Sony and Panasonic to jointly develop OLED TV panels

Sony and Panasonic will jointly develop OLED panels and modules for use in TVs and larger displays. The organic material is applied via printing technology, instead of the vapor deposition method of current OLED screens.

Last month, the Japanese newspaper Nikkei already reported that Sony and Panasonic were in talks about a collaboration in the field of OLED panel production, but the bullet is now through the church. The two Japanese companies have announced that the collaboration is a fact.

Panasonic emphasizes that it concerns the next generation of OLED panels. Instead of the vapor deposition method used in the current production of OLED screens, the couple will develop OLED panels in which the organic material is printed. Panasonic says it has the right production technologies for this. Sony will bring expertise in areas such as oxide semiconductors and flexible transistors, among other things, while also developing technology for a combination of vapor deposition and printing.

The ‘full print’ method has the advantage that the production costs can be lower than the usual vapor deposition method for OLED panels. Both Samsung and LG still use the vapor deposition method for their 55″ OLED TVs, which will be released in mid-summer. The production of larger image sizes with the print method is also said to be easier. The TVs from Samsung and LG are rumored to have 7000 to cost 8000 euros.

In addition to collaborating on OLED technologies, Sony and Panasonic are also studying plans to begin mass production of larger OLED panels together. However, the two companies will develop their OLED TVs separately. Panasonic and Sony expect to have developed the technology for the mass production of OLED panels by 2013. It is not yet clear when the first panels will actually roll off the production line.