Having a thickness no greater than 1.5 mm, approximating a standard sheet of paper, paper-thin displays (PTDs) represent a new generation of ultra-thin displays. PTDs are seeing broader use in applications such as portable electronic devices, automotive displays, and retail and outdoor signage.

The main goal of this report is to provide new insights into current PTD technology, outlining technological trends, and supplying a market analysis for these products.

Specifically, the major objectives of this study are to:

•Provide a detailed review of paper-thin displays, including a description of their types and fabrication technologies
•Highlight new technological developments in PTD manufacturing, while outlining technical issues
•Review current fields of application for paper-thin displays and investigate emerging applications
•Estimate current global markets for PTDs by type, application, and region, with growth forecasts through 2015 for each market segment
•Identify important technology and market trends within each market segment
•Supply an updated review of current players in PTD technology
•Provide a description of current worldwide research activities and evaluate their impact on industry growth
•Determine trends in recently issued U.S. patents.

REASONS FOR DOING THIS STUDY

Representing innovative display technology for a new generation of devices, paper-thin displays are an increasingly important segment of the very large display industry. Paper-thin displays can be rigid or flexible, and while presently used mainly in the portable electronic device sector, they are expected to increase their penetration in many other sectors during the next 5 to 10 years. This increased market penetration will be driven by the development of new technologies that focus on the fabrication of low-cost, flexible color displays.

Over the years, beginning with the first electrochromic material discovered in the early 1700s, several key technologies have been developed that allow for the controlled transmission of light and color formation. During the 1960s, these technologies led to the fabrication of the first monochrome flat-panel displays. In subsequent years, focus shifted toward the creation of color flat-panel displays (FPDs), leading to their rapid commercialization during 1990s. In the late 1990s, other technologies were developed and/or refined, paving the way for the fabrication of ultra-thin displays. Commercialization of PTDs has expanded rapidly during the past 5 years.

The market for PTDs is currently valued at approximately $1.4 billion worldwide and continues to grow at a healthy rate.  The principal reason for doing this study is to present a current assessment of the PTD industry from both a technological and market point of view and to outline future trends and key developments.

There is also a need to evaluate the current status and future trends of the PTD industry from a global standpoint. As use of this technology expands, information on regional production, sales, and type of suppliers becomes more valuable.

An equally important reason for undertaking this study is to provide technical insights into PTD manufacturing by:

•Supplying a review of PTD types, their applications, and production methods
•Identifying current technical issues
•Providing an overview of global R&D activities related to paper-thin displays, both within public and private organizations
•Illustrating the latest technological developments.

This information can assist companies in finding opportunities for process and productivity improvements, resulting in a positive impact on future market growth.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

This study will be of primary interest to all companies that:

•Manufacture, sell, and distribute ultra-thin displays
•Supply raw materials for PTD production
•Manufacture process equipment utilized by PTD producers
•Fabricate devices that utilize PTDs (such as portable electronic devices, digital signage, electronic price tags and labels, and automotive displays)
•Provide technical and/or marketing services in conjunction with the above-mentioned products
•Are planning to enter the PTD industry as a supplier, manufacturer, or end-user.
Overall, this study applies to industry sectors such as electronics, automotive, healthcare, and consumer.

This study is mainly directed toward executives, directors, operations managers, sales and marketing managers, and strategic planners working within the above industries. Universities and research facilities may find this study to be a good source of technical information regarding PTD technology, materials, and applications, which can be used as a baseline for new or expanded R&D activities.Librarians of technical information and research centers can also use this report to provide critical data to product managers, market analysts, researchers, and other professionals needing detailed and updated insights into the PTD industry.

SCOPE OF REPORT

This study provides an updated review of PTD technology, including materials and production processes, and identifies current and emerging applications for this technology.
Analysts determine the current market status of paper-thin displays, defines trends, and presents forecasts of growth over the next 5 years. Technological issues, including the latest process developments, are also discussed.

Researchers analyze the PTD industry on a worldwide basis from the standpoint of both manufacturing and consumption. In addition, the study examines commercial and public research activities in major regions of the world. Research objectives and areas of interest related to materials, production methods, and applications of paper-thin displays are also outlined.

