Oculus, owned by Facebook, develops and markets virtual reality headsets and solutions. Oculus currently uses OLED displays (produced by Samsung Display) in its VR headsets.
In October 2016 Oculus acquired InfiniLED, a Micro-LED display developer based in Ireland. Oculus plans for InfiniLED's display solutions was not stated, but it is likely that Oculus is interested in next-generation VR displays.
Taiwan-based PlayNitride was established in June 2014 to research and develop Nitride related materials and applications. The fabless company is now focusing on GaN based MicroLEDs.
PlayNitride developed its own microLED epiwafer production process (using Aixtron's G5+ MOCVD systems), its own stamp-based transfer technology and also its own repair technology (SMAR.Tech).
PlayNitride is developing wearable passive-matrix PMOLEDs in a joint-venture with affiliate RiTDisplay. The company also developed a technology branded as PixeLED Matrix, which is a tiled microLED display module for TVs and signage.
UK-based Plessey Semiconductors is a design and manufacturing company focused on GaN-on-Silicon micro-LEDs.
Plessey developed unique monolithic micro-LED process technology that can be used to produce Micro-LED displays without a transfer process.
Over the years, the company demonstrated several prototypes and has also launched two product lines (for segmented microdisplays and full dot-matrix ones). In 2020, however, Plessey announced a partnership with Facebook under which Plessey will dedicated all of its manufacturing operations to support Facebook with its own product development. While not exactly an acquisition, this is pretty close.
UK-based PRP Optoelectronics was established in 1989 to provide LED display solutions. PRP provides complete in-house design, development and manufacturing capabilities for a range of LED light engine and display applications.
PRP also produces its own monolithic Micro-LED microdisplays - both standard and custom displays.
Germany-based QubeDot develops and manufactures microLEDs and microLED-displays based on the InGaN material system for particularly high optical performance and switching speeds. Based on the knowledge of several years of research, the company offers customized microLED solutions.
The company's SMILE (Structured Micro Illumination Light Engine) platform is a combination of its microLED-array product range with different pixel numbers, sizes, wavelengths, and intensities, controlled directly from a computer via USB.
US-based Raxium, established in 2017, develops microLED microdisplay technologies.
Raxium did not reveal much about its technology, beyond saying that it developed a monolithic approach to develop microLED microdisplays, with a pixel pitch of 3.5 um.
In early 2022 it was reported that Google acquired the company.
Hong Kong based Raysolve Optoelectronics, established in 2019, is a fabless microLED microdisplay producer. The company develops microdisplays based on its CoANODE architecture and innovative bonding technology.
Raysolve says that its innovative large size GaN-on-Silicon wafer-level integration technology enables the production of high quality microLED chips with high yields.
In December 2021, Raysolve raised $10 million USD from Gaorong Capital along with Glory Ventures. In September 2022, the company raised another round $10 million from Source Code Capital, Gaorong Capital and Glory Ventures.
US-based Rohinni, established in 2013, focuses on miniLED and microLED technologies for lighting and displays.
Rohinni has developed precise placement technology that can achieve speeds greater than 100Hz for mini LEDs. The company has achieved mass product production volumes with the keyboard and logo backlighting joint venture, Luumii. In addition to this market, Rohinni’s technology has been adopted in the display, automotive and consumer electronics markets.
In August 2018 Rohinni announced a JV with Magna Electronics to bring mini-LED and micro-LED lighting devices to the automotive market. In 2019 Rohinni announced a new joint venture with China-based display maker BOE to develop LCD mini-LED and micro-LED backlighting units. The JV with BOE is called BOE Pixey.
US-based SiliconCore, established in 1997, develops driver chips for LED displays, and large scale indoor displays. SiliconCore says that its Common Cathode technology enables the highest performance, coolest operating and brightest direct-emission LED displays.
In recent years SiliconCore develops displays based on miniLEDs and microLEDs.
Sitan Technology, established in Shenzhen, China in 2018, develops and produces microLED chips and display modules, including microLED microdisplays. In addition, Sitan offers microLED drivers and inspection equipment. The company has a microLED pilot production line in Longhua, Shenzhen.
Sitan Technology has completed several round of financing, with investors including Xiaomi, Sequoia China, and others.
In May 2023, the company demonstrated its latest microLED microdisplays and transparent displays.
Sony, based in Japan, is one of the leading consumer electronics companies in the world. Sony has been a pioneer in display industries for many years.
In 2012 Sony demonstrated the first micro-LED TV (55", Full-HD) which they termed Crystal-LED. Sony's 55" Crystal-LED never reached the market, but in 2016 the company unveiled its large-area outdoor micro-LED displays which Sony calls Canvas Display, or CLEDIS.
Over the years Sony released several generations of CLEDIS displays, and announced several large-area installations - see below for the latest news. In 2019 Sony started offering MicroLED Canvas displays for ultra-premium residential installations.
US-based Sundiode develops microLED microdisplays based on its stacked-RGB pixel structure.
In 2021, in collaboration with KOPTI and Jasper Display, Sundiode unveiled a microdisplay prototype that features 200 PPI and 100um pixels. The display is an array of stacked-RGB micro-LED pixels on a single chip bonded directly onto a Si CMOS backplane. In 2023 the company successfully grew a monolithic all-InGaN stacked-RGB LED structure.
Tianma Micro-Electronics is a China-based display producer that was established in 1983. Tianma is developing and producing both LCD and OLED displays.
In 2019 Tianma demonstrated its first Micro-LED display, a 7.56" highly transparent Micro-LED aimed towards automotive applications.
China-based Visionox was established by Tsinghua University and other investors in 2001 with an aim to develop and manufacture OLED display and lighting panels. Visionox is producing both PMOLED and AMOLED displays.
In May 2018 Visionox demonstrated its first Micro-LED display. The company operates a full-process microLED production line.
Canada-based VueReal is a startup company that develops Micro-LED display technologies. VueReal developed a cartridge-based microLED printing process that can produce high density displays at high production yields.
In 2017 VueReal demonstrated a 4K micro-LED microdisplay that achieves the world's highest density for an emissive display at 6,000 PPI, and in 2019 the company said it developed a 30,000 PPI MicroLED microdisplay.
In 2018 VueReal raised $10.5 million in its series-A funding round to construct an advanced nano technology fabrication center in Waterloo, Canada. We posted an interview with the company's CEO and Founder in early 2020.
US-based Q-Pixel is an early stage company that develops microLED microdisplays.