05.30.19
Himax Technologies, Inc. launched its flexible OLED automotive display driver and timing controller for BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., China’s largest display manufacturer.
Himax’s technology has been featured in BOE’s automotive applications presented at the Society for Information Display Display Week 2019.
Compared to traditional TFT LCD displays, OLED displays’ superior image quality, lightweight, slim design and form factor advantage, have contributed to its increasing penetration in the smartphone market over the past few years.
With more OLED capacity becoming available, OLED displays are gaining traction in the automotive market as they provide better display performance and greater design flexibility to attract more consumers. The commercialization of flexible OLED displays has further enabled automotive makers to create a design revolution in cars that are not limited only to the dashboard and the center console. There are many new applications that displays can address as they become thin, light, shatterproof and conformable to any surface.
Leveraging its chip-on-film (COF) packaging, Himax’s flexible OLED display driver technology was adopted by BOE in its 12.3-inch three-unit curved flexible OLED automotive displays for cockpit areas with only 0.99 mm bezels. This brand-new in-vehicle display application aims to provide better audiovisual experience for car users. In addition to its OLED driver, Himax has also developed a customized timing controller for BOE to manufacture its curved flexible OLED automotive displays thinner and lighter.
“Himax’s automotive display driver IC grew 44% year-over-year in 2018, and we now command more than 30% of the global automotive display driver IC market,” said Jordan Wu, president and CEO of Himax Technologies. “We are the leader in all key technologies including TDDI, AMOLED and local dimming timing controllers. The collaboration with BOE on flexible OLED automotive displays not only represents a new growth opportunity but also a clear conviction of our technology leadership. We expect shipments to start 2H 2019 for customers’ new product launches in 2020.”