More specifically, this market analysis is divided into five parts. In the first part, a historical review of paper-thin displays is provided, including an outline of recent events. In addition, the report supplies a detailed description of PTD types and their fabrication processes. In this section, current and emerging applications for these products are also identified and divided by category (i.e., electronic portable devices, electronic price tags and smart labels, signs and displays for advertising, TV monitors, automotive displays, healthcare devices, safety and security devices, and other products).

The second part of the report entails a global market analysis of paper-thin displays. Current technical issues are described, followed by a review of related, recent technological developments and patent abstracts. Global revenues (sales data in millions of dollars) are presented by display type, application, and region, with actual data referring to the years 2008 and 2009, and estimated data for the year 2010.

This section concludes with a presentation of market growth trends, based on industry growth, technological trends, and regional trends. Projected revenues are reported, with forecast compound annual growth rates (CAGR) for the period 2010 through 2015.

In the third part, covering global industry structure, the report provides a list of developers and suppliers of paper-thin displays and a description of their products. The analysis includes a description of the geographical distribution of these firms and an evaluation of production versus consumption, always from a geographical standpoint. Detailed company profiles of the top industry players are also provided.

In the fourth part of this study, an analysis of industry competitiveness is performed. This analysis encompasses a review of global research and development activities, with profiles of the most important R&D players divided by region, and an outline of the most critical factors contributing to industry competitiveness.

The fifth and final section includes an extensive U.S. patent analysis, with a summary of patents related to PTD types, fabrication methods, and applications, issued during the period 2007 through 2010. Patent analysis is performed by region, country, assignee, patent category, application, and display type.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES . 1
REASONS FOR DOING THIS STUDY . 1
INTENDED AUDIENCE  2
SCOPE OF REPORT  3
METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES . 4
RELATED BCC RESEARCH STUDIES . 5
ANALYST CREDENTIALS  6
DISCLAIMER . 7

CHAPTER TWO: SUMMARY 
SUMMARY  8
SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL MARKET FOR PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS,
THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) . 9
SUMMARY FIGURE GLOBAL MARKET FOR PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS,
2008-2015 ($ MILLIONS)  9

CHAPTER THREE: OVERVIEW 
INTRODUCTION . 10
THE DISPLAY INDUSTRY . 10
TABLE 1 ADVANCED DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES  10
FIGURE 1 THE ADVANCED DISPLAY INDUSTRY: GLOBAL MARKET
SHARE BY TECHNOLOGY, 2010 (%)  11
HISTORY OF PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS AND RECENT EVENTS  12
TABLE 2 ADVANCED DISPLAYS—TECHNOLOGICAL MILESTONES  12
TABLE 2 (CONTINUED)  13
TABLE 2 (CONTINUED)  14
TABLE 2 (CONTINUED)  15
FIGURE 2 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS—WORLDWIDE PATENT
APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS ISSUED, 1995–2010 . 16
PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: TYPES, MATERIALS, AND
FABRICATION METHODS  16
RIGID AND FLEXIBLE DISPLAYS . 16
Rigid Displays  16
Flexible Displays . 17
MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES . 17
LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS . 18
Transmissive, Reflective, and Transflective LCDs  18
Basic LCD Configuration  19
Passive Matrix LCDs . 20
Twisted and Super-Twisted Nematic . 20
Active Matrix LCDs . 20
In-Plane Switching . 20
Advanced Fringe-Field Switching  21
Vertical Alignment  21
Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals . 21
Cholesteric LCDs  21
Blue Phase Mode . 22
Bistable LCDs . 22
LCD Technologies for Paper-Thin Displays . 22
POLYMER-DISPERSED LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS . 23
Encapsulation  23
Phase Separation . 23
Holography . 24
Prefabricated Templates . 24
SUSPENDED PARTICLE DISPLAYS  24
ELECTROCHROMIC DISPLAYS . 25
Electrochromic Materials  25
Tungsten Oxide-based Electrochromic Devices . 26
Features of Electrochromic Devices  26
THERMOCHROMIC DISPLAYS  27
ELECTROPHORETIC DISPLAYS 27
Basic Design . 27
Microcapsule Design  28
Main Characteristics of Electrophoretic Displays  29
TWISTING BALL DISPLAYS . 29
ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE DISPLAYS . 29
Basic Design . 29
Characteristics of OLED Displays  30
Electronics on Plastic by Laser Release . 30
MEMS DISPLAYS 31
ELECTROWETTING DISPLAYS . 31
Basic Design . 32
Characteristics of Electrowetting Displays  32
ELECTROMAGNETIC DISPLAYS . 32
PHOTONIC CRYSTAL DISPLAY . 33
CURRENT AND EMERGING APPLICATIONS FOR PAPER-THIN
DISPLAYS . 33
TABLE 3 CURRENT AND EMERGING APPLICATIONS OF PAPERTHIN
DISPLAYS . 34
SIGNS AND DISPLAYS FOR ADVERTISING  34
PRICE TAGS AND SMART LABELS . 34
TV MONITORS  35
ELECTRONIC PORTABLE DEVICES . 35
TABLE 4 ELECTRONIC PORTABLE DEVICES USING PAPER-THIN
DISPLAYS  35
SECURITY AND SAFETY DEVICES . 36
AUTOMOTIVE DISPLAYS . 36
HEALTHCARE DEVICES . 36
OTHER PRODUCTS  36

