OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology is considered to be the most promising solution for the future of displays, as it requires considerably less power than other types of displays, not to mention the very vivid colors and high versatility. This is the reason why an increasingly higher number of manufacturers have decided to get involved in this R&D field, but it would seem that full-scale OLEDs are still quite far, at least as far as Samsung is concerned.

Thus, as Masao Oonishi for Tech-On reports, Ho Kyoon Chung, executive vice president and CTO, Corporate R&D Center, Samsung SDI Co Ltd of Korea, presented at "FPD International 2007 Forum" the company's upcoming roadmap for OLED displays. Quite obviously, the Samsung official started with a few considerations regarding the whole industry, stating that "OLED panels have opened the new era of organic optoelectronics. Not only displays but also new applications such as OLED lighting systems, organic electro-luminescent power generators and organic sensors will emerge in the near future."

Then, moving on to Samsung, Mr. Chung admitted that the Korean company only initiated the high-volume production of OLED panels in September 2007, but has already reached an output of 1.5 million units per month on a 2-inch panel basis, planning to go as high as 3 million units in 2008.

However, the most interesting information provided by the Samsung CTO is that related to the company's roadmap for the development of increasingly larger OLED displays. "Following small panels used in 2007, 3.5- to 7-inch panels including 4.1-inch panels will be applied to ultra mobile PCs, for example, in 2008. Then we will realize 14-, 15- and 21-inch panels in 2009 and large 40- to 42-inch full HD (high definition) OLED TVs in 2010", said Mr. Chung.

This date seems to be a little too far in the future, as the people from Sony have already come up with an all-OLED TV of their own. However, since Samsung is one of the most important display manufacturers and a trend-setter in this field, it's quite likely that that's the approximate time frame when OLED TVs will really hit in full swing.

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