Traditionally, applications for LCDs are notebook computer and desktop monitors. LCDs are expected to be used more across various applications, and this study focuses on the trends, challenges, and factors driving market growth. Also included are product, technology, and regional market analyses, along with a competitive analysis. This research service provides the necessary business intelligence to accelerate growth in a fast-paced market. The scope includes a market forecast for the geographic regions of Asia-Pacific (APAC), North America, Europe, and Rest of World.
LCDs are thin, light, flat displays that consist of liquid crystal molecules sandwiched between two transparent electrodes and two polarizing filters. When an electric current is passed through certain areas, electrostatic forces twist the molecules. The twist in the molecules changes the twist of the light passing through the molecules, which ensures different degrees of light to pass through or blocks the light through the polarizing filters. LCDs are of two types: AMLCDs and PMLCDs.
Active Matrix LCDs (AMLCDs)
AMLCDs refer to a class of displays in which the screen is refreshed more frequently than in conventional passive-matrix displays. Most AMLCDs are made by sandwiching a film containing tiny amorphous silicon (a-Si) transistors between two plates of glass. They can achieve high contrast and brightness by the application of a voltage across the horizontal and vertical wires between the two glass plates. This is balanced by using a small transistor inside each pixel to amplify the voltage when so instructed.
The two types of active-matrix display are thin film transistor (TFT) and low temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT. Key features of AMLCD are color and high information content. Some key applications include notebook computers, monitors, LCD TVs, kiosks, wireless handsets, and color graphic displays.
Thin Film Transistor (TFT) LCDs
TFT LCDs are fabricated with a glass substrate on the bottom, a color filter substrate on the top, and liquid crystal in between. New technological developments are addressing brightness and response time problems associated with TFT LCDs. Key applications for TFT LCDs include notebook computers, desktop monitors, mobile telephones, TVs, and camera/camcorders.
PMLCDs
PMLCDs consist of closely spaced, transparent, horizontal metal electrodes on one glass plate and vertical electrodes on the other. Key applications for PMLCDs include watches, calculators, cell phones, PDAs, office products, and portable instruments. Types of PMLCD include twisted nematic (TN) LCD, super twisted nematic (STN) LCD, and color STN LCD.
Geographic Segmentation
North America (NA) and Europe (EU): NA includes the United States and Canada. Europe includes the European Union (E.U.) nations and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries in Europe.
China
South Korea
Japan
Rest of Asia (ROA): This region includes Central Asia (other than China), CIS nations in Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Armenia), East Asia, Australia, Taiwan and Oceania.
Key Questions This Study Will Answer
- Is the LCD market growing? How long will it continue to grow, and at what rate?
- Is this an industry or a market? Will these companies continue to exist, or will they be acquired by other companies? Will the products become features in other markets?
- Which are the high-growth segments/cash cows, and how is the market segmented in terms of applications?
- Are the products offered today meeting customers' needs, or is additional development needed?
- Are the vendors in the space ready to go it alone, or do they need partnerships to take their business to the next level?