Semiconductor display: Promoting the integration of industrial connotation

Over the past 15 years, there have been two debates in the field of display. Once before and after 2000, the color Picture tube (CRT) industry is facing the substitution crisis, the next mainstream direction is the plasma display (PDP) or the thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD)? There are very different voices in the industry. After more than 10 years of development, TFT-LCD has become the absolute mainstream of the display field. With the development of TFT-LCD and Electroluminescence (EL) technology, active organic light-emitting display (AMOLED) has been industrialized. In addition, display technologies such as flexible display (flexible display), laser display and so on are emerging. At present, there is a new round of controversy in the display industry.

TFT-LCD has long-term development potential

The key point for TFT-LCD industry to stand out in the display field is that it conforms to the historical trend that semiconductor technology replaces vacuum electronic technology.

The history of the development of electronic devices is basically the history of the substitution of semiconductor technology for vacuum electronic technology. The electronic information industry has undergone three great transformations: the first time in the 1947 signal field, semiconductor devices represented by transistors and integrated circuits gradually replaced the vacuum electronic devices represented by electron tubes, which facilitated the development of communication, computer, software industry and the advent of the internet era. The second substitution occurred after the advent of TFT-LCD products in 1991, the semiconductor display device represented by TFT-LCD replaces the vacuum electronic display device represented by CRT, and becomes the mainstream of display field. The third substitution began in 1994 with the advent of white LED semiconductor lamps and 2012 OLED lights, LED and OLED as the source of semiconductor lighting devices to gradually replace incandescent lamps and traditional energy-saving lamps and other electric vacuum light source.

Why has TFT-LCD developed into a mainstream market in the past more than 10 years? I think: "TFT-LCD industry in the display area to stand out the key is that it conforms to the semiconductor technology to replace the vacuum electronics technology, the historical trend." "15 years ago, in the face of the CRT replacement crisis, BoE decided to enter the new display area, and finally chose the more long-term development potential of TFT-LCD." With the development of new display technologies such as AMOLED industrialization and future flexible display, people have raised new questions about the direction and path of future development of the display industry. We can answer from the philosophical height with two words: first, from CRT to TFT-LCD is the interruption and beginning of technology, the second is from TFT-LCD to AMOLED is the extension and development of technology. TFT-LCD, AMOLED, as well as new display technology including flexible display, their basic technology is semiconductor technology, can be collectively referred to as semiconductor display (Semi display).

AMOLED is the extension of TFT technology

AMOLED is the extension and development of TFT-LCD technology, and their technical correlation and resource sharing are as high as 70%.

We can give the semiconductor display the next definition: Semiconductor display is through the semiconductor device independent control of each of the smallest display unit display technology collectively. It has three basic characteristics: first, the TFT array and other semiconductor devices independently control the status of each display unit, the second is the use of amorphous silicon (A-Si), low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS), oxides (oxide), organic materials (Organic), Carbon materials (Carbon Material) and other semiconductor materials, the third is the use of semiconductor manufacturing process. Materials, equipment, devices and applications for semiconductor display technology and products are collectively referred to as the semiconductor display industry.

We can further illustrate the above definition by comparing the structure of TFT-LCD and AMOLED. Years of technological progress and market application drive, TFT-LCD has been developed from a-si to LTPS and oxide. TFT-LCD has polarized film, color film, liquid crystal, TFT array, polarizer, backlight six parts. Top-emitting amoled are composed of three parts, namely sealing layer, organic light-emitting layer and TFT array. But the semiconductor material of TFT array has changed, it uses LTPS or oxide. Materials and processes have undergone revolutionary progress, device structure is also a lot simpler, but the semiconductor display of the basic characteristics and technical basis has not changed, flexible display is the same, so AMOLED is the extension and development of TFT technology, their technical relevance and resource sharing as high as 70%.

