Just in time for Christmas: Sony to market first OLED TV

October 5, 2007, Tokyo--Sony says it will launch the XEL-1, the world's first organic light emitting diode (OLED) TV, on December 1, 2007, adding a new category to its TV business. Sony's TV lineup is centered on its BRAVIA LCD TVs, and according to the company the addition of OLED TVs will provide customers with "unparalleled thinness combined with superb image quality." Going forward, Sony plans to progressively develop its OLED TV business, positioning it alongside BRAVIA with the aim of expanding its overall TV business.

Sony first began researching organic materials in 1994, and has since proceeded with the development of OLED technology targeting its use in practical applications. Sony first launched mass production of small sized, full-color OLED panels in 2004, achieving commercial use within mobile products. Sony subsequently positioned OLED as a key next generation display device, and further accelerated its research and development of OLED technology.

Following more than ten years of OLED development, Sony has accumulated numerous related core technologies, such as its proprietary "Super Top Emission" panel technology, which enhances the brightness and color reproduction capability of OLED panels, as well as manufacturing technologies gained from Sony's experience of mass-producing small-sized OLED panels.

In September 2007, Sony commenced mass production of its independently developed "Organic Panel", used in XEL-1. Additionally, in designing and manufacturing XEL-1, Sony said it has leveraged many of the technologies it has amassed throughout its product development history, including the imaging technologies accumulated since the Trinitron era, and the high-density mounting technologies gained through its mobile product development.