Epson Photo - Technology

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode)

In 2004 Epson developed the world’s first large (40”), full colour OLED display.

OLED displays use direct light emitting materials. There is therefore no need for power-hungry backlighting to produce a bright image, and the image itself is superior in terms of contrast and resolution when matched against displays currently available.

A new screen standard

Self-luminescent OLED displays offer outstanding viewing characteristics including high contrast, wide viewing angles and fast response times. Furthermore, they are widely seen as the leading candidate for the next generation of thin, lightweight displays.

Epson is actively working to develop and create the next generation of OLED displays, as the characteristics of OLED make it the ideal technology for entertainment products in the home or on the move.

How do OLEDs work?

OLED material is applied directly on to a glass substrate, which makes it possible for a single substrate to have a linear light source. This enables exactly the right amount of light to be used to irradiate a spot with extreme accuracy to form highly uniform images. It also allows for print heads to be very small and ultra thin. Soon it will be possible to merge OLED technology with Epson’s Low-Temperature Polysilicon TFT technology to achieve higher printing resolutions and cost reductions by incorporating an IC into the print head.

This new technology will play a vital role in future colour printers that are smaller, have higher resolution and faster print speeds. Epson will be increasing its efforts in research and development to realise the full potential of OLED technology.

OLED print heads

In March 2006 Epson announced the development of the world’s first print head using an OLED light source, which opens the way for future printing technology.

At present, electro-photographic printing technologies for copiers and printers use either laser or LED light sources. Epson merged many years of expertise in printing and display technology and partnered with Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd to jointly develop a super bright OLED that can be used in printing. Print-outs using a prototype have produced quality comparable or better than conventional laser printers.