LG Display 技术研讨会披露 FLiPP 无掩膜 OLED 路线：优先笔记本/显示器，但仍处技术开发阶段、无量产时间表与客户

LG Display to Prioritize FLiPP OLEDs for Laptops, Monitors < Display Panel < 기사본문 - The Elec Inc.
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LG Display to Prioritize FLiPP OLEDs for Laptops, Monitors
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From left, Kim Eung-yong, research fellow at LG Display; Choi Young-seok, chief technology officer; and Cho Heung-ryeol, head of the Next-Generation Display Division, explain FLiPP technology at the company's online technical seminar held on October 8. (Photo=LG Display)
LG Display plans to prioritize its next-generation organic light-emitting diode (OLED) patterning technology, FLiPP, for IT products such as laptops and monitors, while leaving open the possibility of future smartphone applications. The company will spend about a year reviewing how existing liquid crystal display (LCD) and OLED production equipment can be reused or modified to reduce capital investment.
At an online technical seminar held on October 8, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Choi Young-seok said FLiPP remains in the technology development stage, with mass production targeted for the coming years. OLED commercialization typically progresses through three stages: technology development, product development and mass production. The specific timeline will depend on customer acquisition, product specifications and requested supply schedules.
Preparing production facilities will also take about a year. Cho Heung-ryeol, head of the Next-Generation Display Division, said LG Display would determine which equipment from existing LCD and white OLED (WOLED) production lines could be reused as-is, which required modifications and which would need to be purchased. The company aims to minimize new investment by maximizing the use of existing facilities.
FLiPP, short for FMM-Less innovative Pixel Patterning, forms red, green and blue (RGB) pixels without a fine metal mask (FMM). Conventional RGB OLED manufacturing selectively deposits organic emissive materials through microscopic openings in a metal mask. FLiPP instead deposits the materials across the glass substrate, applies a protective layer and uses photolithography and etching to remove unwanted portions. LG Display began developing the technology in July 2025 and has demonstrated it on an eighth-generation glass substrate.
In conventional eighth-generation FMM production, the mother glass is cut in half to prevent the metal mask from sagging in the center. By eliminating the mask, FLiPP can process the mother glass without cutting it in half. For a 23.5-inch panel, the panel utilization rate increases from 75% with conventional FMM to more than 93%. Organic emissive material utilization also improves from 40% to 74%.
LG Display has adapted the inline deposition technology used in its existing WOLED production lines for FLiPP. The method performs multiple deposition steps continuously as the glass substrate moves through the production line. Conventional FMM processes require repeated alignment and separation of the mask and substrate for each deposition step. FLiPP eliminates these operations, reducing deposition time by about 40%.
The company also highlighted differences between FLiPP and competing technologies, including Visionox's ViP and Japan Display Inc.'s (JDI) eLEAP. All three use photolithography-based approaches to form RGB pixels without an FMM. LG Display emphasized its combination of large-area deposition technology developed for WOLED manufacturing with its expertise in OLED materials and device design.
Cho said that although the basic concept of forming RGB pixels without an FMM is similar across the technologies, this does not mean they offer identical processes or performance. He identified the ability to form RGB pixels directly on an uncut eighth-generation mother glass substrate as FLiPP's key differentiator.
FLiPP also improves the pixel aperture ratio, which measures the proportion of a pixel's area that emits light. LG Display said the aperture ratio increases to 65%, from 42% with conventional FMM. The larger light-emitting area can be used to increase luminance by 1.6 times, extend lifespan by 2.4 times or reduce power consumption by 13%, depending on the product's design priorities.
LG Display will initially focus on IT OLED applications, including laptops and monitors. Choi said the IT OLED market has yet to mature sufficiently and that conventional FMM manufacturing faces challenges in addressing both cost and technical requirements. Smartphone OLEDs and large-area WOLED panels will continue to use their established production processes for now.
