Monthly Archives: August 2018

Interview Plastic Logic’s CEO about flexible display

August 28th, 2018 By Jennifer Colegrove Ph.D. Principal Analyst, Touch Display Research Inc.

This week, Touch Display Research interviewed Plastic Logic’s CEO, Mr. Tim Burne, about their flexible e-paper display and flexible touch screen. Mr. Tim Burne joined Plastic Logic in 2013 and became the CEO in 2015. Mr. Burne indicated Plastic Logic’s organic TFT (OTFT) backplane is very flexible and robust, thus it is very suitable for the curved wearable devices and many other applications.

Figure. e-paper display on wearable device

source: Touch Display Research Inc.

I tried on the bracelet with a flexible curved e-paper display, see picture here.

More information of the interview and analysis can be found in the Touch and Emerging Display monthly report and online market analysis articles for members.

 

3M’s metal mesh touch screen patents and lawsuits interview

August 24, 2018  By Jennifer Colegrove, Ph.D. Principal Analyst, Touch Display Research Inc.

This week 3M announced a patent infringement lawsuit again a touch panel supplier Tovis, its subsidiary Tovis North America, and Scientific Games Corporation. The suit alleges that certain Tovis touch display products which are used by Scientific Games in their gaming machines infringe 3M’s U.S. Patents 8,179,381; 9,823,786; 8,274,494; and 8,704,799.

In the “ITO-replacement: transparent conductor market 2017 report, Seventh edition”, Touch Display Research profiled over three hundred companies working on non-ITO transparent conductors. Metal mesh is one of the most popular transparent conductor materials and is widely used in projected capacitive touch sensors for smart phones, active pen touch tablets and notebooks, and in large-format, digital touch signage.

Figure: ITO Replacement 2017 Report

Source: Touch Display Research Inc., ITO-Replacement Report, February 2017

Earlier this year, 3M filed a similar patent infringement lawsuit against Elo Touch Solutions Inc.

“3M invests substantially in research and development to create innovative products for our customers,” said Makoto Ishii, vice president and general manager, 3M Display Materials and Systems Division. “We will defend our intellectual property protecting those investments against unauthorized use and infringement by metal mesh manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, and others making use of 3M’s intellectual property rights.”

Touch Display Research interviewed Mr. Scott Hagermoser, Global Business Manager of 3M Touch Systems about metal mesh patents and the lawsuit. I asked that since metal mesh is a widely used ITO-replacement transparent conductor, what was the optimal result that 3M expected from this legal action. Mr. Hagermoser indicated, “3M doesn’t want to be overly disruptive to the touch industry; we are not a patent troll organization. We offer to license our metal mesh technologies so we can get compensation for our investment.”

Metal mesh suppliers have different patterns and structures, such as one film with two sides of metal mesh, or two films where each side has one metal mesh.  I asked if it was possible that some metal mesh companies could avoid 3M’s metal mesh patents. Mr. Hagermoser indicated 3M had many claims in their metal mesh patents, and the details have to be left to the lawyers and engineers to figure out.

I asked if 3M is also suing Microsoft for the metal mesh, Mr. Hagermoser said that he won’t comment on that.

I’ve been the first industry analyst to write market research reports about the touch screen industry since 2006. When I saw the trends of new transparent conductive material used on touch screens, I published the industry’s first “ITO-Replacement: Transparent Conductor Market Report” in 2013. Many touch screen manufacturers, display manufacturers, OEM/ODMs are my good industry friends. I don’t like to see them sue each other. However, on the other hand, I don’t like the thought of intellectual property theft. We should play the game fairly. I recommend when your company manufactures or purchases metal mesh touch screens, you inquire if that touch screen is clear from others patents.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Jennifer Colegrove and team

Online market analysis articles for members this week

Flexible curved foldable display market forecast to 2027

August 22, 2018, by Jennifer Colegrove Ph.D. Principal Analyst, Touch Display Research Inc.

