Standard Panels Working Group (SPWG) Releases Version 2.0 Specification

The DisplaySearch Monitor, September 19, 2001 - The Standard Panels Working Group (SPWG) released version 2.0 of their standard panel design for notebook computers. Led by engineering and procurement executives from Compaq, Dell, HP, IBM, and Toshiba, the SPWG is an informal group united together to establish simple mechanical and electrical interface specifications for TFT LCDs used in notebook computers.

The SPWG standardization began in May 1999, with the initial standard specification released in October 1999. SPWG’s version 2.0 has been unofficially released for more than a year, while some minor points were under discussion by the member companies and the TFT LCD manufacturing community. The final release of Version 2.0 clarifies timing requirements, adds guidelines associated with higher resolutions, and more flexibly accommodates thinner panels. The SPWG Versions 2.0 specification is available for download on DisplaySearch’s website at http://www.displaysearch.com/SPWG.

The purpose of the SPWG is to establish TFT LCD mechanical and electrical standards in order to:

• Improve display availability so that TFT LCD designs from multiple suppliers could be quickly implemented without significant modification to packaging, interface design and tooling;
• Reduce development cycles and inventory costs;
• Reduce number of TFT LCD part numbers;
• Improve utilization of engineering resources at TFT LCD producers;
• Reduce obstacles to design wins for TFT LCD producers
• Comply with EEIDID panel identification standards

During the past months, the nature of the crystal cycle has strongly favored buyers, such that it is relatively easy for buyers to demand customized solutions. Accordingly, the adoption of SPWG standards has been somewhat slower than expected, although Dell and Compaq have been particularly focused on adopting SPWG-compliant panels.

The transition to higher resolutions is beginning to facilitate the widespread adoption of SPWG compliant panels. TFT LCD manufacturers were justifiably reluctant to alter existing designs in order to accommodate SPWG guidelines. Now that new high-resolution panels are coming to market, the adoption rate of SPWG panels is growing.

Support for the SPWG standard is widespread, with virtually all TFT LCD makers endorsing the standardization effort. The only TFT LCD makers that do not support the standards effort are Japanese makers NEC, Fujitsu, Philips Kobe, and Panasonic – all of which appear to be quickly exiting from the notebook market.  Several companies have newly endorsed the SPWG standard, including Quanta Display, AU Optronics, Mitsubishi, Wistron, Uniwill, Nvidia, KEL, Sunridge, JAE, Toppan, Texas Instruments, Nitto Denko, and Corning, joining the original base of support for the standard.

One of the clearest reasons to adopt standardized solutions is to drive down costs. Standardization efforts clearly create an opportunity for manufacturers of both TFT LCDs and notebook computers to remove cost and reduce risk. Already, DisplaySearch estimates that SPWG-compliant panels are priced about $5 below their non-SPWG cousins, and advantage clearly enjoyed by Dell as they continue to win market share through aggressive pricing activities.  Discussions are now underway to enlarge the scope of the SPWG efforts into the flat panel monitor arena.

(Originally published in The DisplaySearch Monitor, September 19, 2001)