DisplaySearch report reveals emerging trends in notebooks and LCD TV panels

DisplaySearch, the worldwide leader in display market research and consulting, revealed some emerging trends in its Q3'07 Large-Area TFT LCD Product Plan Report . Until now, wide aspect ratio notebook PC displays usually had a 16:10 aspect ratio, like 14.1" Wide and 15.4" Wide. However, the growing availability of high definition (HD) content and high definition DVD players has created an opportunity for 16:9 notebook PC displays. The 16:9 notebook PC display is being introduced by Samsung, Chi Mei Optronics (CMO), AU Optronics (AUO) and other TFT LCD manufacturers. 1366 × 768 (HD) is the standard 16:9 resolution for notebook PCs, but 1680 × 945 and 1920 × 1080 are also emerging on higher-end 16:9 notebook PCs.

The 16" Wide notebook PC panel has enjoyed good glass panelization with over 90% glass efficiency. Because notebook PC display supply is expected to remain tight in 2008, optimized panel cuts are an incentive to TFT LCD makers to develop the 16:9 panel. Despite this, DisplaySearch's report notes that there are still some doubts about the 16:9 notebook panel for two reasons. Commercial buyers who recently transitioned from 4:3 to 16:10 might resist a new aspect ratio, and consumers might prefer inexpensive portable DVD players instead of using notebook PCs to watch DVDs due to longer battery life.

In LCD TV panels, suppliers are revamping the mechanical structure of the panel bezel using through hole mounting design to reduce the bezel size, which also reduces costs and improves assembly efficiency. Such efforts have been implemented at many sizes by AUO, CMO, LG.Philips LCD (LPL) and Samsung. The slim bezel design should become mainstream for 32"+ LCD TV panels in 2008. They are particularly desirable for use in TV cabinets enabling consumers to squeeze larger LCD TVs into a fixed space.

The following findings are also revealed in DisplaySearch's Q3'07 Large Area TFT LCD Product Plan Report:
- 2008 production plans are revealed for each TFT LCD manufacturer by application resulting in targets of 132 million notebook PC panels, 194 million LCD monitor panels and 102 million LCD TV panels. Although capacity growth is limited in 2008, panel makers are seeking better product mix and efficiencies to grow shipments.
- The adoption of LED backlights in notebook PC panels is moving from 11"W, 12.1"W and 13.3"W to 14.1"W and 15.4"W. CMO, LPL, Samsung and TMDisplay started using 14.1"W LED backlights in notebook PCs from 2H'07.
- DisplayPort is emerging as a new interface for notebook PCs, especially on larger ones like 17"W.
- Almost all TFT LCD makers have stopped upgrading specifications for LCD TV panels below 26" because of the rapid adoption of the LCD monitor panels for 19"W, 20"W and 22"W LCD TVs.
- In 26" LCD TV panels, the TN + wide view angle film type is rapidly replacing conventional VA or IPS type. Developers include AUO, CMO, LPL, Samsung and SVA-NEC.
- Low-brightness panels with fewer optical films and lamps in the backlight structure are in the product plans of panel makers, especially from Taiwan-based suppliers like CMO, CPT and AUO. Low brightness is generally 400 nits rather than the standard 500 nits. These products include 32", 37" and 42".
- All major LCD TV panel makers have developed double frame rate (100 Hz/120 Hz) and 10-bit color depth for high-end models for sizes ranging from 32" to 65". Some panel makers are also developing motion estimation/compensation (ME/MC).
- For large size and wide aspect LCD monitor panels, panel makers are starting to adapt LED backlights--targeting high-end graphic and multimedia markets, even though the reduced color gamut of white LEDs is still a concern and RGB LEDs are still relatively expensive. On the other hand, wide color gamut lamps have been adopted by several LCD monitor panel manufacturers for a variety of sizes.
- CPT is developing 20"WXGA+ (resolution 1440 × 900) and 22"WUXGA (resolution 1920 × 1200) for the high-end LCD monitor market in 2008.
- To better meet the strong market demand for 32" LCD TVs, several panel makers are starting to use 7th generation (1950 × 2250 mm) fabs to produce 32" LCD TV panels.
- Sharp uses its 8th generation fab (2160 × 2460 mm) to produce 42", 46", 52" and 57" LCD TV panels. Samsung is also ramping up the 46" and 52" LCD TV panels on its 8th generation fab. However, the glass substrate size of Samsung's 8th generation 2200 × 2500 mm is also optimized for 55" cut six per substrate. This could lead to the emergence of 55" LCD TVs priced similarly to 52" in the future.

Key features for 2007-2008 LCD TV panels are
- 120Hz driving to reduce motion blur
- 10-bits, boosting the number of colors to 1 billion
- Over 1500:1 static contrast ratio and over 6000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
- Wide color gamut
- LIPS (LCD Integrated Power Supply) power design structure (inverter-less)
- Vertical integration or smart panel integration

The Q3'07 Large-Area TFT LCD Product Plan Report is the only report in the TFT LCD industry to analyze product roadmaps, technology blueprints and new materials, as well as large-area TFT LCD specifications. The 230-slide report covers the following topics:
- TFT LCD panel makers' latest product strategy and technology plans for the three main large-area applications: notebook PCs, LCD monitors and LCD TVs
- Notebook PC, LCD monitor and LCD TV brand makers' product strategy, covering 20 notebook PC brands, 40 LCD monitor brands and 70 LCD TV brands
- The matrix of panel product size, economic cut and fabs for 18 large-area TFT LCD makers and over 60 TFT LCD fabs
- New large-area TFT LCD materials
- Updates and analysis of new display standards and regulations
- New large-area TFT LCD panel features analysis

For more information, contact Arie Braun at 512-687-1505 or arie@displaysearch.com, or contact regional DisplaySearch offices in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China.

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