On July 6, LG Display announced that it will start mass production of Advanced In-Cell Touch (AIT) panels for notebook PCs, which will make the devices drastically slimmer and lighter, in the second half of this year.
The new Full HD LCD panel incorporating the ‘In-Cell’ touch function is an exclusive development by LG Display. The AIT is an advanced in-cell touch technology that employs a touch sensor embedded within the LCD panel, replacing the ‘add-on’ type that places the touch panel on top of the LCD.
The panels with the AIT technology have earlier been introduced for smartphones such as LG G4. It is the first time the technology is being applied to larger size devices such as notebook PCs.
The technology eliminates the space needed for a touch function cover glass, and as a result reduces the panel’s thickness by 1 millimeter (approximately 25 percent) and its weight by 200 grams (approximately 35 percent) compared to a conventional 15.6-inch touch-embedded panel with Full HD resolution. It also offers a brighter and clearer screen picture since there is no light loss or light reflection caused by the cover glass. In addition it features an excellent touch response and precise calibration of the touch point even with water drops on the screen.
In response to enthusiastic customer feedback about the ultra-slim and light LCD panel for notebook PCs, LG Display has already agreed to supply 15.6-inch and 14-inch panels to several global notebook PC brands, and the company is engaged in active discussions with customers to supply different panel sizes.
Expectations for LG Display’s new notebook PC panel are anticipated to soar since the industry is gearing up for the expansion of touch embedded products, especially with the launch in the second half of the year of the Window 10 operating system, which is optimized for touch functions.
LG Display is also working on an AIT-based panel for pen touch functions. The pen touch function is particularly essential for consumers using two-in-one PCs that combine tablet and laptop functions, which involves writing with a pen while consumers hold the product.
Mr. Byeong-Koo Kim, Vice President and Head of the IT/Mobile Development Group at LG Display, said, “The AIT technology is the most optimized and best solution to lead the touch embedded notebook PC market as it delivers excellent touch response as well as offering an ultra-slim and light design.” He added, “LG Display will continue to develop products that offer the best user experience, such as QHD high resolution panels and the pen touch function products.”
According to market search firm IDC, 10 percent of global notebook PCs in 2014 were touch function embedded, and the market is expected to rapidly increase up to 20 percent in 2016 and 30 percent in 2019.
