IC designer Sapien Semiconductors announced that it has successfully completed the development of its first microLED driver IC. The S25LM81 IC utilizes Sapien's Memory-inside-Pixel (MiP) that stores image data inside each pixel and a partial update technique that refreshes only portions of the screen, and can be used to drive microLED chips ranging in size from 15 to 30 μm.
The Sapien S25LM81 can drive a 10x10 RGB microLED module (300 microLED chips), where each pixel can be controlled individually. The company presented a 2.9-inch tile, branded as Micro-Tile, that supports resolutions ranging from 100 to 500 PPI. Multiple tiles can be seamlessly connected, allowing to scale the screen size and resolution.
In this design, Sapien also utilizes its patented Pixel On Driver (POD) packaging technology, which integrates the LED and driver chip into a single unit, using a Through-Silicon Via (TSV) process. This minimizes the gap between tiles, enabling ultra-fine, high-density implementation while also improving assembly and reducing manufacturing costs.
