AUO's High Resolution a-Si TFT-LCDs for Mobile Devices Make First Appearance at Touch Taiwan 2014

HSINCHU, Aug. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) today announced its ultra high resolution display technologies and applications for mobile devices, including 5-inch Full HD and 8-inch WQXGA (1600x2560) LCD panels adopting a-Si (amorphous silicon) display technology, AHVA high resolution car and medical displays, the full series of oTP (On-cell Touch Panel) integrated touch solutions for 5 to 15.6-inch smartphones, tablets and notebook PCs,  4.3-inch ultra thin LTPS  TFT-LCD, and 5.5-inch Full HD in-cell touch AMOLED panel. The aforementioned products and technologies will all be present from August 27 to 29 at Touch Taiwan 2014 (International Touch Panel and Optical Film Exhibition 2014), held in Taipei Nangang Exhibition Hall.

Complete Array of Ultra High Resolution Display Technologies for Mobile Devices

In meeting the trend for high picture quality on large screens in the 4G era and the demand for various strains of smartphones, AUO has been versatile in applying a-Si and LTPS TFT manufacturing technologies to create high resolution displays. AUO's a-Si TFT LCDs for mobile device possess high resolution, high brightness, slim and light design, and are power-saving. The 5-inch Full HD high resolution smartphone panel to be debuted has an ultra narrow border of 1 mm, which is currently the leading specification achieved by a-Si technology^(*). The 8-inch WQXGA a-Si TFT-LCD for tablet improves the transmittance to enhance image resolution, color saturation and sharpness. It is slimmer and lighter, and easy to carry. AUO has also developed 5.5-inch Full HD smartphone panel utilizing oxide TFT technology. Its narrow border and design for lower power consumption make mobile devices even lighter and more energy-saving. In terms of mobile device panels higher than 300 PPI, AUO offers the most competitive solutions in order to lead future trends with displays that are slimmer, more power-saving, and larger in size and higher in resolution.

Ultra high resolution panels employing the LTPS process are also being showcased. AUO's 5.5-inch WQHD (1440x2560) smartphone display utilizing LTPS process has further raised pixel density to 538 PPI. The panel uses AHVA technology to demonstrate the most exquisite image details and depth. Its narrow border design results in a mere 0.7 mm width from display area to panel border, substantially increasing the viewing area. The 5.5-inch Full HD in-cell touch panel also employs LTPS production and integrates the 120Hz in-cell touch refresh rate. The in-cell touch technology enables thinner and light panels, achieves better anti-glare performance, and increases visibility under sunlight in the outdoors.

Also in the exhibition is the world's thinnest^(*) 4.3-inch LTPS TFT-LCD adopting ultra thin glass on carrier technology. The panel is less than 0.92 mm thick and has Full HD resolution.

Car Displays with Wide Viewing Angle and High Resolution for Various Intelligent Vehicle Systems

The growth of intelligent vehicles has spurred the demand for car displays. AUO has developed a full lineup of car displays with high resolution, wide viewing angle and ultra high brightness for audio-visual entertainment, communications and safety purposes in diverse vehicle telematics systems. They include 1.8-inch head-up display (HUD), 7-inch capacitive touch display for center consoles, 9-inch portrait car display for center consoles, and 12.3-inch high resolution cluster display. The 1.8-inch head-up display adopts LTPS production and features high resolution, wide viewing angle and ultra high brightness. Driving information can be projected directly onto the windshield and images can be viewed clearly even under direct sunlight, so that the driver can navigate more safely while retrieving the information. The 7-inch capacitive touch panel for center consoles has AHVA wide viewing angle, low reflection, high color saturation, and fast response time even under drastic temperature conditions.

AMOLED Leads New Applications on Ultra Slim, High Resolution Mobile and Wearable Devices

AUO has been devoted to the development of AMOLED technology. By capitalizing on its high color saturation, high contrast, slimness, flexibility and low power consumption, various applications for mobile devices have been designed. AUO's 5.5-inch Full HD in-cell touch AMOLED panel, the winner of this year's Gold Panel Awards, has successfully integrated touch function within the AMOLED panel. By using the glass thinning technology, panel thickness has been significantly reduced to 0.45 mm. The panel resolution has also been raised to 403 PPI. The 1.6-inch in-cell touch AMOLED panel for smart watches is suitable for sport, healthcare and medical purposes to provide extremely comfortable wearing experience. AUO will also demonstrate 5-inch flexible AMOLED touch panel. It adopts plastic substrate and thin film encapsulation to achieve the minimum bending radius of less than 1cm. The panel is only 0.2 mm thick and can be used for smartphones with screens extended to the sides. The user will be able to set function keys in their desired locations to increase more space for operation and viewing area.

* Based on the available market research information as of August 25, 2014.

AUO photos can be downloaded at the Company's website:

http://auo.com/?sn=479&lang=en-US

Any use of photographs must cite the source thereof is from AU Optronics Corporation.

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ABOUT AU OPTRONICS

AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) is one of the world's leading providers of optoelectronic solutions. AUO offers a full range of panel sizes and comprehensive applications ranging from 1.5 inches to 75 inches. Based on its profound R&D and manufacturing experience, AUO continues to develop advanced display technologies of the next generation. AUO extended its market to the green energy industry in 2008. By building a vertically integrated high-efficiency solar value chain, AUO provides its customers with high-efficiency solar solutions. AUO now houses a staff of more than 45,000 employees, with global operations in Taiwan, Mainland China, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, Czech and Slovakia. Additionally, AUO is the first pure TFT-LCD manufacturer to be successfully listed at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). AUO has also been named to Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for four consecutive years from 2010 to 2013. AUO generated consolidated revenues of NT$416,363 million (US$13,958 million) in 2013. For more information, please visit AUO.com.

* 2013 year end revenue converted at an exchange rate of NTD29.83:USD1

Safe Harbor Notice 

AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO), a global leader of TFT-LCD panels, today announced the above news. Except for statements in respect of historical matters, the statements contained in this Release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements were based on our management's expectations, projections and beliefs at the time regarding matters including, among other things, future revenues and costs, financial performance, technology changes, capacity, utilization rates, yields, process and geographical diversification, future expansion plans and business strategy. Such forward looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including risks related to the flat panel display industry, the TFT-LCD market, acceptance of and demand for our products, technological and development risks, competitive factors, and other risks described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21st, 2014.

SOURCE AU Optronics Corporation