Sharp is prepared to alter one of its manufacturing facilities so that it can make more IGZO displays for smartphones. Sharp uses its Kameyama plant to manufacture television set screens, but will sacrifice TV production in order to produce more screens for mobile devices. The company believes it can cut down costs by making large IGZO sheets that can be cut into multiple displays. To-date, few devices outside of Sharp's home market of Japan include IGZO displays. IGZO, or indium gallium zinc oxide, display screens are thinner and use dramatically less energy than the OLED displays. Earlier this year, Samsung invested $110 million in Sharp's display business. Samsung primarily uses AMOLED displays in its smartphones. Sharp's increased production of smartphone-sized IGZO screens paves the way for Samsung to adopt the technology.


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