Applied Materials Breakthrough Brings OLED Displays to Tablets, PCs and TVs

- Applied Materials' new MAX OLED solution enables OLED displays to be manufactured on larger glass panels, bringing this cutting-edge display technology from premium smartphones to tablets, PCs and TVs

- Patented OLED pixel structure and radically different manufacturing approach improves the performance of all types of OLED displays, making them brighter, sharper, more energy efficient and longer lasting

- Integrated system combines OLED deposition and packaging technologies required to mass produce premium OLED displays

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 21, 2024 – Applied Materials today introduced MAX OLED Solution, a patented OLED pixel structure and breakthrough display manufacturing technology designed to bring cutting-edge OLED displays from premium smartphones to tablets, PCs and even TVs.

OLED is the display technology of choice for major smartphone manufacturers worldwide because of its superior display quality, lightweight and flexible form factors, and long-lasting quality. However, scaling OLED display production to larger glass panels used in tablets, PCs and TVs has proven challenging to date.

Applied Materials’ MAX OLED solution makes it easy to scale OLED manufacturing from 6th-generation* glass substrates to 8th-generation* glass substrates, which are about twice as large, and even larger glass substrates. In addition, MAX OLED uses a new way to deposit OLED materials, which can increase pixel brightness and resolution, reduce display power consumption, and extend display life.

MAX OLED solutions have attracted strong customer interest and repeated orders from several major display manufacturers. In addition, Applied Materials has also provided MAX OLED solutions to Samsung Display, one of the world's leading OLED and QD-OLED panel manufacturers. The company will introduce an Alpha system to evaluate this new technology.

"The consumer electronics industry is eager for a new breakthrough that can bring OLED technology to the hundreds of millions of tablets, PCs and TVs sold each year," said Dr. Siyuan Xie, group vice president and general manager of the Display and Flexible Technologies Division at Applied Materials. "We are honored to work with Samsung Display to bring this transformative technology to the global market."

Making OLED displays brighter, longer-lasting and more energy-efficient

OLED displays are difficult to manufacture because the materials used to emit red, green and blue light are very fragile and can be damaged if exposed to air or moisture. Applied Materials' MAX OLED solution is a breakthrough technology that uses a specially designed maskless process to deposit and encapsulate each pixel individually. This method is precise and fast, and can well maintain the purity of delicate OLED materials.

Applied Materials' proprietary solution uses selective deposition to achieve precise pixel placement accuracy, with more than double the amount of OLED material per unit area compared to earlier technologies. The technology can increase OLED display brightness and resolution by up to 3 times and 2.5 times, respectively, to approximately 2,000 pixels per square inch. The solution also reduces display power consumption by more than 30% and extends display life by up to 5 times.

“Applied Materials has achieved a true breakthrough in OLED manufacturing technology that will help manufacturers deliver better OLED displays at a more affordable price,” said Ross Young, co-founder and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC). “This technology is expected to accelerate the adoption of OLED in a wide range of markets, from tablets and PCs to automotive and AR/VR microdisplays, driving the rapid development of the entire display industry.”

New OLED Pixel Architecture, Manufacturing Process and Integrated Materials Solutions

MAX Solutions are more than just equipment: They start with a proprietary pixel architecture using a patented manufacturing process to create superior OLED pixels and displays. This manufacturing system integrates multiple key manufacturing modules into a single high-vacuum system to protect delicate OLED materials from environmental aggressors and reduce yield-impairing particles. The MAX OLED system integrates display glass handling, multiple OLED deposition steps, and OLED encapsulation. Applied Materials has validated many of the core technologies used in MAX OLED in the manufacture of large-area LCD screens with panel sizes up to Gen 10.5*.

MAX OLED solutions can reduce the environmental impact of display manufacturing by reducing energy consumption in OLED display fabs, significantly reducing the amount of OLED materials used, and eliminating the need for mask cleaning chemicals.

Expanding OLED Display Opportunities

Applied Materials is one of the world's largest providers of display manufacturing equipment, with a broad portfolio of CVD** and PVD** deposition, CVD thin film encapsulation, and electron beam (eBeam) test and inspection. With the introduction of MAX OLED solutions, Applied Materials is expected to more than double its addressable market for serving OLED display manufacturing.

*Gen 6 glass panel surface area = 2.78 m2; Gen 8 = 5.5 m2; Gen 10 = 9.9 m2

**PVD = physical vapor deposition; CVD = chemical vapor deposition

forward-looking statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the expected benefits of Applied Materials' new products and technologies, predictions of the company's business growth and market trends, industry development prospects and technological changes, as well as other statements that are not historical facts. statement. These forward-looking statements and their corresponding assumptions may be affected by risks or uncertainties, causing actual results to be significantly different from those stated or implied by the content of the statements, and therefore future performance is not guaranteed. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: failure to realize the expected benefits of our new products and technologies; the level of demand for semiconductors and our products and technologies. Customer requirements for technology and production capacity; newly launched innovative technologies and the timing of technological changes; market acceptance of existing and new products; the ability to acquire and protect intellectual property rights for technology; our ability to ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations capabilities; and other risks and uncertainties described in Applied Materials' most recent and periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Forms 10-Q and 8-K. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current estimates, forecasts and assumptions. Applied Materials disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

About Applied Materials

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMAT) is one of the leaders in materials engineering solutions and is behind nearly every new chip and advanced display produced worldwide. We help our customers make the possible possible with technologies that can change materials at the atomic level at scale. At Applied Materials, we believe our innovations enable a better future. For more information, please visit www.appliedmaterials.com.