-LED models where the mini-LEDs are packed more closely together, mounting on PCB boards using typical production methodology limits the LED density. Since the number of mini-LEDs in a 4K display is over 24m, and each is driven by its own circuitry, it becomes necessary to use thin-film technology as mini-LED display sizes get smaller.
SDC is expected to produce these TFT backplanes at it Gen 4 line in Cheonan, Korea, where it had previously produced rigid OLED panels. That production has been moved to its A2 Gen 6 line, which is more efficient, leaving A1 in question as to usage. As we noted last week (see our note 07/09/21) Samsung Display has been shifting production as it expands its OLED notebook line and offers production of same to outside customers, and has been toying with the idea of closing A1, which is its oldest OLED fab (2007). While we expect, if the project (code name “M-Project”) is successful, at least a portion of the A1 capacity will be put into use, and using the existing Gen 4 equipment, the lines would be able to produce the 9.7” mini-LED modules that Samsung Electronics assembles into larger mini-LED backlights.
Given that micro-LED TFT circuitry is more complex that of standard backlights, Samsung Display will have to change the process for TFT production, including increasing the number of mask steps, but by using SDC Samsung Electronics is better able to tailor the supply of mini-LED modules to its own sales targets and production. Originally Samsung had been negotiation with Taiwan based AU Optronics (AUOTY), but decided that it could not have the same level of control under an agreement with AUO. According to Korean press, at the time Samsung Electronics made the request to SDC (the SDC team was formed in April), Samsung Electronics also informed SDC that it was becoming more open to SDC’s QD/OLED project, which had been seen as questionable in Samsung’s eyes earlier. This likely has encouraged SDC to work toward Samsung’s mini-LED TFT production request as it gives SDC some encouragement that parent Samsung will be a major customer of the new technology. Funny how that works…
SDC is expected to produce these TFT backplanes at it Gen 4 line in Cheonan, Korea, where it had previously produced rigid OLED panels. That production has been moved to its A2 Gen 6 line, which is more efficient, leaving A1 in question as to usage. As we noted last week (see our note 07/09/21) Samsung Display has been shifting production as it expands its OLED notebook line and offers production of same to outside customers, and has been toying with the idea of closing A1, which is its oldest OLED fab (2007). While we expect, if the project (code name “M-Project”) is successful, at least a portion of the A1 capacity will be put into use, and using the existing Gen 4 equipment, the lines would be able to produce the 9.7” mini-LED modules that Samsung Electronics assembles into larger mini-LED backlights.
Given that micro-LED TFT circuitry is more complex that of standard backlights, Samsung Display will have to change the process for TFT production, including increasing the number of mask steps, but by using SDC Samsung Electronics is better able to tailor the supply of mini-LED modules to its own sales targets and production. Originally Samsung had been negotiation with Taiwan based AU Optronics (AUOTY), but decided that it could not have the same level of control under an agreement with AUO. According to Korean press, at the time Samsung Electronics made the request to SDC (the SDC team was formed in April), Samsung Electronics also informed SDC that it was becoming more open to SDC’s QD/OLED project, which had been seen as questionable in Samsung’s eyes earlier. This likely has encouraged SDC to work toward Samsung’s mini-LED TFT production request as it gives SDC some encouragement that parent Samsung will be a major customer of the new technology. Funny how that works…
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