Accounting for 54.8% of applications over the past 10 years
There are many applications for film-type displays that place quantum dot films on light guide plates.

Although LCDs have relatively low color reproducibility compared to OLEDs, patent applications to improve the color reproducibility of LCDs using quantum dots have been active recently.

According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) (Commissioner Choi Dong-gyu), domestic patent applications (based on the filing date) for quantum dots applied to LCDs are steadily increasing.

The number of patent applications related to quantum dots (based on the date of application) in total is 268 in the past 10 years (2006-2015), and the number of applications increased sharply in 2014 (63 cases) and 2015 (84 cases), accounting for 54.8% (147 cases) of the number of applications in the past 10 years.

▲Samsung Electronics announces 'Quantum Dot Display SUHD TV'

By applicant, domestic applicants accounted for the majority of applications, 258 cases (96.3%), while foreigners accounted for 10 cases (3.7%). This supports the fact that domestic companies have been steadily developing technologies to apply quantum dots to LCDs.

In terms of the ranking of multiple applications, Samsung Display filed 81 applications (30.2%), LG Display 40 applications (14.9%), Samsung Electronics 38 applications (14.2%), LG Innotek 29 applications (10.8%), and LG Electronics 25 applications (9.3%).

▲ Number of applications by year over the past 10 years (2006-2015)


▲ Classification by how quantum dots are implemented in LCDs

When classified according to how quantum dots are implemented in LCDs, there were 159 cases (59.3%) of film type, 62 cases (23.1%) of tube type, 26 cases (9.8%) of package type, and 21 cases (7.8%) of type applied to color filters.

The film type with the most applications is one that places a quantum dot film on a light guide plate. It is known as a preferred method by display manufacturers because it is easy to apply the LCD process and is suitable for implementing screens of various sizes.

Kim Jae-moon, head of the Display Device Examination Team at the Korean Intellectual Property Office, said, “Quantum dots can be used to obtain light with high color purity and light stability, and they can be applied not only to LCDs but also to OLEDs, which is recently injecting vitality into the display industry.”