CHAPTER FOUR: GLOBAL MARKET
ANALYSIS OUTLINE  37
GLOBAL MARKET SUMMARY  38
TABLE 5 GLOBAL MARKET FOR PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS,
THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) . 39
FIGURE 3 GLOBAL MARKET FOR PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS, 2008-
2015 ($ MILLIONS) . 39
THE MARKET FOR PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS . 40
INTRODUCTION . 40
CURRENT TECHNICAL ISSUES  40
Lightweight and Small Size  40
Reliability and Legibility . 40
Flexibility . 40
Image Retention  41
Cost . 41
LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS, 2008 TO
PRESENT  41
Electrophoretic Display for Roll-to-Roll Manufacturing  41
Carbon Nanotube Display . 42
Quantum Dot Display 43
Flexible Display Utilizing a Gaseous Phase . 44
In-Plane Switching Electrophoretic Color Display  45
Smectic LCDs . 46
Smectic LCDs (Continued)  47
Electrofluidic Display  48
Electrofluidic Display (Continued) . 49
CURRENT MARKET STATUS . 50
Current Market Summary  50
TABLE 6 GLOBAL MARKET FOR PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS,
THROUGH 2010 ($ MILLIONS)  51
Revenues by Display Type  51
TABLE 7 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: GLOBAL REVENUES BY TYPE,
2010 ($ MILLIONS/%). 52
FIGURE 4 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: MARKET SHARE BY TYPE, 2010
(%) . 52
Revenues by Application . 53
TABLE 8 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: GLOBAL REVENUES BY
APPLICATION, 2010 ($ MILLIONS/%)  53
FIGURE 5 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: MARKET SHARE BY
APPLICATION, 2010 (%)  54
Revenues by Region . 54
TABLE 9 PAPER-THIN DISPLAY: REVENUES BY REGION,
THROUGH 2010 ($ MILLIONS)  55
FIGURE 6 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: MARKET SHARE BY REGION,
2010 (%)  56
MARKET GROWTH TRENDS . 56
INDUSTRY GROWTH AND TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS . 57
Electronic Portable Devices . 57
E-book Readers . 57
Color E-book Readers  57
Flexible E-Readers . 58
Tablet PCs . 58
Cell Phones and Smartphones . 59
Price Tags and Smart Labels  59
Signs and Displays for Advertising  59
TV Monitors . 60
Automotive Displays  60
Safety and Security Devices  61
Healthcare Devices  61
TABLE 10 FORECAST—DIAGNOSTIC KITS, MONITORING DEVICES,
AND PORTABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT: GLOBAL REVENUES,
2010-2015 ($ BILLIONS)  61
Other Industry Segments  62
OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS . 62
REGIONAL TRENDS  62
PROJECTED PAPER-THIN DISPLAY MARKET  63
KEY OBSERVATIONS  63
TABLE 11 FACTORS AFFECTING SALES OF PAPER-THIN
DISPLAYS, THROUGH 2015  63
TABLE 11 (CONTINUED)  64
MARKET FORECAST . 64
Revenues by Application . 64
TABLE 12 FORECAST — PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: GLOBAL
REVENUES BY APPLICATION, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) . 65
FIGURE 7 FORECAST — PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: MARKET SHARE
BY APPLICATION, 2015 (%) . 66
Revenues by Display Type  67
TABLE 13 FORECAST—PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: GLOBAL
REVENUES BY TYPE, THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) . 68
FIGURE 8 FORECAST — PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: GLOBAL MARKET
SHARE BY TYPE, 2015 (%) . 68
Revenues by Region . 69
TABLE 14 FORECAST PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: REVENUES BY
REGION, 2010 THROUGH 2015 ($ MILLIONS) . 69
FIGURE 9 FORECAST—PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: MARKET SHARE
BY REGION, 2015 (%)  70