This article is for members only. To become a member, please subscribe in the membership page. Thanks. If you are already a member, you can log in and see the full article. Thanks.

Anti-fingerprint coatings comparison and suppliers

August 20, 2018, by Jennifer Colegrove Ph.D. Principal Analyst, Touch Display Research Inc.

This article is for members only. To become a member, please subscribe in the membership page. Thanks. If you are already a member, you can log in and see the full article. Thanks.

Micro LED and mini LED display market forecast to 2028

August 18, 2018, by Jennifer Colegrove Ph.D. Principal Analyst, Touch Display Research Inc.

This article is for members only. To become a member, please subscribe in the membership page. Thanks. If you are already a member, you can log in and see the full article. Thanks.

Tesla’s touch displays

August 16, 2018, by Jennifer Colegrove Ph.D. Principal Analyst, Touch Display Research Inc.

This article is for members only. To become a member, please subscribe in the membership page. Thanks. If you are already a member, you can log in and see the full article. Thanks.

Micro LED and mini LED displays definition

August 7, 2018, by Jennifer Colegrove Ph.D. Principal Analyst, Touch Display Research Inc.

Micro LED and mini LED displays are the emerging display technologies currently. They have the potential to disrupt the whole display industry due to their benefits of high brightness, wide color gamut, low power consumption, fast response time, etc.

Touch Display Research defines micro LEDs are 99 micron meter (µm) or smaller size for each edge (or diameter if it is round shape). While mini-LED is from 100 micron to 300 micron meter (µm) for each edge (or diameter if it is round shape).

In the recently published “Micro & mini LED Technologies, Supply Chain and Market Forecast 2018-2028 Report,” Touch Display Research Inc., a market research and consulting firm, analyzed all the methods to fabricate micro and mini LED displays along with their supply chains. More than 120 companies and research institutes working on micro LED and mini LED display are profiled in the report.

Figure 1. Micro & mini LED Technologies, Supply Chain and Market Forecast 2018-2028 Report

Source: Touch Display Research, August 2018

Our survey found that the micro and mini LED display are gaining momentum. There are billion dollar opportunities for LED manufacturers, semiconductor supplier, equipment manufacturers, transparent conductor suppliers, and display companies. The “Micro and mini LED report” sample is available upon request.

  • All the methods to fabricate micro and mini LED displays along with their supply chains are analyzed and put into 15 method categories.
  • This report profiled over 120 companies and research institutes working on micro LED and mini LED display and backlight technologies.
  • Colegrove, author of this report, has performed many first hand surveys and interviews with many micro LED and mini LED suppliers and display suppliers.
  • Market data in the report includes 11 years forecasts (from 2018 to 2028).
  • Challenges are analyzed. Business strategy recommendations are provided in the report as well.
  • Analysis of the BOM of the Samsung’s “The Wall” digital signage.
  • This report also provides the Global display market forecast with details by display technologies to 2028: LCD, OLED, EPD, Micro & Mini LED display, and other display technologies.
  • Regional analysis is also provided in this report.

Reasons to purchase:

  • Find your potential clients or partners from the list of over 120 companies
  • Understand micro and mini LED technologies, landscape and choose the right direction to enter
  • Know the micro LED and mini LED challenges, market status, and future
  • Obtain market intelligence, find out the market trends and profit from it
  • Know your competitors
  • Invest in the right direction, avoid costly wrong investment
  • Empower your business planning, make fact-based decisions

 

The “Micro & mini LED Technologies, Supply Chain and Market Forecast 2018-2028 Report” is available immediately.

PowerPoint file >240 pages
Excel database Profiles >120 companies and research institutes, market forecast 2018 to 2028 with Unit, ASP, Revenue, Summary and comparison of 15 fabrication technologies
Published time Aug, 6th,  2018
Price $3950 for company with <3 user. $4950 for company with 3 or more users
Bonus Client can have a 30-minute free phone call with the author: Dr. Jennifer Colegrove, within 3 months of the purchase

 

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

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Colegrove and team