The company expects FMM, open metal mask (OMM) and FLiPP processes to coexist, with each used according to the requirements and competitive advantages of individual products.
FLiPP supports both single-stack OLED and tandem OLED structures. Tandem OLEDs stack multiple light-emitting units to improve luminance and lifespan. LG Display said a single-stack FLiPP structure could deliver performance comparable to that of conventional FMM-based tandem OLEDs. Adding a tandem structure could further improve performance.
The company is targeting resolutions of up to 1,000 pixels per inch (PPI), although further technical verification is required to establish feasibility.
LG Display will determine the scale of its investment after completing its review of existing production facilities. Before mass production can begin, the company must also secure customers and verify performance for individual products.
[LG Display FLiPP Technology Online Seminar]
(Opening Remarks by Choi Young-seok, CTO)
"FLiPP originated from removing the fine metal mask (FMM), which has been a technical limitation in conventional OLED manufacturing. FMM has been used as a standard technology for forming red, green and blue (RGB) pixels in small- and medium-sized OLEDs, such as those used in smartphones and tablets. However, it has limitations when it comes to larger panels and higher resolutions.
"By eliminating the FMM, FLiPP makes it easier to expand the OLED light-emitting area and increase panel size and resolution. It can also improve production flexibility and efficiency. LG Display has applied 22 years of accumulated OLED research, development and mass-production experience to FLiPP, combining expertise across OLED materials, devices, processes and equipment.
"As OLED technology becomes more sophisticated, precise and differentiated patterning technologies will become increasingly important. Through FLiPP, we aim to overcome OLED's technical limitations and strengthen our technological competitiveness in the next-generation display market."
(Technology Presentation by Cho Heung-ryeol, Head of the Next-Generation Display Division)
"OLED manufacturing methods are broadly classified into FMM and open metal mask (OMM) processes. FMM selectively deposits RGB organic materials through a metal mask. Because it can form RGB pixels independently, it offers advantages in power consumption, but it has limitations when scaling up panel size.
"OMM deposits organic materials across the entire substrate. While this approach is advantageous for large-area production, it cannot independently form RGB pixels, so color filters and similar components are used.
"FLiPP combines OMM's large-area deposition approach with the ability to form individual RGB pixels. After OLED organic materials are deposited across the substrate, photolithography and etching are used to leave only the required RGB pixels.
"Three technologies are essential to this process. First, an In-Cap technology is needed to protect OLED organic materials from moisture and chemical substances. Technologies for forming electrodes for independent pixel driving and precisely etching deposited organic materials are also core components.
"FLiPP can expand the light-emitting area compared with FMM, improving luminance and lifespan or reducing power consumption. Independently optimizing device structures for each RGB color is also expected to improve color gamut and viewing angles.
"There are differences in the manufacturing process as well. In FMM production, substrates move through individual chambers, with mask alignment and deposition repeated at each stage. FLiPP can use inline deposition, in which the substrate moves continuously through the process.
"In addition, eighth-generation glass substrates can be processed as full mother glass without being cut in half. This improves organic material utilization and substrate area utilization.
"LG Display has accumulated mass-production experience in both large-area white OLED (WOLED) and small- and medium-sized RGB OLEDs. We plan to draw on this experience to further refine FLiPP and strengthen our competitiveness in the IT OLED market."
[Q&A]
Q. When will FLiPP enter mass production, and what development stages remain?
A. Choi Young-seok, CTO: OLED commercialization proceeds through three stages: technology development, product development and mass production. FLiPP is currently in the technology development stage, so it is too early to specify a mass-production date. The schedule will be determined in consultation with customers after they are secured, taking their requested supply schedules into account.
Q. Does LG Display plan to transition all OLED production to FLiPP?
A. Choi Young-seok, CTO: We plan to apply FLiPP first to IT products such as laptops and monitors where customer demand exists. Smartphone OLEDs and WOLED panels are already being mass-produced reliably using established processes, so there is no need to convert all production to FLiPP at this stage. Applications could expand depending on future customer demand and market conditions. Existing WOLED lines are core assets with proven yields and cost competitiveness. Operating WOLED and FLiPP in parallel will help optimize production efficiency.
