InZiv

By: Dr. Tali Hurvitz, VP Research & Development & Noam Shapiro, VP Communications, InZiv

MicroLED technology  is transforming the world of displays, from AR/VR devices to cutting-edge automotive applications. However, in order for microLED to mature both technologically and commercially,  precise functional inspection continues to be essential. Photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) are two primary techniques for evaluating microLED functionality. PL testing measures light emitted from the microLED after excitation by a laser. This excitation mechanism causes a recombination across the entire junction (usually multiple quantum wells, depending on the excitation wavelength) which in turn leads to the emission of light. In this way, PL can measure certain basic properties of functionality.

IV (current-voltage) curve being measured during EL testing of a microLED chip

On the other hand, EL testing measures light emitted when voltage is applied to the LED, and in this case, the mechanism that activates the emission of light is the electrons and holes moving to the junction. Because electrons move much faster than holes, most electron-hole recombination—and thus light emission—occurs in the region of the junction where the holes are concentrated. This method of light excitation more accurately reflects real-world performance under operational conditions; the microLED display in the final electronic device will be activated via electric current and not via light.

Research has shown that EL is ultimately the superior method, and relying on PL alone, even while calibrating for inaccuracies, is an unreliable approach that often completely misidentifies defective LEDs as functional, and severely compromises measurement accuracy. Moreover, PL also often mischaracterizes the optical power and wavelength distribution across the wafer, failing to provide reliable testing results. We will briefly summarize below some of the research that has demonstrated the superiority of EL over PL for microLED testing and inspection.

Israeli-based display inspection developer InZiv has recently expanded its management team, as the company reports increased interest in its microLED inspection systems. Dr. Tali Hurvitz has joined InZiv as its new R&D manager, bringing with her years of experience in the flat panel display industry and in the technology sector in general.

Dr. Tali Hurvitz earned her BSc, MSc, and PhD from Tel Aviv University, where she focused on physics and materials science. She has held significant positions, including her latest role as the Head of the Physics, Materials, and Innovation group at KLA, and has previously worked in various capacities within the technology sector. Dr. Tali will now lead InZiv’s R&D as the company matures and expands its solution portfolio.

Hello Dr. Tali, we first of all want to wish you the best of luck at InZiv. What drew you initially to the field of physics and materials science? 

As long as I remember myself, I preferred technical toys (like LEGO) to social ones (like dolls…). When in middle school I was directed to participate in cooking classes, while the boys went to study electronics - I rebelled and joined the boys! It was inspiring to learn how simple and straightforward electricity was. It is either zero or one. That led to my studying electronics in high school. My plan was to continue to higher education in that field as well. However, before starting my first year I took a preparation course in Physics - and I was hooked, till this day. Understanding the physical laws around us and forming these laws in simple equation - it's like magic!

InZiv manufactures rapid EL testing and inspection systems for microLED development and production. The company has deployed several systems at leading display makers all over the world, and has recently launched its first mass production tool. David Lewis, the company's CEO and co-founder, was recently interviewed by display industry consultant Ian Hendy.

You are CEO of InZiv in Jerusalem. Can you tell me a little bit about the company and what makes it special?

InZiv is the technology leader in rapid EL (electroluminescent) testing and inspection for microLEDs. Currently, the quality of microLED wafers is simply not where it needs to be, and the most reliable and accurate way to get both electrical and optical information from each and every die on the wafer is EL testing.

InZiv has a proprietary method for making contact with the microLED wafer, without any damage, and at very high speeds. We offer, on average, 6M dies per hour test speed in our first mass production tool, and intend to double that in the next generation. We have a roadmap beyond that for even higher throughputs. Users understand that die densities are going to increase as microLED chips get smaller and move from flip chips to vertical chips, so a valuable tool supplier needs a roadmap that can cope with the speed race, and we have such a roadmap.

MicroLED-Connect is a hybrid event series, a year-long program of virtual and onsite events, all focused on the microLED industry. The first online 2-day webinar was hosted successfully last month, with over 25 lectures (all recordings accessible for pass holders). The next event is a startup showcase, that will be hosted on February 22, 2024.

The startup showcase includes lectures from 8 leading microLED startup companies, covering topics such as microdisplays, AR headset development, microLED production, transfer processes and microLED inspection.

Now is a great time to reserve your ticket and make sure you stay updated with the latest innovation from the following startup companies: Rayleigh Vision, Inziv, Comptek Solutions, QustomDot, Terecircuits, iBeam Materials, Kura Vision and NS Nanotech. You can read the complete agenda here.

InZiv announced a new industrial-level microLED inspection system, called the REL. The company says that this new system provides unprecedented speed wafer-level EL testing of microLEDs. The REL system can rapidly obtain EL measurements on a microLED wafer, with up to 6 million LEDs in 1 hour.

The company's unique technology offers repeatable, high- accuracy measurements, with no damage to the device. The system is fully compatible with both vertical and flip-chip designs. InZiv says that the REL offers the most critical and reliable microLED inspection on the market, enabling the advancement of all microLED applications. The company is already working on its next-generation system, which will double the output.

We're happy to interview InZiv, as part of our series of interviews with MicroLED Industry Association members. InZiv develops testing and inspection equipment for display makers focusing mostly on MicroLED displays (but also QLED and OLED).

Q: Can you introduce your company and technology?

InZiv is a leader in display testing and inspection, providing high-resolution testing and inspection equipment to today’s foremost advanced display developers and manufacturers. InZiv’s proprietary nano-optical technology specializes in microLED displays, but also extends to QLED and OLED. With the size of pixels now reaching the single-micron scale, our testing equipment provides comprehensive data and nanometric resolution, empowering display manufacturers to improve their manufacturing processes, lower production costs, and enable greater access to the use of these displays by all consumers. Based in Israel, the company was founded in 2018, and counts a number of the world’s leading display manufacturers among its customers.

Today we are happy and proud to announce a new MicroLED Industry Association, created to help accelerate the adoption of microLED display technologies.

The new association will bring together companies, academia and organizations active in the MicroLED industry and provide an ideal forum for solving common technology issues, fostering cooperation and sharing relevant information, resources and tools. The association will also work to promote its member companies, their technologies and products.

You can read more about the MicroLED Industry Association, including the complete list of member benefits, here: https://www.microledassociation.com

This page is still at an early stage, and we are working on a new design which will be updated shortly.

Israel-based display characterization and inspection equipment maker InZiv raised $10 million in its Series A1 round, led by Singapore-based VC BlueRed Partners

InZiv says it will use the capital to accelerate its product development of fast EL and PL automated solutions, make strategic company appointments, and expand its global presence.

Israel-based display characterization and inspection equipment maker InZiv has recently announced the shipment of a high-resolution pixel characterization tool to an undisclosed Tier-1 consumer electronics company.

InZiv's tool offers MicroLED defect detection on the wafer and pixel level with unprecedented sub-micron resolutions. Measuring luminescence, spectral wavelengths and 3D structure at the highest resolutions, the equipment enables the identification and the source of defects, accelerating product time to market.