CHAPTER FIVE: GLOBAL INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
GLOBAL INDUSTRY STRUCTURE . 71
MANUFACTURERS AND DEVELOPERS OF PAPER-THIN
DISPLAYS . 72
TABLE 15 MANUFACTURERS AND DEVELOPERS OF PAPER-THIN
DISPLAYS  72
TABLE 15 (CONTINUED)  73
TABLE 15 (CONTINUED)  74
TABLE 16 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF KEY PLAYERS, 2010
(NUMBER OF COMPANIES) . 75
FIGURE 10 MANUFACTURERS AND DEVELOPERS OF PAPER-THIN
DISPLAYS: DISTRIBUTION BY SIZE (NUMBER OF COMPANIES) . 76
FIGURE 11 HISTORICAL GROWTH OF PTD MANUFACTURERS AND
DEVELOPERS (NUMBER OF COMPANIES)  77
OTHER PLAYERS IN THE PAPER-THIN DISPLAY INDUSTRY . 77
TABLE 17 OTHER RELEVANT PLAYERS IN THE PAPER-THIN
DISPLAY INDUSTRY . 78
PTD PRODUCTION BY REGION . 78
TABLE 18 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: MANUFACTURING BY REGION,
2008–2015 (PERCENT OF SALES) . 79
PTD CONSUMPTION BY REGION  79
TABLE 19 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: CONSUMPTION BY REGION,
2008–2015 (PERCENT OF SALES) . 80
COMPANY PROFILES  80
ACREO/PAPERDISPLAY  80
AU OPTRONICS  81
AVESO  82
BRIDGESTONE . 83
Bridgestone (Continued) . 84
CHIMEI INNOLUX . 85
CITALA . 86
DAI NIPPON PRINTING  87
E INK HOLDINGS . 88
E Ink Corporation  88
Acquisition of E Ink . 89
FUJITSU  90
GPEG INTERNATIONAL . 91
KENT DISPLAYS  92
LG DISPLAY  93
LG Display (Continued) . 94
NANOX . 95
RIT DISPLAY . 95
SAMSUNG MOBILE DISPLAY  96
SIPIX IMAGING  97
TDK . 98
TOHOKU PIONEER  98
TRED DISPLAYS . 99
VARITRONIX . 99
VISIONOX  100