From a-SI TFT-LCD, LTPS TFT-LCD, oxide TFT-LCD to AMOLED, the semiconductor display industry has two key driving forces: one is technological progress, the other is market application. Market application is the most fundamental driving force. Although the traditional a-SI TFT-LCD is still progressing, it can not meet the requirement of product performance improvement in the market segment, LTPS TFT-LCD, oxide TFT-LCD and AMOLED. The emergence of these new display technologies has led to advances in materials, technology and equipment technology. Advances in new materials, technology and equipment have accelerated the industrialization of the new display technology, which in turn further promoted the development of market applications.

Market segments apply depending on the display technology and product performance characteristics and cost competitiveness. From the current features of display applications, the mainstream is still a-SI TFT-LCD;LTPS TFT-LCD is mainly used in high-end mobile products; oxide TFT-LCD is mainly used in high-end Tablet PC, notebook computer, monitor and TV field; LTPS AMOLED mainly used in mobile phones and other high-end mobile products, oxide AMOLED may be mainly applied to television and other large size display products.

According to DisplaySearch data, global display products Annual market total of 111 billion U.S. dollars, 2018 is expected to be 163.4 billion U.S. dollars, the average annual composite growth rate of 5.7%. A-SI TFT-LCD is still the mainstream, but gradually declining trend, LTPS TFT-LCD annual composite growth rate of 13%;oxide TFT-LCD 36%;ltps AMOLED for 31%;oxide AMOLED is 135%. To some extent, this data reflects the basic trend of various technologies and products in the Display field.

Resource integration realizes value added

The maximum value of investment can be realized by maximizing the technical correlation and resource sharing of TFT-LCD, AMOLED and flexible display.

Material technology progress will greatly promote the development of new semiconductor display technology and products, which in turn is an opportunity for material manufacturers. Substrate materials will be towards a more frivolous, more resistant to high temperature, more environmentally friendly, flexible and so on, the IC will be toward the SOC, COG, GOA, even "core breath and (CPSI)" direction development, semiconductor materials will be from a A-Si to Ltps/oxide, Organic/carbon , the liquid crystal material responds faster, the LED light in backlight is gradually reduced, and the life and light efficiency of OLED materials are continuously promoted. These require device manufacturers and materials manufacturers to work together. In addition, equipment manufacturers will also be given new opportunities. The progress of materials and technology requires the equipment manufacturers to keep pace with the times. These still need device manufacturers, materials manufacturers and equipment manufacturers to work together.

In recent years, panel prices have been falling, global panel companies are struggling. Although the overall industry situation has improved recently, it still faces difficulties. Flat panel display industry must jointly create a long-term stable profit model and development mechanism. To create a long-term stable profit model and development mechanism, one is to promote the value creation of technological innovation, the second is the integration of resources to achieve value added.

On the promotion of value creation by technological innovation, I put forward a law in 2010: the Law of survival. The core of this law is: every three years show the performance of the product increased by more than one times, the enterprise can survive. This cycle will also be shortened. In order to live a better life, our goal is to work above the above requirements.

Traditional resources integration form, generally through vertical or horizontal integration, resulting in synergy, to achieve value added. We should pay more attention to realize the value increment through the intension type conformity. For example, through the TFT-LCD, AMOLED, flexible display, such as technical relevance and resource sharing to maximize the realization of the maximum value of investment. Do not isolate the separation, to organically put these resources together. Because the market positioning is different, we should encourage and respect the difference of development mode, pay attention to the connotation of integration, promote vertical and horizontal direction of cooperation and win. This is also the meaning of the new definition of the industry that semiconductors show. Just because the semiconductor shows the new definition of the industry, it can really promote the realization of the intension-type integration.

For the development of flat panel display industry, I put forward three suggestions: first, the semiconductor display as the industry standard terminology, promote industry standardization; second, in the Semiconductor display field to promote international exchanges and cooperation, respect for intellectual property rights, work together to win; the third is to use resources efficiently, control the investment rhythm and avoid disorderly competition.