US-based Rohinni announced a new joint-venture with Magna Electronics to develop flexible mini-LED and micro-LED based lighting devices for the automotive market.
The new JV, controlled by Magna Electronics will be called Magna Rohinni Automotive Electronics and will be based in Holly, Michagan, US. In addition to the JV, Magna also made a minority equity investment in Rohinni.
In January 2018 Samsung unveiled its first Micro-LED TV, the 146-inch modular Wall, and started accepting pre-orders in June 2018. In February, Samsung's rival LG said that it is developing its own Micro-LED TV and it was rumored that it will unveil its first prototype in September 2018.
In a new report, the Korea Herald now claims that LG is indeed on track to reveal the first TV in September 2018 (at the IFA conference in Germany, which actually starts on August 31). LG's first TV will be larger than Samsung's demonstrated device at 175-inch. Samsung's TV however is modular, so it can be made larger. It is not clear whether LG's Micro-LED TV will have the same design.
Today we have updated our Micro-LED company directory. We now list companies by type, which makes it easier to find the companies you wish. You can access the new company directory here.
If you are aware of any Micro-LED company that is not present in our index, let us know and we'll be sure to add it!
LEDInside reports that Taiwan-based Gallant Precision Machining (GPM) has started to develop Micro-LED production equipment. GPM currently develops LED picking and transfer equipment, washing equipment and testing equipment.
GPM is targeting several markets, and its LCD equipment currently accounts to 50% of its revenues.
In May 2018 AUO demonstrated its first micro-LED display - a 8" 1280x480 (169 PPI) display which AUO says it is the world's highest resolution full-color TFT micro-LED prototype ever demonstrated.
AUO did not publish any roadmaps to commercialize micro-LEDs. At the company's recent earning report, AUO disclosed that it does plan to use micro-LEDs in niche products in the future - but following years of R&D, micro-LEDs are still too expensive and are not ready for mass production yet.
Samsung Electronics says that the global market for Micro-LED displays will reach $4.5 billion in 2025 - up from $14 million in 2018. Samsung did not say whether this is its own market estimates.
A few days ago Samsung said it will soon release a high-end version of its modular Micro-LED display.
Samsung Electronics video and display chief, Han Jong-hee, says that Samsung aims to release a Micro-LED consumer TV next year. The TV will be a high-end premium set that will be called the Wall Luxury - and will not be priced as high as people think.
Samsung 146-inch Wall Professional TV
It's not clear whether this consumer version of The Wall professional will be modular. Han did say that it will be thinner than the current version at only 30 mm thick (the Wall Professional is 80 mm thick). This is still quite thick compared to current OLED TVs.
n-tech Research says that the Micro-LED market will emerge in 2019, with sales reaching $2.7 billion. The market will grow very quickly to reach over $70 billion in 2027.
n-Tech says that the immediate markets for Micro-LED displays will be near-eye displays (AR/VR), automotive HUDs and projectors - as these will benefit mostly from the small size, low weight, high brightness and high resolution of Micro-LED displays. Wearables (smartwatches) is another lucrative market (n-Tech sees $1.6 billion in smartwatch Micro-LED display sales in 2022).
Yole Developpement says that there are still several challenges to solve before AR systems that are good enough for mass usage are developed. Yole sees the market finally emerging in 2022 or 2023.
Yole sees three display technologies dominating this market - DLP, LCoS and MicroLED displays. OLEDs are very promising for this market as of today, but by the time AR systems are mass produced (2022/2023) MicroLED displays will prove better than OLEDs.
France-based 3D GaN LED developer Aledia has selected Veeco Instruments’s Propel GaN metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system to support its advanced R&D. Aledia aims to scale up its technology for large-area silicon using Veeco's system.
Veeco's Propel system will enable Aledia to process 6- and 8-in. wafers or 2- to 4-in. wafers in a minibatch mode. Aledia already uses Veeco's K465i MOCVD system.