MicroLED-Info is a news hub and knowledge center focused on the micro-LED display industry and market.
UK-based Optovate recently announced that it has developed a parallel aligned Micro-LED transfer process. Today the company revealed more details about its Micro-LED technology.
Optovate p-LLO transfer process
Since 2008, Optovate develops catadioptric micro-optic arrays to enhance the benefits of micro-LED, mini-LED and OLED displays. The company also developed a patterned laser lift-off (p-LLO) micro-LED transfer process.
Today we are happy to publish this short Micro-LED explanation video, which we believe gives a nice introduction to Micro-LED display technology, production processes and to the current market status:
If you're interested in using this video in your web site, feel free to embed it!
Samsung already announced that it plans to ship its first Micro-LED TV, the 146" modular Wall TV, in August 2018, and today the company says it will reveal the prices of these TVs in June 2018. Prices are expected to over >$100,000 for the 146" model.
Samsung's Visual Display Business VP, Han Jong-hee, also revealed that the company has an R&D project that aims to use quantum-dots in Micro-LED arrays. The basic idea is to convert blue micro-LEDs to white light, which will enable easier production processes as the whole TV will use a single LED color.
Digitimes reports that Taiwan's Ministry of Science and Technology approved PlayNitride's application to setup a NT$500 million (US$17 million) production facility at Hsinchu Science Park.
PlayNitride aims to produce micro LEDs, display modules and panels at its new facility at Hsinchu. According to Digitimes, Apple is in preliminary talks with PlayNitride towards a possible Micro-LED technology cooperation.
OLED displays are currently the most advanced displays in production, offering superior image quality, efficiency, flexibility and more. Here's our new short video that introduces OLED display technology and the current market status:
Earlier this month Bloomberg reported that Apple is progressing with its Micro-LED development project, and has already managed to produce promising display samples. Now Taiwan's Digitimes reports that Apple is collaborating with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) towards mass production of Micro-LED panels.
Apple and TSMC are focusing on small-sized micro-LEDs on silicon based backplanes, targeting both wearable devices and AR applications. The Micro-LED microdisplays for AR applications will be around 0.7-0.8 inch in size, while the wearable panels will be larger at 1.3-1.4 inch.
OLED microdisplay maker eMagin reported its financial results for Q4 2017, and during the quarter's conference call its CEO, Andrew Sculley, discussed Micro-LED for microdisplays.
VueReal Micro-LED microdisplay prototype
eMagin actually did a research in this area with a University and has some patents towards micro-LED based microdisplays. However according to Andrew this technology still faces some challenges and it may take several years before Micro-LEDs could be applied to microdisplays - unlike TVs or larger displays which are already on the market.
Perovskite materials offer exciting properties which make them useful for solar panels, fuel cells, lasers - and even displays. Many believe Perovskites are the future of solar power and some estimate that perovskite QD adoption in display applications and LEDs is right around the corner. Our new video below gives a short introduction to perovskites:
For more information on perovskites and to stay updated on these exciting materials, check out our Perovskite-Info knowledge hub!
In early 2018 LG Display announced that it is developing Micro-LED displays, for large-area TVs at first. It is now revealed that LGD filed for three new trademarks in the EU, and all three seem to be related to microLEDs: XµLED, SµLED, and XLµLED.
In its filing, LGD says that these trademarks will primarily be used for smartphones, but the trademarks could also be applied to laptops, tablets, wearables and VR glasses. Interestingly LGD did not say it could be applied to TVs or large-area displays, which will probably be LGD's first Micro-LED application, so it's not really clear what these trademarks really mean.
The Korea Herald reports that Apple and its subsidiary LuxVue Technology applied for over 30 Micro-LED patents in Korea in the past 10 years. As Apple's Micro-LED project is progressing, the company aims to prevent its competitors in Korea (mainly Samsung and LGD) from using its key Micro-LED technology.
According to the report, Apple applied for 11 patents directly, while LuxVue applied for 23 patents. LuxVue was acquired by Apple in 2014. Apple applied for patents that related to the Micro-LED chip structure, the pick-and-place process and the driving system.