A new freshly-inked partnership between Samsung Display and LG Display has been revealed with the two companies setting out to discover the potential of a new low-refractive index Capping Layer (CPL) technology for small to medium-sized OLED panels.
According to The Elec, the jointly led venture will focus on the manufacture of a premium high-refractive index CPL typically employed to enhance light direction while simultaneously decreasing power consumption.
Additionally, the low-refractive index CPL combined with the present high-refractive index variant has the potential to grow optical effectiveness, improve light utilization, and even extend the product lifespan.
Credit: spie.org
The challenges the joint venture will need to overcome include the risk posed by adding an additional layer which could cause manufacturing and cost consequences.
Smartphone producers like Samsung Electronics and Apple will also need to be persuaded of the benefits of implementing the new CPL.
Already working on low-refractive index CPL technology, companies like Dongjin SEMICHEM, Hodogaya, LAPT, and PNH Tech have a head start on Samsung and LG and have begun sending sample deliveries to panel manufacturers.
Deciding who will win agreements with smartphone producers will depend on factors like, value, pricing, and existing relationships.
Already well-known names and key players in the industry, Samsung and LG have demonstrated their OLED technology know-how and only last year, Samsung revealed Eco2 OLED panels used in the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4, offering advanced power efficiency.
Despite the company’s capacity for innovation, there have been recent whispers from Samsung users, chiefly flagship consumers, who recounted their own phone blips like display issues such as pink, green, and white lines on their screens.
Apple, however, is forging ahead and currently is collaborating with Samsung Display and LG Display to produce a bezel-less OLED display for iPhones.
The process requires moving electronic components from the bezel under the screen, calling for improvements in Thin Film Encapsulation (TFE) and Under Panel Camera technologies.
Due to obstacles like hypothetical antenna interference and durability concerns, the partnered companies will need to work together to address any technical issues.
It is uncertain when the new OLED technologies will be fully incorporated, however, it is predicted that tablets, smartphones, and laptops will soon require more power-efficient, colour-intense OLED screens with prolonged lifespans.
