1.0 Introduction Mini Briefing Electronic displays are one of the fastest-growing worldwide technologies. Once reserved for televisions and computers, and composed of large cathode-ray tubes New Display Technologies (CRTs), displays have become ubiquitous and have taken many different forms. Flat-panel displays are overtaking the CRT and are being used in larger quantities for Steve Statham portable computers, a variety of handheld devices, desktop computers and televisions, as well as tiny microdisplays, which are being used in projection televisions, for near-eye applications, where a virtual screen is presented to the viewer. The world of displays is Advances in new display technologies are rapidly changing to meet the evolving needs of the beginning to open up many new possibilities to electronic-device user. consumers and manufacturers. Unfortunately there is always a large time lag between the discoveries made, and the time when practical applications 2.0 Applications finally appear. Even once they have been incorporated into everyday items, they are The electronic-display device industry caters mainly for the sometimes expensive. automation and electronics appliance industries. Characteristic of OEM products, the growth of the display However, major developments are now taking industry is directly linked to the demand trends in end-user place in a variety of display materials with the markets. Display manufacturers, mainly concentrated in potential to enable handheld computers and mobile Japan and East Asian countries, account for over 80% of phones to be more functional and user-friendly, total display production. which could greatly aid in the convergence of functionality and convenience that these products The end-user market (which includes televisions, are intended to deliver. This briefing examines the computers, mobile phones and other electronic potential of the display market and discusses the automation products) is directly linked to the levels of current state of each display technology. It also economic development. This end-use market is comments on some of the emerging technologies concentrated in the US and the developed European emanating from display companies around the countries. The Asia-Pacific region, with the highest world. population and improving standards of living and automation, presents an enormous future market. During the 1990s, the electronic-display device industry was dominated by CRTs in terms of production volumes of Published in 2005 by PRIME Faraday Partnership, Wolfson and the number of players. The CRT, being the standard School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, display used in televisions and PC monitors, enjoyed a Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leics LE11 3TU large market. Although non-CRT displays led the CRT in © 2005 Pera Knowledge production-value terms, the unit production was negligible ISBN 1-84402-055-X in comparison. Among the non-CRT displays, also known as flat-panel displays, the liquid-crystal display (LCD) posed an immediate threat to the CRT. With continuous refinement of its features, the LCD was seen as an alternative to CRT. The portable PC segment – the major end-market for the LCD – has also witnessed major growth. As LCDs became more sophisticated, they entered the CRT- 1 replacement market in desktops. Other display devices electronic displays at US$3.6 billion in 2000 and forecast include the light-emitting-diode (LED) display, plasma that it would grow at a rate of 9.6% to US$9 billion by display panel (PDP), microdisplay, light-emitting-polymers 2010. The market-research company valued the CRT (LEP) display and organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) sector at US$1.75 billion in 2000 and forecast that it would display. These product segments are relatively new, each grow to US$2.9 billion by 2010. The company estimated offering new features that facilitate new product the expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for applications. the PDP segment – which it forecast would increase by 26% between 2000 and 2010 – would overtake that for the Within the flat-panel display market, demand has rapidly CRT segment. moved in favour of larger sizes and greater resolution screens (from VGA to SVGA and XGA). The Conversely, it forecast that the LED segment would likely establishment of complex fabrication facilities to show sluggish growth during this period. It estimated manufacture these screens requires a significant amount market size at US$126 million in 2000 and forecast that it of capital investment. The cost of constructing a new would reach US$213 million by 2010. The company active-matrix LCD plant has been estimated at between forecast that the LCD segment, with a value it estimated at US$350 million and US$600 million during the late US$1.5 billion in 2000, would exhibit a high CAGR of 11% nineties. over the period, and reach US$4.3 billion by 2010.2 3.0 The Global Display Industry UK Market for Electronic Display Devices: 2000-2010 5000 Electronic