Monthly Archives: October 2015

NextFlex is born

October 29, 2015

Started last year, FlexTech Alliance, a research consortium and trade association, (of which Touch Display research is a member), proposed to US government a San Jose-based hub to create the FHE MII (Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Institute) which comprises 96 companies, 11 laboratories and non-profits, 43 universities, and 15 state and regional organizations. This broad-based support underscores the market potential for flexible hybrid electronics, and reaffirms Silicon Valley’s role as an essential hub for innovation.

On August 28, 2015, The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awarded FlexTech Alliance a Cooperative Agreement to establish and manage a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) for Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE MII). The award is for $75 million in federal funding over a five-year period and is being matched by more than $96 million in cost sharing from non-federal sources, including the City of San Jose, private companies, universities, several U.S. states, and not-for-profit organizations.

On October 29, 2015, FlexTech Alliance announced the new name for FHE MII (Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Institute) to be NextFlex. It’s website is nextflex.us

Figure: NextFlex logo

nextflex logo

source: NextFlex

NextFlex will be headquartered in San Jose. The Institute will distribute R&D funds via competitively-bid project calls. Happy birthday NextFlex!

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team

Vehicle Display 2015 Conference is very successful

October 26, 2015

I just came back from the Vehicle Display 2015 Conference, at Dearborn, Michigan. It’s a very successful conference with about 200 attendees.  It’s my honor to meet some of you in person.

Figure 1: Vehicle Display 2015 conference

Vehicle display 2015 audience 2

Photo by: Dr. Jennifer Colegrove, Touch Display Research.

This conference is well mixed of market analysis, and automotive engineers’ paper of how to improve sunlight readability, reduce glare, improve color gamut of display for automotive, and discussions of Head-up display (HUD) and augmented reality for automotive. On behalf of Touch Display Research, I gave a presentation on touch panel, touchless human-machine-interface and flexible display for automotive industry. (We appreciate FlexEnable for sponsoring this speech.)

Figure 2: Dr. Jennifer Colegrove from Touch Display Research presenting

Vehicle display Jenny 2015 with flexenable

Photo by: Dr. Ruffin at Corning.

This year’s conference also have the record high number of exhibitors. Sharp won the “Best in Show” exhibitor award this year. (Futaba won last year).

Figure 3: Sharp won the “Best in Show” award at Vehicle Display 2015 conference. (From left to right: Mr. Booza, Mr.Milne, and Kondo-san.)

Vehicle display 2015 sharp

Photo by: Dr. Jennifer Colegrove, Touch Display Research.

More analysis and review of the Vehicle Display 2015 Conference can be found in the “Touch and Emerging Display” November monthly report.

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team

MyScript Digital Writing Conference and active pen market

October 19, 2015

Today I had a chance to attend the MyScript’s Digital Writing Conference at Marriott, Santa Clara, California. It’s a very nice conference with about 200 attendees.  MyScript CEO Paddy Padmanabhan joked that “If we host this conference in 1998, there would probably be 4 attendees. I’m glad today we have such a big crowd.”

Figure: MyScript CEO Paddy Padmanabhan gave welcome speech

MyScript CEO

Photo by: Touch Display Research, Dr. Jennifer Colegrove

My old industry friend, Mr. Gary Baum, VP of Marketing at MyScript introduced MyScript’s interactive ink management framework. He indicated, “With this next generation ink management technology, MyScript is dramatically improving the user experience, revealing the potential Power of Ink. Your handwriting, whether it is TEXT, MATH or DIAGRAM is instantly available as a formatted digital document.”

Figure: MyScript VP, Mr. Gary Baum, presenting

MyScript Gary

Photo by: Touch Display Research, Dr. Jennifer Colegrove

At this conference, my Intel alumni and president of USI (Universal Stylus Initiative), Mr. Pete Mueller introduced USI and its work on active pen.

Figure: USI president, Mr. Pete Mueller presenting

USI Pete

Photo by: Touch Display Research, Dr. Jennifer Colegrove

In the Active Pen Technologies, Supply Chain and Market Forecast report, Touch Display Research forecasts that the market for active-pen writing modules (including pen sensor, one pen, and the controller IC) will increase from $931 million in 2014 to $4.17 billion in 2020.

Figure 3. Active pen market forecast to 2020

active pen forecast with TDR

Source: Touch Display Research, Active Pen Technologies, Supply Chain and Market Forecast Report, 2014

More analysis of the Digital Writing Conference can be found in the “Touch and Emerging Display” monthly report.