Q. How does FLiPP differ from competing technologies such as JDI's eLEAP and Visionox's ViP?
A. Cho Heung-ryeol, head of the Next-Generation Display Division: JDI has eLEAP, while Visionox has ViP. The basic concept of forming RGB pixels without an FMM is similar, but similar concepts do not necessarily produce identical technologies or performance. FLiPP combines multiple processes, materials and device structures, drawing on LG Display's accumulated expertise in process engineering, equipment, materials, design and OLED devices. Its biggest differentiator is the ability to form RGB pixels on an uncut eighth-generation mother glass substrate.
Q. How much manufacturing cost can FLiPP save by eliminating the FMM?
A. Kim Eung-yong, research fellow: Eliminating the FMM reduces expenses associated with mask manufacturing, maintenance and spare masks, as well as quality costs arising from mask-related defects. For a single model, annual costs for mask production, maintenance and defect-related quality issues can amount to hundreds of billions of won. FLiPP can eliminate these expenses. Its inline deposition process and ability to use an uncut eighth-generation mother glass substrate also improve material utilization and cost competitiveness.
Q. What are the investment advantages of FLiPP compared with new eighth-generation OLED production facilities?
A. Choi Young-seok, CTO: FLiPP is designed to produce panels of different sizes and for different applications while leveraging existing production infrastructure. This allows the company to pursue greater production efficiency with a relatively lower investment burden than building new eighth-generation OLED facilities.
Q. Existing WOLED facilities use bottom-emission structures. Can they be used to produce FLiPP panels with top-emission structures?
A. Cho Heung-ryeol, head of the Next-Generation Display Division: FLiPP uses a top-emission structure. Even when existing WOLED production facilities are reused, FLiPP's device structure can be configured for top emission. This enables the company to target the performance requirements of IT OLED products.
Q. Can FLiPP support mass production of tandem OLEDs? Are there limitations on panel size or resolution?
A. Cho Heung-ryeol, head of the Next-Generation Display Division: FLiPP can accommodate tandem structures as well as touch and various sensor functions. A single-stack FLiPP structure alone can achieve performance comparable to conventional FMM-based tandem OLEDs. Adding a tandem structure is expected to widen the performance gap further. Whether tandem structures are adopted will depend on product performance requirements and the degree of differentiation from competing products.
Panel sizes could range from smartwatches to televisions measuring 100 inches or more. Resolutions could span from those used in large, lower-resolution panels to ultra-high resolutions for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) displays. Technical challenges remain, but we do not see fundamental limitations on panel size or resolution.
Q. When did FLiPP development begin, what was the biggest technical challenge, and how did WOLED manufacturing experience help?
A. Kim Eung-yong, research fellow: Full-scale development began around July 2025 and has continued for more than a year. FLiPP's core processes are organic material deposition and photopatterning, both of which require extremely precise process control. The biggest challenge was maintaining uniform process quality from the center to the edges of an eighth-generation glass substrate measuring approximately 2.2 by 2.5 meters.
LG Display drew on deposition technology and mass-production experience accumulated through its existing eighth-generation OLED facilities to shorten development time. This experience is also expected to help the company achieve high initial yields when mass production begins.
Q. Will FLiPP be used for smartphone OLEDs? How does its resolution target compare with the 500–600 PPI typical of current smartphone OLEDs?
A. Choi Young-seok, CTO: Our initial focus is IT OLEDs. Since smartphone OLEDs and WOLED panels are already being produced reliably with existing facilities, we see no immediate need to apply FLiPP to smartphones. However, FLiPP's higher aperture ratio could also be advantageous for smartphone displays. We are targeting resolutions of up to 1,000 PPI, although the feasibility of achieving that resolution still requires technical verification. For now, smartphone OLEDs will continue to use conventional FMM processes.
Q. LG Display previously described the IT OLED market as immature. Does prioritizing FLiPP for IT OLEDs signal a change in that assessment?
A. Choi Young-seok, CTO: We still believe the IT OLED market has not fully matured. Current IT OLED products face both pricing and technical challenges, and the display industry recognizes that conventional FMM processes alone may not resolve them. Rather than simply entering an established market, we believe FLiPP can help address these challenges and open up the IT OLED market.
Q. What is FLiPP's productivity target for mass production, and how much existing LCD and OLED equipment can be reused or modified?
A. Cho Heung-ryeol, head of the Next-Generation Display Division: There is a more than twofold productivity difference between FMM and OMM processes. FLiPP aims to leverage the productivity advantages associated with OMM. LG Display has a substantial base of existing LCD and WOLED production equipment and plans to maximize its use.
The company will spend about a year determining which equipment can be reused as-is, which requires modification and which must be newly purchased. By increasing utilization of existing facilities, we aim to strengthen cost competitiveness and expand our access to the market.
Q. How are customers and partners evaluating FLiPP? Could higher costs for other materials offset FMM savings, and what reduction in total panel manufacturing costs is possible?
A. Cho Heung-ryeol, head of the Next-Generation Display Division: Customers recognize FLiPP's technical potential and expect it to deliver higher performance than conventional FMM processes. They want better performance at lower prices. Our ability to use existing facilities gives us a cost advantage, but we do not view FLiPP solely as a cost-reduction technology. Improving performance comes first, while cost competitiveness will be established through further development. It is difficult to provide a specific percentage reduction in total manufacturing costs, but production costs are expected to be lower than with FMM.
Q. Once FLiPP enters mass production, how will the roles of FMM, WOLED and FLiPP be divided? Can FLiPP support high-mix, low-volume production of medium-sized OLED panels?
A. Choi Young-seok, CTO: FMM and OMM are already used in mass production, while FLiPP is targeting mass-production application in the coming years. The three processes will coexist, and we will determine which is most competitive for each product and application. FLiPP offers flexibility across a wide range of applications. Specific uses will be determined according to market conditions and customer demand.
Q. What performance advantages can FLiPP OLEDs offer, and how efficient is the approach compared with new eighth-generation OLED investments?
A. Cho Heung-ryeol, head of the Next-Generation Display Division: If the technical challenges can be overcome, FLiPP could improve various aspects of display performance. New eighth-generation OLED investments involve building new thin-film transistor (TFT) facilities and depositing materials after cutting the mother glass in half. FLiPP can instead use existing production facilities and accumulated process expertise while improving deposition efficiency and device structures. Crucially, it allows deposition on an uncut eighth-generation mother glass substrate, increasing the usable area available for panel production.
Q. What specific expenses account for the hundreds of billions of won in annual FMM production, maintenance and defect costs per model? How much could FLiPP reduce overall manufacturing costs, and what benefits would consumers notice?
A. Kim Eung-yong, research fellow: Direct costs include manufacturing the FMM itself. Changes in panel size or resolution require new masks, adding expenses during product development. There are also defect-related costs associated with FMM use, including mask sagging as masks become larger, difficulties maintaining a consistent gap between the mask and glass substrate, and particle-induced defects. FLiPP eliminates the FMM and addresses these issues. Although we cannot yet specify the percentage reduction in total manufacturing costs, eliminating the FMM offers substantial savings.
A. Choi Young-seok, CTO: The most noticeable consumer benefit is improved display performance resulting from the higher aperture ratio. Removing the FMM increases the light-emitting area within each pixel. How that advantage is used will depend on customer requirements: some products may prioritize higher luminance, while others may focus on extending panel lifespan. The final balance will be determined by each customer's product concept.
KIMGEON
gun@thelec.kr
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