3D panel production

AU Optronics (AUO) plans to start shipping glasses-free 3D displays for laptops and monitors in 2011, and the company expects that such technology will become mainstream in 1-2 years.

AUO also estimates that 3D TVs will account for about 6% of the total LCD TV shipments in 2011 (which is expected to be around 215 million TVs - so this means about 13 million 3D TVs).

AU Optronics will showcase some new 3D displays in the FPD international exhibition next week (that's in addition to the deadzone-free glasses-free 3D display they announced yesterday). The first is a 71" 21:9 3D LCD panel. It offers 240Hz refresh-rate, LED-backlit and features polarized 3D.

The second display is a 65" 3D touch panel for gaming application, which includes an infrared video camera that detects the player's movements as he or she interacts with the 3D images. Another display is a 65" QFHD 4K2K lenticular lens (glasses-free) 3D LCD TV panel. AUO says they have developed new technology that solved the problem of uneven brightness - this 3D panel has brightness as high as 500 nits with 8 viewpoints.

Finally, AUO is showing a 4" 3D touch panel for smartphones or tablet computers. It uses a light pen so that users can interact in 3D.

AU Optronics (AUO) is optimistic about 3D TV sales, and expect global shipments to reach 4-5 million in 2010. AUO plans to start making 65" 3D TV panels in 2H 2010.

Via Digitimes

Update: Sharp plans to start selling 3D TVs "before the summer"

Sharp announced their new Quatron 3D LED LCD panels. Quatron LCDs use 4 colors, and not just 3 (Red, Green, Blue and Yellow). Sharp will make the panels in sizes up to 60" and they will use active-shutter glasses for 3D images.

Sharp claim that their 3D panels will offer high brightness and low crosstalk when compared to other LCDs. They didn't say when they'll start actually making the panels.

Via AkihabaraNews

FPD China starts tomorrow, and AUO will exhibit new 3D display technologies. The first one is a 65" full-HD 3D panel, that they will start mass producing in 2H 2010. This one uses polarized 3D glasses that only weigh 10 grams, costing around $3 per pair. If you already have glasses, you can easily clip polarized lenses onto the regular frame.

AUO will also exhibit glasses-free barrier and lenticular lens displays.

AUO will also show new e-paper displays and OLED prototypes.

TCL (China's largest appliance maker) started to work on a new TV production plant. It will be used to make LCD, LED LCDs and 3D TVs. The plant will cost around $3.6 billion, and will make 14 million panels annually. 

TCL no-glasses 3D prototype

Via Current.co.au

Samsung Electronics has begun to mass-produce 3D LCD TV panels, in 40", 46" and 55". These are made with "Samsung patented technology" and will work with LED LCDs and regular LCD TVs. The panel support up to 240Hz refresh rate.

In CES Samsung has announced their first 3D TVs, the LED 9000 series, although there weren't much details. Now it's good to hear that Samsung is also preparing cheaper non-LED 3D TVs.