In short, it folds up and looks like a mobile phone. When opened, it is as big as a tablet. It not only has touch functions, but also provides better viewing effects. ITRI has the technology ready to tell consumers that "the era of soft, foldable and portable AMOLED has arrived." Combining research and development results with the energy of industry players such as AUO, Innolux, and CPT, I believe Taiwan can occupy a place in foldable AMOLED panels.
There is no common standard process, standard equipment and materials for Flexible AMOLED. The introduction of key equipment and materials will be a key factor affecting the pace of mass production. Although Korean manufacturers have made good attempts, and Taiwan also has its own unique technology, no one is significantly ahead.
In addition to assisting domestic manufacturers in building an independent supply chain for domestic key materials and equipment, ITRI is also a key factor in accelerating the mass production of Flexible AMOLED by domestic panel manufacturers by connecting advanced R&D resources of foreign manufacturers. For example, it has introduced international innovation partners, including Japan's LINTEC, ULVAC, and Israel's Orbotech, to form an international team to make up for Taiwan's supply chain shortcomings, and assist international partners in expanding downstream customers, gathering international energy, accelerating domestic mass production, and promoting Taiwan's vision of becoming a global soft AMOLED core industry cluster.
In terms of branding, it is recommended to promote cooperation between panel manufacturers and system manufacturers. The use of soft AMOLED panels with significant differentiated value will help enhance the brand value of domestic smart terminal products and seize the global market. In the future, it will target foldable AMOLEDs with higher entry barriers, while also considering curved AMOLED panel products, including smart handheld devices, wearable devices, etc.
The AMOLED panels used in today’s smartphones are mainly in the form of flat glass, with a few having curved AMOLED panels. The market expects that major manufacturers will mainly use curved AMOLED next year.
It is expected that smart terminal products equipped with foldable panels will gradually mature after 2019. The soft AMOLED panel currently under development is targeted for commercialization in 2019. If the mobile phone can be opened into a tablet and folded into a mobile phone, it will help domestic manufacturers seize international market share. It can also be combined with the application of the Internet of Things to build innovative application fields such as smart cities, smart transportation, and smart homes.
ANNA