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team

 

RitDisplay flexible OLED display and ecosystem of over 180 companies

October 16, 2015

At Touch Taiwan 2015, I had a chance to visit RitDisplay booth. RitDisplay showed two flexible PMOLEDs: one is fixed curved, one is bendable in a box. Visitors can bend the display by pushing a button outside of the box.

Figure: RitDisplay flexible OLED demo

RitDisplay flexible PMOLED with TDR

Photo by: Touch Display Research, Dr. Jennifer Colegrove

RitDisplay plans to mass produce the flexible PMOLED by end of this year.

The flexible OLED Display Industry Ecosystem includes over 180 Companies and Research Institutes. There are 14 display manufacturers are (or will soon) producing flexible OLED.

Figure 1. Flexible OLED display industry ecosystem with over 180 companies and research institutes

Flexible OLED 180 ecosys

Source: Touch Display Research, Flexible OLED Display Technologies and Market Forecast 2015 Report, August 2015

The Flexible OLED Display Technologies and Market Forecast 2015 report is available immediately and includes a PowerPoint file (over 300 pages) and an Excel database.

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team,  www.TouchDisplayResearch.com

 

Applied Materials and flexible OLED display ecosystem of over 180 companies

October 13, 2015

This week, Applied Materials announced two new systems that enable the volume production of flexible OLED displays for mobile products and TVs: the Applied AKT-20K(TM) TFE PECVD* and Applied AKT-40K(TM) TFE PECVD. These equipment could build barrier films with very low water and oxygen penetration rate.

“The advances in size, resolution, picture quality and form factor creates considerable market opportunities for display makers to bring new flexible products to market,” said Dr. Brian Shieh, vice president and general manager of Applied’s Display Products Group.

The flexible OLED Display Industry Ecosystem includes over 180 Companies and Research Institutes. Thin film barrier for OLED technology attracted 22 companies working on it; 34 companies are active on manufacture equipment; 30 companies are active on flexible substrate.

Figure 1. Flexible OLED display industry ecosystem with over 180 companies and research institutes

Flexible OLED 180 ecosys

Source: Touch Display Research, Flexible OLED Display Technologies and Market Forecast 2015 Report, August 2015

The Flexible OLED Display Technologies and Market Forecast 2015 report is available immediately and includes a PowerPoint file (over 300 pages) and an Excel database.

You can subscribe on our website: www.touchdisplayresearch.com in the Market Research Report page or by email: jc@touchdisplayresearch.com

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team

Vizio to release quantum dot TV and quantum dot market forecast

Oct 6, 2015

Today, Vizio released its quantum dot TV on its website. Vizio indicated “The 65” Reference Series delivers exceptional levels of color variety, precision and saturation using a specialized technology containing billions of light-conducting crystals.”

Quantum dot technology could improve Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) dramatically in terms of color gamut, color accuracy, and reducing power consumption. This is one of the biggest breakthrough technologies for LCD in recent several years.  Cadmium-free quantum dot is entering the market in 2015.

Touch Display Research forecasts that the quantum dot display and lighting component market will surpass $2 billion by 2016 and reach $10.6 billion by 2025. Over sixty companies are working on quantum dot materials and quantum dot components.

Figure 1. Quantum Dot Display and Lighting Component Market Forecast (2015 to 2025)

QD forecast 2015

Source: Touch Display Research, Quantum Dot Display and Lighting Technologies and Market Forecast Report, Second Edition, 2015

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team

Touchless Human-Machine-Interaction (HMI) Sensor Market has attracted over 200 companies

October 6, 2015

Touchless Human-Machine-Interaction sensors include voice recognition, gesture control, eye tracking, proximity touch, motion sensors, short-range wireless interaction and others.

This market is gaining momentum:

  • Microsoft Windows 10 OS added two touchless HMI features: voice control and facial recognition.
  • Apple recently acquired two touchless HMI companies.
  • Facebook joined the touchless HMI wagon in 2014 by acquiring Oculus. In 2015, Facebook/Oculus acquired another two touchless HMI companies.
  • Augmented reality and virtual reality devices “love” touchless HMI sensors, since they rely on touchless HMI sensors for sensory inputs to function smoothly, and deliver the cool imagery and features.
  • Google announced radar-based gesture control project Soli in 2015.

Over 200 touchless sensor suppliers, system integrators, and brand companies working on touchless HMI sensors. Camera-based gesture technology attracted 58 companies working on it; 49 companies are active on motion sensor fusion; 30 companies are active on voice recognition.

Figure 1. Touchless HMI Sensor Technologies and Companies

touchless company number 2015

Source: Touch Display Research, Touchless HMI Sensor Market 2015 Report, October 2015

Thanks for reading,

Jennifer and team