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
.
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 active shutter 3d glass and pattern retarder 3D
technologies mature and costs continue to fall.
“The LCD TV panel industry has been in oversupply for more than a
year, and panel makers are motivated to develop new features like LED and 3D to
increase value. Although there are still doubts about whether the market is
ready for 3D, 3D penetration is increasing due to falling prices and the
ability to produce panels,” stated David Hsieh, DisplaySearch Greater China
Market VP. “3D is not only for high-end products; we are starting to see panel
makers develop cost-effective 3D, such as 60Hz refresh rate with signal
simulation or lower frequency with blinking backlight units, which are targeted
at affordability and will be critical in encouraging 3D adoption.”
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 active shutter glass, pattern
retarder, and autostereoscopic solutions to the gamer and entertainment-focused
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, as the benefits become clearer to endusers, DisplaySearch said.
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 the third
quarter of 2011.
