AU Optronics announced an agreement with PlayNitride, to build a 6-inch microLED production line at AUO's Longtan factory. AUO will pay PlayNitride NT$700 million (around $21.5 million USD) for this new line.
AUO says that the new line will utilize PlayNitride's Chip-on-Carrier (COC) technology, that produces the microLEDs on temporary substrates ready for the transfer process. This will enable AUO to more easily realize the production of display panels based on these microLEDs. AUO says that this new line will also enable it to reduce microLED production costs.
Earlier today we reported that AUO announced its plans to invest further in its microLED technologies, and re-iterated its plans to mass produce microLED smartwatch displays by the end of 2023. It'll be interesting to know whether PlayNitride's new line will be used to produce the microLEDs for these displays. You can read more about AUO's microLED wearable display project here.
AUO and PlayNitride started their microLED collaboration several years ago. In 2020, the two companies demonstrated a a 9.4" 228 PPI flexible microLED display, jointly developed.
In 2021, AUO first demonstrated its 1.39" 472x472 (338 PPI) full-circle microLED display, developed together with PlayNitride.
