The technology industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by the increasing demand for high-quality visual experiences, especially in portable electronic devices, and growing importance of technologies such as organic compounds, thin-film transistors (TFTs), and touch-sensitive layers. In the last three years alone, there have been over 1.5 million patents filed and granted in the technology industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in technology: AMOLED touch displays. Buy the report here.
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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
185+ innovations will shape the technology industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the technology industry using innovation intensity models built on over 1.6 million patents, there are 185+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, non-volatile flash memory, neuromorphic computing, and haptic feedback interfaces are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. RAID transmission error detection, projector-camera system, and optimized vector processing are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are resistive touch displays and digital watermarking, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the technology industry
AMOLED touch displays is a key innovation area in technology
AMOLED touch displays are screens that incorporate active organic light-emitting diodes (AMOLED) along with integrated touch panel functionality.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 35+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established technology companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of AMOLED touch displays.
Key players in AMOLED touch displays – a disruptive innovation in the technology industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to AMOLED touch displays
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| HannStar Display | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Fujifilm | 3 | Unlock Company Profile |
| AUO | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Apple | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| LG Display | 126 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sharp | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Universal Display | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Japan Display | 64 | Unlock Company Profile |
| FocalTech Electronics | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Semiconductor Energy Laboratory | 75 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kunshan Govisionox Optoelectronics | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sakai Display Products | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shenzhen Royole Technologies | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kunshan New Flat Panel Display Technology Center | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanghai Everdisplay Optronics | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kabushi Kaisha Limited Energy Kenkyusho | 1 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Wuhan Huaxing Optoelectronic Technology | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Wuhan Huaxing Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Technology | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Truly Huizhou Smart Display | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Geke Microelectronics (Shanghai) | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Everdisplay Optronics(shanghai) | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Among the companies innovating in AMOLED touch displays, LG Display is one of the leading patents filers. The company’s patents are aimed at disclosure that involves a display device comprising a light-emitting layer with multiple light-emitting regions. Additionally, there are multiple touch wiring lines positioned in a first direction, overlapping the light-emitting area. A touch electrode is then created on top of these touch wiring lines. Moreover, a method for producing this display device may also be included. Other prominent patent filers in the space include Samsung Group and Beijing Electronics.
In terms of application diversity, Samsung Group leads the pack, while Beijing Electronics and Semiconductor Energy Laboratory stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Sumitomo Chemical held the top position, followed by Everdisplay Optronics(shanghai) and HannStar Display.
AMOLED touch displays offer vivid colors, high contrast ratios, and flexibility in form factors, providing an enhanced visual experience across various devices such as smartphones, tablets, and televisions. The integration of touch functionality directly into the display enhances user interaction, allowing for more intuitive and dynamic user interfaces. The technology is pivotal in delivering immersive and interactive experiences in applications such as gaming, virtual reality, and augmented reality
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the technology industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Technology.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
