OLED manufacturers and researchers contemplate technology disruption

Manufacturers of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are pushing display products and technology into an opening window of market opportunity to compete with liquid-crystal diodes (LCDs). Polymer-based technology may ultimately offer needed efficiency advantages over small molecules in making it through the window. Makers of test-and-measurement equipment are hoping to pull OLEDs through the window by providing a steady and substantial market for early OLED technology with steady and substantial revenue for further development of OLEDs toward widespread consumer applications. Concerns such as these were voiced by attendees and speakers at the OLED 2001 conference held in November in San Diego, CA, sponsored by Intertech (Portland, ME).