Sony to spend $200 mln on advanced panel technology

TOKYO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Japanese consumer electronics maker Sony Corp (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Tuesday it planned to spend 22 billion yen ($203.5 million) to develop the production technology to make medium to large organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels.

Sony late last year launched the world's first TV using such panels. That model has an 11-inch screen.

OLED displays use organic, or carbon-containing, compounds that emit light when electricity is applied. Unlike liquid crystal display panels, they do not need backlighting, making OLED TVs slimmer and more energy-efficient. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka)