Bottom Line
· In a recent cost simulation conducted by IHS Markit, the manufacturing cost for an oxide LCD module of 7-inch full-high-definition (FHD) tablet PC is estimated to be $19.50.
· Under a consistent fab utilization of 90 percent, the cost was 4 percent lower than an amorphous-silicon (a-Si) LCD display and 13 percent lower than a low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) LCD display.
Outlook and Analysis
The performance benefits of oxide substrate LCD over a-Si LCD displays is well known, especially in the areas of brightness and power consumption; but this is the first time that its cost benefit has been shown to match its performance. The primacy of the oxide substrate can be primarily attributed to the minimized number of masks required in the manufacturing process and an increase in eighth-generation (Gen-8) fabrication plant (fab) availability.
In addition to the operational condition of the LCD fab, display manufacturing costs are also greatly affected by fab utilization rates, which is why IHS Markit assumed a constant 90 percent utilization for comparative purposes. If the fab utilization rate is lowered to 75 percent, the manufacturing cost for an oxide-substrate display would rise by 5 percent, which would raise the price higher than for an a-Si display.
