ELECTRONICS: Sony to invest in bigger OLED panels

Sony Corp. said Tuesday it will invest 22 billion yen on developing mid- and large-size displays using organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology.

The investments will be made in or after September at panel manufacturer Sony Mobile Display Corp.'s factory in Higashiura, Aichi Prefecture.

OLED displays are expected to be widely used for next-generation flat-panel TVs.

Sony launched an 11-inch model, which is only 3 millimeters thick at its thinnest part, in November 2007 in Japan and in January 2008 in the United States.

Sony Mobile Display's factory currently uses glass substrates that measure 60 centimeters by 72 cm, which are usually used for panels less than 30 inches.(IHT/Asahi: February 20,2008)