Next-Generation Displays Coming Soon

Sanyo Electric and Eastman Kodak have started commercial production of color active-matrix organic light emitting diode displays that deliver a brighter picture and richer colors than today's liquid crystal displays, while consuming less power.

The first commercial production of organic light emitting diode displays (OLEDs) by any display maker, the panels are rolling off the line at a plant in Japan run by SK Display, a joint venture of the two companies (Sanyo holds a two-thirds stake). Kodak and Sanyo have been working on basic technology for OLED displays for several years and each company holds key patents covering the technology.

The first production displays are 2.2-inch models destined for use in a Kodak digital still camera that the camera maker launched at the annual convention of the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) this week. Other features of the EasyShare LS633 camera include a 3.1-megapixel image sensor and 3X optical zoom. It will be available in Europe, Asia, and Australia in April for around $400.

Sanyo is also planning to use the displays. Its first product to feature the screen is likely to be a new cellular telephone handset for Japan's KDDI. The company demonstrated a prototype of the handset at the Telecom Asia exhibition in Hong Kong in late 2002; Sanyo is now awaiting the go-ahead from the carrier to begin production of the handsets.

Anticipated Technology

The start of commercial production of OLED displays has been anticipated for the last couple of years, as they're considered vastly superior to the average liquid crystal display (LCD). OLED's low power consumption is an important consideration for portable, battery-powered devices. Sanyo estimates OLED screens consume around 20 percent less power on average than a same-sized LCD.

At least initially, the OLED screens are more expensive than their LCD counterparts. The 2.2-inch display SK Display is producing is about 50 percent more expensive than a comparable LCD, says a company spokesperson.

Several other companies are also developing OLED displays, including Sony, NEC, and Toshiba. Last week Kodak licensed several OLED-related technologies to Samsung NEC Mobile Display, a joint venture between Samsung Electronics and NEC that intends to produce passive-matrix displays for mobile telephone handsets.