Samsung System LSI begins development of 3 T-Con for QD-OLED

Samsung System LSI, the logic chip unit of Samsung Electronics, has begun development of three timing controller (T-Con) for quantum dot (QD)-OLED panels being developed by Samsung Display, TheElec has learned.

Samsung Display is planning to send its prototypes of QD-OLED TVs and a monitor to potential customers this month.

Samsung System LSI was currently developing three T-Con engineering samples for use in QD-OLED panels, people with direct knowledge of the matter told TheElec.

The samples are for a 4K QD-OLED TV, a 8K QD-OLED TV and a QD-OLED monitor.

T-Con is a chip that receives video data from the system-on-a-chip (SoC). It sends the data to the display driver IC.

In chip development, an engineering sample is made first. Afterwards, a customer sample is made, which improves on the engineering sample’s flaws. Once the customer sample passes the customer’s reliability test, development is complete.

Samsung Display has previously sent QD-OLED panel samples to its potential customers, but these samples were not in a completed product format and were made to inspect the quality of the panels. The samples that will be sent this month will be a prototype that is a completed product.

Potential customers for the QD-OLED panels include Samsung Electronics’ TV business unit and Japan’s Sony.

Samsung Display will be making the panels for the prototype at its Q1 line at its Asan plant.

Samsung Display likely allotted the development T-Con to Samsung System LSI for security reasons.

Samsung System LSI had been the supplier of T-Con for Samsung Display for liquid crystal display panels in the past.

Samsung Display will conduct a market review in September. If the results are favorable, it will begin production of QD-OLED TV and monitor panels in November. System LSI’s T-Con will be in the customer sample stages before November.

The Q1 line dedicated to QD-OLED production currently has a production capacity of 30,000 Gen 8.5 substrates per month. This means it can manufacture between 1.4 million to 1.5 million panels for TVs and monitors a year. 

In contrast, LG Display, which currently mass produces large-sized white OLED panels, have a total capacity of 170,000 substrates per month, over five times that of Samsung Display.