DisplaySearch: 3D Panel Shipments Up 124% In 2nd Quarter

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 9/8/2011

SANTA CLARA, CALIF. — Shipments of 3D-capable large-area TFT LCD panels rose 124 percent to 5.2 million units quarter to quarter during the second quarter of 2011, according to a period display report from DisplaySearch.

The majority of 3D panels shipped in the panel were LCD TVs, which reached 4.9 million units in the quarter, reflecting 118 percent quarter over quarter growth, and pushing the 3D penetration in LCD TV panels from 4.5 percent in the first quarter to 9.3 percent in the second quarter of 2011, the study showed.

The DisplaySearch quarterly large-area TFT LCD shipment report said panel makers are targeting 53 percent growth in 3D LCD TV panel shipments for the third quarter as both activeshutter 3D glass and pattern retarder 3D technologies mature and costs continue to fall.

DisplaySearch said that in addition to TVs, 3D monitor panel shipments are growing rapidly, from less than 80,000 units in the first quarter of 2011 to more than 250,000 in the second quarter. The activity was attributed to growing adoption of gaming and other special application monitors.

The mainstream 3D technology currently used in desktop monitors is active-shutter 3D glass, but pattern retarder and switched cell solutions are emerging rapidly, too, DisplaySearch said. Panel makers expect to double shipments in the third quarter of 2011.

Volumes of 3D panels for notebook PCs are still relatively small, with less than 100,000 units shipped in the second quarter of 2011.

However, panel makers are promoting activeshutter glass, pattern retarder, and autostereoscopic solutions to the gamer and entertainmentfocused notebook users.

DisplaySearch projects shipments growing by 126 percent in the third quarter.

For LCD TVs, larger panel sizes are seeing faster penetration of 3D. In 40-inch and larger LCD TV panel shipments, 3D penetration increased from 12.7 percent in the first quarter of 2011 to 21.7 percent in the second quarter. TV panel makers are aiming to reach 28.2 percent in Q3 2011.