Redakcja Choose TV
Apple is looking for a way to produce advanced OLED displays more cheaply. According to reports from Korea, the company is considering using HMO technology and a production method called sputtering. Samsung Display and LG Display are already working on the solution, and the new panels could in the future appear in MacBooks and iMacs.
Cheaper OLED production without new machines?
According to The Elec, Apple is looking into using HMO (High-Mobility Oxide) technology, which employs transistors with increased electron mobility. These control the OLED pixels, and their higher performance could make it easier to produce displays with high resolution and high refresh rates.
Currently typical oxide transistors reach mobility of about 10 cm²/V·s. With HMO the aim is to raise that to 30–50 cm²/V·s.
The production method is key. Apple reportedly prefers sputtering, that is depositing thin films using plasma. The technology allows the use of equipment already present in OLED fabs, which could limit costs.
An alternative is ALD, atomic layer deposition. The method offers greater precision but requires more expensive equipment and materials.
Samsung and LG are testing both approaches
Samsung Display is testing the possibility of using HMO on large eighth-generation substrates, while LG Display is developing the technology on sixth-generation lines. Both manufacturers are also studying ALD.
The new solution could simplify production of OLED panels intended for laptops and desktop computers. However, that does not automatically mean cheaper Apple devices.
So far no final decision has been made on the method for mass production. It is also unclear when panels using the new solution might reach the market.
Sources: The Elec, OLED-Info, DigiTimes