CHAPTER SIX: INDUSTRY COMPETITIVENESS
PTD DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES . 101
TABLE 20 ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN PTD RESEARCH,
WORLDWIDE  101
TABLE 20 (CONTINUED)  102
TABLE 20 (CONTINUED)  103
TABLE 20 (CONTINUED)  104
TABLE 20 (CONTINUED)  105
UNITED STATES  106
Arizona State University . 106
TABLE 21 ASU RESEARCH . 107
FlexTech Alliance  107
TABLE 22 FLEXTECH ALLIANCE RESEARCH  108
Massachusetts Institute of Technology  108
TABLE 23 MIT RESEARCH . 109
Stanford University . 109
TABLE 24 STANFORD UNIVERSITY RESEARCH . 110
University of California at Los Angeles 111
TABLE 25 UCLA RESEARCH  111
University of Florida . 111
TABLE 26 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH . 112
TABLE 26 (CONTINUED)  113
EUROPE . 113
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique . 113
TABLE 27 CNRS RESEARCH  114
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Institutes  114
TABLE 28 FRAUNHOFER RESEARCH  115
ASIA-PACIFIC . 115
Industrial Technology Research Institute  115
TABLE 29 ITRI RESEARCH  116
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology . 116
TABLE 30 KAIST RESEARCH . 117
Nanyang Technological University . 118
TABLE 31 NTU RESEARCH  118
University of Tokyo . 119
TABLE 32 UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO RESEARCH  119
SUMMARY OF GLOBAL R&D ACTIVITIES IN PTD
TECHNOLOGY . 119
FIGURE 12 CURRENT GLOBAL PTD RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT BY TYPE (%) . 120
FIGURE 12 (CONTINUED) . 121
FIGURE 13 CURRENT GLOBAL PTD RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT BY SUBJECT (%) . 122
INDUSTRY INITIATIVES  122
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS . 123
COST FACTOR  123
QUALITY FACTOR . 123
TECHNOLOGY FACTOR  123
MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY  124
KEY GROWTH MARKETS . 124
TABLE 33 GLOBAL GROWTH FORECAST FOR CURRENT AND
POTENTIAL PTD APPLICATIONS, THROUGH 2015  125
Electronics  125
Automotive . 125
Safety and Security . 125
Healthcare  126
DRIVING FORCES AND THEIR IMPACT ON MARKET
GROWTH  126
TABLE 34 PERCENTAGE IMPACT OF MAJOR COMPETITIVE
FACTORS ON THE GROWTH OF THE PTD MARKET, 2010–2015 127

CHAPTER SEVEN: U.S. PATENT ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION . 128
SUMMARY OF PATENTS AWARDED DURING THE PERIOD 2007
THROUGH 2010  128
TABLE 35 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS—U.S. PATENTS, 2010  129
TABLE 35 (CONTINUED)  130
TABLE 35 (CONTINUED)  131
TABLE 35 (CONTINUED)  132
TABLE 35 (CONTINUED)  133
TABLE 35 (CONTINUED)  134
TABLE 36 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS—U.S. PATENTS, 2009  134
TABLE 36 (CONTINUED)  135
TABLE 36 (CONTINUED)  136
TABLE 36 (CONTINUED)  137
TABLE 36 (CONTINUED)  138
TABLE 37 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS—U.S. PATENTS, 2008  139
TABLE 37 (CONTINUED)  140
TABLE 37 (CONTINUED)  141
TABLE 38 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS — U.S. PATENTS, 2007  141
TABLE 38 (CONTINUED)  142
TABLE 38 (CONTINUED)  143
GENERAL TRENDS. 143
TABLE 39 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: U.S. PATENT TRENDS, 2007–
2010  144
FIGURE 14 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: U.S. PATENT TRENDS, 2007–
2010  144
TRENDS BY COUNTRY AND REGION . 145
FIGURE 15 SHARES OF U.S. PATENTS RELATED TO PAPER-THIN
DISPLAYS BY REGION, 2007–2010 (%)  146
FIGURE 16 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: PATENTS BY COUNTRY, 2007–
2010 (%)  147
TRENDS BY ASSIGNEE . 148
TABLE 40 ASSIGNEES OF U.S. PATENTS RELATED TO PAPER-THIN
DISPLAYS, 2007–2010  149
TABLE 40 (CONTINUED)  150
FIGURE 17 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: SHARES OF U.S. PATENTS BY
ORGANIZATION TYPE, 2007–2010 (%)  151
TRENDS BY PATENT CATEGORY  152
FIGURE 18 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: SHARES OF U.S. PATENTS BY
CATEGORY, 2007–2010 (%) . 153
TRENDS BY APPLICATION . 153
TRENDS BY APPLICATION (CONTINUED)  154
FIGURE 19 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: SHARES OF U.S. PATENTS BY
APPLICATION, 2007–2010 (%) . 155
TRENDS BY DISPLAY TYPE  155
FIGURE 20 PAPER-THIN DISPLAYS: SHARES OF U.S. PATENTS BY
DISPLAY TYPE, 2007–2010 (%) . 156
FIGURE 20 (CONTINUED) . 157