OLED-TV Display/Monitor Technology News

The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) in Dresden, Germany, a leading research center for organic materials based research, announced today the order of a novel pilot manufacturing system specialized for OLED-lighting and organic photovoltaic products. The system will be supplied by Sunic System Ltd., South Korea, in combination with AIXTRON AG, Germany. It is the core fabrication
tool for the new Center for Organic Materials and Electronic Devices Dresden
(COMEDD), which started its work on September 10, 2007.

The pilot fabrication system consists of clusters combining thermal evaporation and
organic vapor phase deposition (OVPD®) modules. The usable substrate size is 370 x 470
mm² on glass substrates and foils. The targeted tact time is three minutes, resulting in
an annual capacity of approximately 13,000 m². The system is designed for efficient
materials usage and flexibility in substrate format and organic stack. It is one of the
worlds first pilot production systems for OLED lighting and organic based solar cells.
“The order of the system is a key milestone for our future activities. It allows us to
develop novel organic based lighting solutions within a pilot production scale
surrounding.” says Joerg Amelung, business unit manager at the Fraunhofer IPMS.
The order of the fabrication system is the first step to establish COMEDD at the
Fraunhofer IPMS. To speed up the time to market for OLED lighting, organic solar cells
and OLED-on-CMOS-devices, the Fraunhofer IPMS is building three pilot production
lines. Germany’s state and federal government, as well the EU, are investing € 25 million
into COMEDD to establish the leading European institution for R&D and pilot production
of small-molecule organic devices.
“The OLED lighting and organic photovoltaic industries will only work if we manufacture
here in Europe, not just do design and research. The center wants to be the key partner
for the European industry to develop fabrication-related processes up to a pilot
fabrication level. Only such advanced tools allow to reach the R&D level we need here to
support the necessary development.” says Prof. Karl Leo, director of the Fraunhofer IPMS.
For the tool suppliers, the order is as well an important step to achieve future business
market segments.
“The order of our tool is for us an important step to OLED lighting fabrication machine
market.” says Dr. Hoon Lim, CEO of Sunic Systems.

“The integration of an OVPD® module is a milestone for our business to integrate next
generation fabrication technology into new market segments.” notes Dr. Bernd Schulte,
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at AIXTRON AG.
Technology and market background.

Besides conventional inorganic LEDs, OLEDs are considered as the second solid-state-lighting technology for new flat, large-area, and efficient lighting solutions in the future, opening a window for rapidly growing and large markets. First promising demonstrators were shown by Fraunhofer IPMS so far,
but the current OLED technology has to advance in terms of manufacturing costs and integration aspects. In September 2007 Fraunhofer IPMS demonstrated one of the worldwide largest SM-OLED lighting modules with 80 x 20 cm² dimension (subdivided in 4 panels). The active area is 1,100 cm², the light output
250 Lumen. In the mid- and long term future also organic based solar cells show a large market
potential. Such modules will be low-cost, lightweight and flexible in shape. Due to the
low-cost materials and close-to-room temperature manufacturing processes, a short
energy payback time is expected.