La demanda de Y-OCTA aumenta
Y-OCTA is a more integrated OLED component, and uses the panel manufacturer's internal lithography production line. Outsourced touch sensors, whether rigid (On-Cell) or flexible (AP1S), can free up these production lines for display technology with greater value and profit.
Therefore, apart from the special case of Samsung Display, panel manufacturers have not adopted a method similar to Y-OCTA. BOE (Chengdu) uses AP1S; its ITO film supplier is Dongwoo. In terms of Samsung displays, only the 5.8-inch Galaxy S8 uses Y-OCTA, while the 2017 Galaxy S8 plus (6.2-inch) and Note 8 still use AP1S.
But adopting Y-OCTA has become the policy and strategy of Samsung Display in the future. There are two reasons for this. First of all, the integration of highly compact components brings value and technical barriers. Secondly, Samsung Display owns old-generation factories. It can be sold (to Truly) or used for other purposes. For example, these devices can be used for Y-OCTA sensors or transferred to Samsung LSI and Samsung Electro-Mechanics for panel-level fan-out packaging (FO-PLP), thereby enabling the division to compete with Taiwan's competitor TSMC.
Starting in 2018, the ratio of AP1S to Y-OCTA in flexible AMOLED will depend on the following factors:
Starting from 2018, has the Samsung display used in Samsung's flagship model completely switched from AP1S to Y-OCTA?
Does Samsung Display retain Y-OCTA only to Samsung and AP1S to Chinese smartphone brands?
How quickly BOE's Chengdu plant can mass produce AP1S flexible AMOLED panels
Which new structure will LG display adopt (AP1S plus TFE or touch sensor with barrier film)
In 2018–2020, Samsung Display will definitely increase the adoption of Y-OCTA. Although Y-OCTA shipments increase, the share of Y-OCTA in the display market may decrease. This is because other panel manufacturers will adopt AP1S or other similar Methods.
From Y-OCTA to In-cell
IHS Markit predicts that In-Cell touch solutions will still be adopted by smartphones, while On-Cell AMOLED flexibility needs to be more mature. AMOLED does not have a Vcom module, and the cathode and anode can be replaced. In addition, FHD and WQHD resolutions can be shared in time. Furthermore, In-Cell touch can make the display the thinnest.
Although glass cutting and the generation line of equipment are important for the production of large displays, smartphone displays are more focused on breakthroughs in TFT semiconductors. This is why panel manufacturers will need to integrate more sensors and circuits on the TFT side, and touch sensors and display-based fingerprint sensors are expected to enter the market in the near future.
Key conclusions
Although Y-OCTA will occupy the internal etching line production capacity, its advantages have made Samsung Display determine to apply this structure to thinner, simpler and flexible AMOLED displays.
Panel manufacturers will need to integrate more sensors and circuits on the TFT side, and touch sensors and display-based fingerprint sensors are expected to enter the market in the near future.
