Patterned retarder to beat shutter glasses in 2H11 shipments, says AUO

An estimated one million shutter glasses 3D TV panels were shipped globally in first-quarter 2011 while shipments of patterned retarder 3D TV panels reached nearly 900,000. But the latter group is expected to surpass the former in shipments in second- half 2011, according to AU Optronics (AUO).

Of the global top-four LCD panel makers, Samsung Electronics and Chimei Innolux (CMI) adopt shutter glasses for their 3D TV panels while AUO and LG Display choose patterned retarder. AUO develops chiefly glass patterned retarder (GPR) technology, but also makes a small volume of FPR (film PR) 3D TV panels.

AUO, using switchable lens technology and face-tracking system, is technically able to produce dead-zone-free naked-eye 3D TV panels, but the production cost is still high, the company said.

The 3D penetration of global LCD TV shipments stood at less than 4% in first-quarter 2011 and is expected to rise to 10% in the second quarter.