Plessey Semiconductor

According to information we have received, Meta started collaborating with ams OSRAM, and are codeveloping microLED technologies. This is an interesting development, if true, and may have implications to other players in the industry.

While we cannot verify this information, we do know that Meta's Reality Labs has setup a microLED R&D team in Regensburg - close by to ams OSRAM's main microLED R&D and production facility. Meta is currently recruiting microLED engineers for this facility. In addition, some key microLED engineers and business people have transitioned from ams OSRAM to Meta, which could further strengthen the ties between the two companies.

Haylo Ventures, a VC founded by former WaveOptics CEO David Hayes that is focused on the AR industry, is set to acquire microLED developer (and MicroLED Industry Association member) Plessey Semiconductors. The news was announce by Goertek, that will provide a 5-year $100 million loan to Haylo for the acquisition.

If Plessey (or Haylo) will be acquired, or if it will IPO, during the period of the loan, Goertek will receive 25% of the acquisition (or IPO) value. Goertek had invested in WaveOptics (before it was acquired by Snap), and has worked with David Hayes closely before. It seems as if the AR developer is interested in Plessey's technology and does not consider this to be just a financial deal.

The MicroLED Industry Association (MIA) welcomes its newest member companies - Plessey Semiconductors, UBI Research and Polar Light Technologies. The MIA aims to accelerate the adoption of microLED display technologies, bringing together companies, researchers and organizations active in the MicroLED industry and providing an ideal forum for solving common technology issues, fostering cooperation and sharing relevant information, resources and tools.

The recently joined members commented:

"Plessey Semiconductors has joined the MicroLED Industry Association, reinforcing its commitment to advancing microLED display innovation through collaborative industry engagement.”

"UBI Research is a research company specializing in OLED and Micro LED displays. It joined the MicroLED Industry Association to contribute to the growth of the Micro LED industry by providing information on global supply chains, core technologies, and market trends and prospects."

“Polar Light joins the MicroLED Industry Association to advance microLED display technologies and collaborate with industry leaders.”

Plessey Semiconductors, together with Meta Platforms, announced that they have developed a native red microLED microdisplay that achieves up to 6 million nits with a chip size of 5 um. Plessey says that this is world's brightest microLED device at this size.

In March 2020, Meta signed a deal with Plessey to dedicate all of Plessey's microLED manufacturing operations to support Meta with its own product development. Facebook pretty much acquired Plessey's microLED operations with this exclusive deal. 

Meta announced a new AR headset, called Orion. The glasses, that Meta says costs $10,000 to produce (and will probably be sold to something like that as well) are powered by microLED microdisplays. Orion packs quite advanced technology, including Silicon Carbide lens and advanced AI, but this is of course actually a prototype device, that Meta will offer commercially to developers or (very) early adopters. The Orion glasses weigh 98 grams, which still way more than what people consider to be light weight glasses (usually under 30 grams).

It is very nice to see the adoption of microLED technology by Meta. While some speculate that these microLED displays are made in-house by Meta using the Plessey Semiconductor technology and production line, it is also known that the company gave up on that course, and others speculate that these displays are produced by JBD, and are made from 3 separate monochrome microLED panels.

In March 2020, Facebook (now Meta) signed a deal with UK-based MicroLED microdisplay developer Plessey Semiconductor to dedicate all of Plessey's microLED manufacturing operations to support Facebook with its own product development. Facebook pretty much acquired Plessey's microLED operations with this exclusive deal.

Facebook hoped to utilize microLED microdisplays in future AR headsets. According to a new report, the company has decided to use LCoS microdisplays for its first consumer AR device, codenamed Artemis, which will be released (if all goes according to plan) in 2027. It seems as if the development based on Plessey's technology and processes did not progress as expected, and Meta did not manage to develop high brightness microLEDs or a process with satisfactory yields.

Vuzix announced that it is developing its next-generation Smart Glasses, that will be powered by microLED microdisplays and other advanced technologies. The first such glasses are expected to become available in 2021.

Vuzix is developing a wide range of devices, ranging from "reasonably priced consumer-facing product" to a higher end enterprise version with built-in cellular connectivity. Vuzix says that the new advanced waveguide optics and binocular displays will enable a larger field of view and an enhanced user experience. Vuzix is developing solutions based on both monochrome and full-color microLEDs.

UK-based GaN-On-Si MicroLED microdisplay developer Plessey Semiconductor announced a partnership with Facebook - in fact Plessey will dedicated all of its manufacturing operations to support Facebook with its own product development.

Plessey says that its displays will be used to support Facebook's prototypes, and the company will develop new microLED technologies to future AR/VR applications.

MicroLED microdisplay developer Plessey Semiconductor announced that it has developed new passive-matrix monochrome microLED microdisplays. Plessey says it can customize the resolution and color of its PM displays to the customer requirements.

Plessey demonstrated its first such PM microdisplays with the 48x36 blue panel you see above. The company says it plans to introduce 384x128 monochrome and 128x128 RGB passive matrix microdisplays by the end of 2020.

In October 2019 MicroLED microdisplay developer Plessey Semiconductor announced a partnership with Compound Photonics to co-develop microLED display modules. The two companies announced today that the first fully addressable microLED display module was produced and tested.

Plessey says that this first functioning microLED prototype validates the successful bonding of Plessey’s GaN-on-Si microLED array wafer to CP's high-performance 3.015 micron pixel 1080p backplane wafer. The module that was produced (shown above) is a 0.26" FHD monochrome native-green display.