display devices are enjoying impressive growth ) patterns which are expected to continue for a number of s n 4000 CRT io years. The electronic display device market in the United ill LCD m States, for example, is forecast to generate revenues $ 3000 AMLCD S U PMLCD worth US$145.75 billion by 2010 from a figure of $52.5 s ( le 2000 LED billion in 2000. Europe holds the largest share with almost a PDP al S 30% of the worldwide market; this is expected to reach u n 1000 Mis c n US$40 billion by 2010. The major markets for the A electronic display devices in Europe are the United 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy. Source: Global Industry Analysts2 The industry comprises manufacturers who produce displays for captive use as well as the external market. Key: CRT – cathode-ray tubes; LCD – liquid-crystal displays; Large electronics firms have the advantage of synergetic AMLCD – active-matrix LCD; PMLCD – passive-matrix LCD; production of the components with end-use products LED – light-emitting diodes; PDP – plasma display panels manufactured by them. The industry also has companies that sell the display devices on a private or OEM/ODM (Original Equipment Manufacturer/Original Design 3.2 Market Drivers Manufacturer) basis to their customers. Several driving forces are expected to have an impact on 3.1 The UK Market global growth of display materials over the coming years. They include: The UK is a key sales region in the European display general economic recovery in all regions; device industry. While CRT is dominant on account of continued support from government, industry and being the traditional display, regional manufacturers are academia; and actively involved in the development of newer displays. development of advanced materials Global Industry Analysts describes itself as a ‘publisher of Economic recovery is necessary to keep business and 1 off-the-shelf market research’. In a report it published in consumers buying. There will certainly be no slow-down in June 2004, it estimated the size of the market for display demand, but the capability to make and sell 2 displays must be there. Support from companies, 4.2 Flat-panel Displays government programs and academic institutions is needed to develop advanced materials. The display-materials Flat-panel displays (FPDs), initially introduced in the industry is economically competitive at this moment, but 1970s, are extensively used by the portable-computing these driving forces are required to take it forward. and handheld-consumer-electronics industries for Advanced materials will make it possible to manufacture numerous applications including compact portable displays that can be used in any product under any television screens, screens in notebook-size computers environmental condition. This will drive the materials and viewfinders in camcorders. FPD technology is also market to new levels of performance. greatly influencing the design and production of industrial, scientific and medical equipment, entertainment delivery, transportation control and a myriad of other systems. 4.0 Market Demands and Expectations The increasing demand for advanced FPDs for new types Display devices have become a part of everyday life. of products, and subsequently new market opportunities, These devices find applications in electronic gadgets used has been attributed to their low power consumption as well in daily life, such as digital watches, TVs, computers, as their light and thin design. Future FPDs are likely to be mobile phones, PDAs, appliances, camcorder viewfinders cheaper, more efficient, increasingly commonplace and and in the automotive sector. The display unit of all these more commercially available in numerous sizes. items comes separately and, with the strong demand for this panel, the market is continuing to grow rapidly. The driving forces are expected to be laptop and notebook PCs coupled with new end-user sectors. These include According to a report from Business Communications Co. consumers (of mobile phones, pagers, games machines, Inc., updated in 2003, the value of worldwide shipments of portable TVs and PDAs); transportation (military, avionics, display materials reached $12 billion in 2002. The report and automotive); industrial (test equipment, instrument estimated that the value of shipments of materials would and dashboard displays); and business (medical-device reach $13.6 billion in 2003 and forecast that they would displays, electronic files and portable projection systems). grow at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 10.9% to a total $22.9 billion by 2008.3 The phasing out of analogue displays in favour of digital or graphical displays, increases in multimedia applications 4.1 Cathode-ray Tubes and the rapid growth of graphical user interfaces will further fuel demand. As the visual and graphical content of CRTs had the largest market share in the electronic- electronic data gains significance, innovations in display display devices market in 2000. However, they are losing technology will become rampant.