Cheaper, brighter, better – LG unveils its OLED “FLiPP” technology
LG’s OLED manufacturing tech has just received a HUGE upgrade
LG Display has unveiled its new FLiPP (FMM-Less innovative Pixel Patterning) OLED manufacturing technology, which LG believes will transform the OLED monitor and TV markets. LG calls this technology “a dream OLED patterning method”, as it should allow LG to make brighter, longer-lasting, and more affordable OLED screens.
Instead of using Fine Metal Masks, which act as stencils through which subpixels are applied, FLiPP eliminates the mask and its downsides. With this new technology, LG has improved the aperture ratio of its pixels, using the area taken up by metal masks as additional pixel space. This increases pixel space by 55%, giving pixels a larger area for light to escape. As such, this tech can increase OLED brightness by 1.6 times, and increase display longevity by 2.4 times. Additionally, this tech reduces power draw by 13%.
With improved light utilisation, power efficiency increases and the display retains less heat. This lowers burn-in risks and makes FLiPP OLED screens brighter.
More versatile manufacturing with LG FLiPP OLED tech
With their FLiPP technology, LG no longer needs to create new Fine Metal Masks (FMM) whenever it changes its panel size, screen resolution, or pixel layout. This lowers LG’s expenses and allows the company to produce more screen types. This should allow LG to create OLED displays with a greater variety of screen sizes and resolutions. Additionally, this new technique avoids the “sag” that the centre of large fine metal masks can have. This makes producing large OLED screens easier by avoiding misalignment and pixel defects.
By using full 8.5th generation mother glass substrates (instead of divided substrates), LG can increase its glass utilisation efficiency by 64% using FLiPP instead of traditional FMM OLED manufacturing. This should greatly reduce LG’s material costs, increase productivity, and lower OLED panel costs.
We were able to successfully realise FLiPP, a next-generation OLED patterning technology referred to as a ‘dream technology,’ by bringing together our proprietary WOLED technologies and know-how.
Through our participation in IMID, we will lead next-generation OLED technologies and accelerate market differentiation.
– Choi Young-seok, CTO at LG Display
LG has been freed from OLED panel size constraints
LG can, at least in theory, use its FLiPP technology to create OLED screens between 1-inch and 100-inch sizes. This tech can be used to create conventional panels as well as smaller panels for VR and AR displays. This versatility makes FLiPP the “ultimate technology” for OLED production.
LG can use this technology to create superior OLED screens in a wider range of sizes and resolutions. This will differentiate LG from other OLED screen manufacturers and allow them to enter more areas of the broader display market. This tech can create 1-inch screens for wearable devices, ultra-large TVs, and everything in between.
Using this tech, LG plans to start mass producing screens as early as late 2027. This could make LG’s 2028 and 2029 OLED screen lineups incredibly exciting!
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