OLED display driver - Page 12

Samsung's 260K color display driver IC (DDI) for AM OLEDs utilizes 0.25um process technology to reduce the size of the device to approximately 40 percent of leading competitive models. The DDI for AMOLED features a quarter common interchange format (qCIF, 176xRGBx240 pixel) along with a 1.8 volt power level.

With its new AMOLED application, Samsung now has developed the widest range of DDI technology including STN, TFT-LCD and AMOLED.

Leadis announced a new area-color PMOLED display driver, the LDS518. This driver includes integrated display RAM, on-chip oscillator and many user programmable display features.

The LDS518 driver IC supports a maximum display resolution of 128x64 and 4-gray scale color. The company says that this is a cost-effective solution offering optimal price/performance features.

Leadis reported their Q4 2004 results today. Net sales were $33.3 million. STN sales increased 16% compared to the previous quarter, but OLED sales (PMOLED display drivers) declined 64%.

Both RiTDisplay and Univision reported their financial results for Q3 2004, and both companies report a drop in PMOLED shipments and sales.

RiTDisplay sales dropped 37% (compared to Q3 2003) to NT$379 million, due to excessive handset inventory in China. Univision's sales dropped 28% to NT$80 million, mainly due to declining shipments caused by a tight supply of OLED driver ICs.

eMagin were granted a new patent (#6,809,710) covering an innovative gray-scale pixel driver for electronic displays. The circuit effectively allows variable brightness in gray-scale OLED displays, enabling greater utility in bright sunlight applications.

emagin says that this technology will greatly facilitate systems design integration by providing an integrated solution removing the need for adding external circuit components.

Leadis reported their financial results for 3Q 2004: $40.9 million in revenues (compared to $22.3 million in Q3 2003) and net income of $5 million. Leadis also published their forecasts for Q4 2004 - with revenues expected to be in the range of $33 million to $36 million. Previous estimates were about $45 million, as Leadis says that they see lower OLED revenues in Q4.

Investors were not happy with the forecast and shares were down 36% in late trading.