Is OLED the way of the future?

OLED technology has provided a way to create thinner, more efficient, and brighter displays and lighting panels, starting a revolution in display technology. OLEDs, standing for Organic Light Emitting Diodes, produce their own light and are thin and flexible, unlike their older LED siblings.

There has been a lot of ongoing research into the applications of OLED displays, with companies like Sony, Samsung, and LG all working towards flexible and bendable display capabilities. A future where you will be able to roll up and pack away your TV, smartphone, or tablet is not that far. Of course, due to the unique properties and very specific production requirements, flexible OLEDs are still expensive to manufacture, but this cost will only go down with further advances in fabrication processes.

AMOLEDs are already used on small scale on some phones, tablets and television sets, with Samsung and Sony pioneering the technology with devices such as Samsung AMOLED TVs and Sony’s PlayStation Vita, which features a 5-inch AMOLED screen. And now a new, less known manufacturer joins the AMOLED club — Tianma, which announced its new 3.2″ and 12″ AMOLED prototype panels at the FPD China 2012 exhibition.

Tianma’s 12-inch panel boasts a 1280×800 resolution with a very high contrast that exceeds a ratio of 10,000:1. As you can guess from its size, this panel will be primarily suited for tablets and laptop screens. The 3.2-inch model features a 480×320 resolution and a similar contrast ratio, its primary application being smartphones.

Unfortunately, there has been no indication from Tianma about when these panels will actually enter production or in what devices we can expect to see them. We can only hope for a quick release, so that we can enjoy the wonderful experience provided by active matrix OLEDs in more products as soon as possible.

Below is a short video of the Tianma 12″ prototype panel, which is only a slideshow of images. But the higher clarity and increased brightness are instantly noticeable features. Courtesy of OledNet.

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