Conventional LCDs utilize thin film transistors (TFT) using semiconductor materials such as amorphous or polycrystalline silicon. For large-area OLED displays, however, these silicon-based TFTs are not always suitable in terms of performance, stability, or uniformity.
Transparent amorphous oxides, recently emerging semiconductor materials, enable the fabrication of a new type of TFTs with high-speed, uniform and stable performance, providing a possible solution to conventional problems. These new materials can also be formed directly on plastic films at room temperature, and are transparent to visible light. Canon started researching this technology just before the emergence of these materials, and has been a leader in the field. With R&D activities ranging from fundamental research on material properties to applied research, including prototyping of OLED panels, Canon aims to develop next-generation, ultra-lightweight and flexible OLED displays.