Hsinchu, Taiwan
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AU Optronics Corporation ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO), a global leader in OLED technology, today announced the successful launch of the world's first Double Sided Active Matrix OLED. This new breakthrough technology developed by AUO allows for the very first time to simultaneously show two separate moving images on one piece of panel. This may be the most advanced solution for applications such as mobile phones and DSC available to-date. Scheduled to be unveiled for the first time at the FPD International 2004 in Yokohama Japan, demonstrating once again AUO's advanced R&D capabilities in OLED technologies.
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This latest development surpasses what was previously unimaginable in the history of OLED technology. It is capable of simultaneously displaying two different images, either moving or still, with as high as 143 ppi (pixel per inch) high resolution and 200 nits (cd/m2) high brightness. The outstanding qualities of the panel may be the ultimate solution for dual cell phone displays.
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The Director of AUO's OLED Division, Dr. JJ Lih, is extremely excited about their new technology. He stated that "this latest technological breakthrough developed by our team is more advanced than the present OLED double sided panels which only display same images on both sides and it expands further application capabilities. The added value of our panel is its ability to satisfy the specific needs of dual cell phone displays. With uniquely separate brightness adjustability, the panel has one side image area of 2.0" while the other 1.5". At only 1.8mm thick, it is less than half the thickness and weight of a double sided LCD panels marketed today. In addition to its thin size, the single-module design also greatly lowers down the cost. The team also used a more advanced desiccant method to handle the special feature of organic materials that it may easily be subject to humidity. It has already passed the reliability test, which means that mass production is imminent. Currently, we are applying patents for the entire set of the technology."
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In the brief 4 years since AUO began researching and developing OLED technology, the team has proved its strong capabilities by developing the technology without any technology transfer from others, and it has built a large portfolio of IP. AUO announced, in March 2002, the world's first 4" full-color Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Device (AMOLED) display using a-Si backplane technology, opening the possibility of utilizing well-established a-Si manufacturing infrastructure for potential significant cost savings and additional market opportunities. By May of 2003, AUO and Universal Display jointly displayed a low-power consumption, full-color AMOLED display combining its proprietary amorphous silicon (a-Si), thin film transistor (TFT) backplane technology with Universal Display Phosphorescent OLED (PHOLED?) technology. This latest development in October of 2004, is yet again another breakthrough for the AUO Technology Center.
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Two other AMOLED 2" models ideal for mobile phone and DSC applications, estimated for mass production in 1H2005, will be on show. With specifications of less than 1 ms response time, high contrast ratio of more than 1000:1, and ultra high viewing angle of >170 degrees, it provides the ideal small sized consumer electronics solution.