McLaughlin Consulting Group - Human Factors | Microdisplays

MCG Reports

Brightness Enhancement and Polarization Recycling:
Opportunity Analysis and Forecast 2005
Principal Researcher and Analysts: Steve Marsland and Carl Cobb
171 pages
December 2005
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Table of Contents

1	Executive Summary			4
2	Supply and Demand Trends for LCDs			6
	2.1	Rapid Growth in Demand		6
	2.2	Aggressive Investment in Supply Capacity		7
		2.2.1	Makers Must Sell LCD TVs to Resolve Oversupply	8
	2.3	Large-Size LCD TVs Face Tough Competition		9
3	Brightness Enhancement Products (BEPs)			14
	3.1	Brightness Enhancement Film (BEF) from 3M		14
	3.2	BEF Equivalent Film from Competitors		15
	3.3	Reverse Prism Film		15
	3.4	Prism Light Guides		16
	3.5	Polarization Recycling Film (DBEF) from 3M		18
4	LCD Product Configurations Using BEPs			20
	4.1	Types of Backlights		20
	4.2	Configurations for LCDs		21
		4.2.1	LCD without Brightness Enhancement Products (No BEF)	21
		4.2.2	LCD with Right-Angle Prism Light Guide	22
		4.2.3	LCD with single BEF sheet (1 BEF)	22
		4.2.4	LCD with 1 Sheet of DBEF (1 DBEF)	23
		4.2.5	LCD with Reserve Prism Sheet and Oblique Prism Light Guide (Reverse Prism Approach	23
		4.2.6	LCD with 2 BEF Sheets (2 BEF)	24
		4.2.7	LCD With 1 DBEF and 1 BEF Sheet (1 DBEF + 1 BEF)	24
		4.2.8	LCD with 1 DBEF and 2 BEF Films (1 DBEF + 2 BEF)	25
		4.2.9	Comparisons of Different BEP Configurations	25
5	Supply Chain			27
6	Sales Forecast for BEPs			30
	6.1	Forecast for LCD Displays		31
	6.2	Product Configurations in Use for 2004		35
		6.2.1	Mobile	35
		6.2.2	Notebooks	36
		6.2.3	Monitors	37
		6.2.4	TVs	38
		6.2.5	Total All Applications (Area-Weighted)	39
	6.3	Product Configurations Forecast 2009		40
		6.3.1	Mobile	40
		6.3.2	Notebooks	41
		6.3.3	Monitors	42
		6.3.4	TVs	43
		6.3.5	Total All Applications	44
	6.4	Total Market Exceeds $3B in 2009		46
	6.5	Forecast Top-Level 3M Sales and Sales Mix		52
	6.6	3M To Lose Domination in BEF Film		55
	6.7	Sales of BEF (3M)		59
	6.8	Sales of Competitor BEF Film		65
	6.9	Total Sales of BEF and BEF-Equivalent Film		72
	6.10	Sales of Reverse Prism Film		74
	6.11	Prism Function Light Guides		81
	6.12	Polarization Recycling Film (DBEF)		84
7	Competitor Assessments			90
	7.1	Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M)		91
	7.2	BEF Equivalent Film Competitors		92
		7.2.1	General Electric (GE)	92
		7.2.2	Kodak	92
		7.2.3	Reflexite	92
		7.2.4	E Fun (Ying Hui)	93
		7.2.5	Others	94
	7.3	Competitors Targeting DBEF		94
	7.4	Reverse Prism Sheet Makers		94
		7.4.1	Mitsubishi Rayon	94
		7.4.2	Kuraray	95
	7.5	Backlight Makers		95
8	Product Evaluations by Customers			96
	8.1	Brightness Enhancement Film		96
	8.2	BEF Film Equivalents		100
	8.3	Reverse Prism Film		100
	8.4	Prism Function Light Guides		100
	8.5	Polarization Recycling Film (DBEF)		101
9	Pricing Strategy: 3M and New Entrants			102
	9.1	Economic Foundation for Brightness Enhancement		103
	9.2	Pricing Scenarios for 3M		105
		9.2.1	Introduction	105
		9.2.2	Base Case:	107
		9.2.3	Aggressive DBEF:	108
		9.2.4	High Margin:	109
		9.2.5	Aggressive BEF, base case DBEF:	110
	9.3	Summary of Pricing Alternatives		111
	9.4	Conclusions re probable 3M pricing strategy		112
	9.5	3M Non-Price Competition		113
	9.6	Entry Strategies for Large Competitors		114
	9.7	Entry Strategies for Smaller Competitors		114
	9.8	Alternatives to Entry for Smaller Competitors		114
10	3M Patents			116
	10.1	Overview of 3M Patents		116
	10.2	BEF Patents		116
		10.2.1	BEF Patent discussion	116
		10.2.2	3M Patents claimed in Vikuiti BEF Family Literature	118
	10.3	DBEF Patents		120
		10.3.1	DBEF Patent Discussion	120
		10.3.2	3M Patents claimed in Vikuiti DBEF Family Literature	121
		10.3.3	Other forward references by 3M relating to birefringent multilayer structures	122
11	Survey Methodology and Respondents			129
12	Product Specifications			135

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