Samsung shows off 40in OLED panel

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 30 Oct 2008 at 14:54

Samsung has demonstrated a massive 40in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel, as it seeks to gain an early foothold in the fast developing market.

The huge panel is among the largest displayed and features a high definition 1920 x 1080 resolution, though company spokespeople admitted the screen is at the cutting edge of what it is able to manufacture.

"Our low temperature poly-Si TFT mass-production line cannot make panels larger than 31in," a Samsung representative tells Japanese newspaper Nikkei. "This 40in TFT panel is the largest size that can be made on our pilot line, and it cannot be mass-produced right away."

The move comes as leading panel makers attempt to grab a piece of the fast-growing market for OLED displays, which offer better-quality, slimmer and more energy-efficient screens than liquid crystal displays. The panel being demonstrated by Samsung is just 8.9mm thick.

Rival Panasonic has promised to deliver a 40in screen to market by 2011, though Samsung is making no such promises just yet. Most current displays are around 2in, and used in handheld devices.

Market researcher iSuppli said in May it expected global shipments of OLED panels to nearly quadruple in 2008 to 10.2 million units, with revenue reaching £110 million.