OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMITTEE

The following objectives were drawn up at the committee's organization meeting.

Preamble

It is recognized that, during the 1980s, the Japanese electronics industry achieved worldwide preeminence in electronic information flat-panel displays (FPDs). This preeminence is due to their technical achievements and broad industry base in research, development, and manufacturing. This has been achieved almost completely within Japan, where there are industrial participation, government guidance, end-use markets, and a complete infrastructure.

The FPDs have made feasible new end-use products that have stimulated the entire electronics industry in Japan. Flat-panel displays have not been developed to replace the cathode-ray tubes (CRTs), but rather to expand electronics display applications where the weight, power requirements, and volume of the CRT inhibit its use.

In Japan, electronic displays are a key element for the new age, which the Japanese call the information society. Display technology development has been accelerated because of the technical emphasis in the Japanese culture and the desire for greater communications through visual imagery. It is recognized that, today, the leading FPD devices are based on LC technology. The technical emphasis is to achieve higher resolution in larger size with full color and at video speeds. The marketing need is to develop a high-information-content (HIC) FPD at lower cost.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to characterize the research, development, and manufacturing levels of the Japanese FPD industry as it exists today and to ascertain how the Japanese believe the industry will evolve during the 1990s.

The committee was tasked with identifying the key technical limitations in materials, implementation, and expertise that may inhibit the evolution of the various FPD technologies. Secondly, the committee was to identify the key market and end-use product objectives that motivate and drive the evolution of FPDs.

Approach

The committee was to:

• Derive its information principally from review of the literature and field visits in Japan. The travel to Japan was a key element in determining the depth of work and emphasis.
• Review the accomplishments exhibited at the Japan Electronics Show and end-use products exhibited in the marketplace and company showrooms.
• Determine technical depth by visiting industrial laboratories, supporting infrastructure and manufacturing facilities, and by reviewing the literature.
• Determine evolution of the industry by interviewing key technical leaders in government, industry, and universities and by reviewing the literature.

Because of limited resources and obvious industry activities, the study concentrated on LC technologies and all their ramifications.