Are AM display drivers the best entry point?

OLEDs have been under development for longer than TFTCs and are now hitting the market first. They are worth mentioning because active matrix versions with TFTCs on rigid substrates are now sold. Within a few years versions on polymer film are planned. Some believe that these drivers will be an "easy" first application of their flexible TFTCs because they are low frequency. However, OLEDs are current-driven and this is very demanding for today's electrically poor TFTC interconnects and transistors. Driving today's LCDs may not be attractive because TFTCs may offer little advantage over silicon chips as drivers given the rigid substrates needed.

 

However, flexible, polymer film LCDs are being developed, so we can see a spectrum of difficulty facing those TFTC developers wishing to tackle flexible display drivers first. This is shown in the figure below. Time will tell whether those choosing to drive OLEDs are trying to run before they can walk (as Siemens allege) or are choosing a sensible early application for TFTCs.

 

Much depends on the availability of suitable LCDs and OLEDs on polymer film. It is not just a wait for suitable drive circuits. Even then, very small silicon chips on polymer film may act as adequate drive circuits, despite the fact that leaders such as Alien Technology are currently having yield and other problems with such tiny silicon chips in display drivers.