Emerging trends for 16:9 monitor, notebook panels

AUSTIN, USA: DisplaySearch, the worldwide leader in display market research and consulting, revealed some emerging trends for formats among LCD notebooks and monitors.

The 16:9 is the major format in wide LCD notebook and LCD monitor at this moment. The growing availability of high definition (HD) content and high definition DVD players has created an opportunity for 16:9 displays. Therefore, 16:9 notebook panel and LCD monitor panels are showing up on the major TFT LCD maker roadmaps.

The 16:9 notebooks are targeting the high definition DVD embedded notebook, while 15.x"W 16:9 LCD monitors are targeting entry-level LCD monitors. In addition, Gen 6 and Gen 7 were originally designed for LCD TV (16:9). Panel makers need to find appropriate monitor products for Gen 5, Gen 6 and Gen 7, like 16:9 monitors such as 15.0"W, 15.6"W, 18.4W and 24"W FHD.

However, we also see some size competition will happen in 2008. In the notebook PC application, Samsung introduced 16:9 16W notebook panels, while AU Optronics (AUO) and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) are developing 16:9 15.6W notebook panels. In the monitor application, AUO chose 15W for its first 16:9 LCD monitor panel, while CMO wants to use 15.6W LCD monitor panels for its next major wide monitor.

AUO thinks that 15.6" widescreen monitor panels will face a price position problem between 15.6W notebooks and 15.4W notebooks. However, CMO thinks efficiency is the key for panel size; therefore, 93 percent efficiency of 15.6W at Gen 5 is very good choice from CMO's point of view. Besides, China LCD panel makers such as SVA-NEC and BOE are also planning to mass produce 15.6" monitors at the end of Q1-08. This has helped CMO to boost its 15.6" panel campaign.

In LCD TV panels, suppliers are developing low brightness and low-cost models by using new backlight structures for increased cost saving. The top five panel makers are also developing FMB (Front Mount Bezel) to reduce the mechanical cost and provide a slim design for LCD TVs.

The following findings are also revealed in DisplaySearch's Q4-07 Large Area TFT LCD Product Plan Report:

* The adoption of LED backlights in notebook PC panels is progressing from 11W, 12.1W and 13.3W to 14.1W and 15.4W. AUO, CMO, LPL and Samsung have started to use 14.1W LED backlights in notebook PCs from Q1-08.

* In 26" LCD TV panels, there are two camps: TN and VA/IPS. CMO put all resources into TN type, while AUO will keep putting resources into VA type by changing their backlight structure for better cost.



* To better meet the strong market demand for 32" LCD TVs, panel makers are starting to use Gen 7 (1950 × 2250 mm) fabs or Gen 8 (2160 × 2460 mm) to produce 32" LCD TV panels.

* Low-brightness panels with fewer optical films and lamps in the backlight structure are in the product plans of panel makers. When TV panel brightness is down to 400 or 450 nits, panel makers can use two diffusers or two micro-lens designs for better cost structure.

* All major LCD TV panel makers have developed double frame rate (100 Hz/120Hz) 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).

DisplaySearch's Q4-07 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.