Corning Incorporated announced 16 January 2005 the world“s first commercially available thin film transistor (TFT) grade Generation (Gen) 7 glass substrates for active matrix liquid crystal displays …
Corning Incorporated announced 16 January 2005 the world“s first commercially available thin film transistor (TFT) grade Generation (Gen) 7 glass substrates for active matrix liquid crystal displays (LCD). TFT-grade substrates are ultra-clean, flat, stable, light, and thin glass sheets that meet the exacting quality requirements for the manufacture of notebook computers, LCD TVs, and portable displays. Corning says its proprietary fusion technology has enabled first-to-market performance with new generation size TFT-grade substrates, including Gen 5 in 2002 and Gen 6 in 2003. The Gen 7 substrates are being produced in commercial quantities by Samsung Corning Precision Glass Co. Ltd., jointly owned by Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Corning, at its Cheonan, Korea facility. Large size glass substrates, such as Gen 5.5, 6 and 7 substrates, will be increasingly used as the foundation of LCD television display-panels says Corning, as they enable panel manufacturers to produce more and larger displays from a single glass substrate. Gen 7 glass substrates measure 1870 x 2200 mm and have nearly three times the surface area of Gen 5 substrates, which typically measure 1100 x 1250-1300 mm. “Once again, our customers in the LCD industry presented Corning with a technological challenge and we have risen to meet that challenge,” said James P. Clappin, general manager, Corning Display Technologies. “The winning combination of our advanced, proprietary fusion technology and our dedicated team of talented people has positioned us as a worldwide leader in an industry experiencing phenomenal growth.” Lee Suk Jai, president, Samsung Corning Precision added, “The technology team at our Cheonan facility has worked exceptionally hard with our Corning colleagues in making this project a success for our customers here in Korea. Together, we have made the production and supply of this new Gen 7 size possible. This is a major milestone for Corning, Samsung Corning Precision, and our customers as we advance the LCD industry into exciting new territory.”