Sharp Corporation has begun mass-production of in-cell type touch displays for smartphones as of June 2015.
Most current displays for smartphones consist of an LCD on which a touch sensor is attached. The in-cell type touch display, however, has the touch sensor function built into the LCD, thus enabling thinner and lighter displays. This also gives more design freedom to smartphone manufacturers.
The in-cell type touch displays are mass-produced at Sharp's Mie Plant No. 3 and utilize LTPS*1 (CG silicon*2) technology. The in-cell type touch display is realized by embedding the touch sensor circuitry and LCD drive circuitry into the LCD module.
Sharp is also considering production at Kameyama Plant No. 2. Doing so would allow Sharp to best meet user needs in regards to screen size, resolution, and bezel thinness, as well as build a stable supply system.
Sharp is also in the process of developing medium-size in-cell type touch displays for use in tablets and notebook PCs. Such medium-size displays allow Sharp to make the most of the IGZO technology employed at Kameyama Plant No. 2. In-cell type touch displays will improve products by making them thinner and lighter.
- *1 LTPS: Low-temperature Poly Silicon
- *2 CG silicon: Continuous Grain Silicon