lasers

Toray Industries announced that it has developed a new conductive bonding material that works at lower temperatures (110 degrees Celsius) and pressures (5 megapascals) compared to existing materials, and is suitable for microLED processes. 

Toray's new material is based on the company's RAYBRID photodefinable conductive material (produced from metals, glass, ceramics and other materials), combined with nanocarbon and adhesives. The company plans to start producing the new material by early 2025.

We're happy to interview 3D Micromac, as part of our series of interviews with MicroLED Industry Association members. Germany-based 3D-Micromac is the industry leader in laser micromachining and roll-to-roll laser systems. The company offers laser equipment for µLED forward transfer, lift-off and repair process steps - ready for high volume production.

Hello, can you introduce your company and technology?

Frank Richter (Head of Sales at 3D Micromac): 3D-Micromac has established itself as a leader in laser micromachining and a pioneer of new production technologies for various industries for the last 20 years. This especially applies to the excimer and ultra-short pulse laser technology.

We have extensive experience applying innovative laser technology to new and emerging applications to support their volume-production requirements. For MicroLED production, ultra-high precision in combination with the highest reliability and stability is needed. These are core competencies of 3D-Micromac.

Our product portfolio includes several laser-based system solutions for various manufacturing steps in the MicroLED production process. All systems offer integrated process control and monitoring to assure stable and reliable operation, thus enabling high throughput and low yield losses. 

Coherent manufactures several key AR display components and is actively working to improve the technology.

This is a sponsored message by Coherent

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have received a lot of media buzz over the past few years. They promise benefits for applications are as diverse as gaming, healthcare, training, engineering, architecture, interior design, travel, defense, and even product marketing. But today, VR/AR still hasn’t had a significant impact on most people’s lives.

Two main reasons for this are VR/AR headset quality and cost. Specifically, quality includes factors like image brightness, resolution, field-of-view, and electronic characteristics like speed and power consumption. Plus, practical considerations, including headset size, weight, and battery lifetime are also important. And cost means bringing down headset prices low enough to make them accessible to most consumers.

We're happy to interview Coherent, as part of our series of interviews with MicroLED Industry Association members. Coherent is one of the world's leading laser innovators and manufacturers, providing systems and components for the production of OLED and microLED displays.

Q: Can you introduce your company and technology?

Oliver Haupt, Director, Marketing, Display Vertical, Coherent Corp: For over 50 years, we have been providing high-performing, reliable photonics-based solutions that have become the enabling tool in many applications. Today, Coherent Corp. is one of the world’s leading photonics innovators and manufacturers.

Displays are getting larger and more interactive in our homes and cars. State-of-the-art displays are slim, bendable, and high-resolution, with a wide color gamut. Future displays will range in size from tiny ones for AR/VR applications, to more than 100-inch in diagonal for very large wall TVs.

Germany-based 3D-Micromac is the industry leader in laser micromachining and roll-to-roll laser systems. The company develops and manufactures processes and laser systems delivering powerful, user-friendly and leading-edge processes with superior production efficiency. 3D-Micromac offers industrial laser solutions for the mass production of microLED displays.

We had the pleasure of talking to Frank Richter, Head of Sales and Product Management at 3D-Micromac. Frank explained 3D-Micromac's solutions and technologies for microLED production, and the company's views on the future of microLEDs.

Q: Can you detail 3D-Micromac's solutions for the MicroLED market?

Frank Richter, Head of Sales and Product Management: 3D-Micromac’s product portfolio includes several laser-based system solutions for various manufacturing steps in the MicroLED production process. All systems offer an integrated process control and monitoring to assure stable and reliable operation thus enabling high throughput and low yield losses.

3D-Micromac announced that a leading optical solutions provider has purchased several microMIRA laser lift-off (LLO) systems to use in the production of microLED devices. The systems will be installed in pilot lines and production lines at its state-of-the-art LED chip factory in Asia

3D-Micromac says that the microMIRA laser system provides highly uniform, force-free lift-off of different layers on large-area substrates at high processing speeds without the need for costly and polluting wet chemical processes. The unique line beam system is built on a highly customizable platform that can incorporate different laser sources, wavelengths and beam paths to meet each customer's unique requirements. The system is capable of processing different substrate materials and sizes, and can achieve processing speeds (including handling) of up to 60 eight-inch wafers per hour.

In the next two weeks, Toray Research Center (TRC) is hosting online webinars focused on display technologies. TRC, who supplies technical analysis and support for R&D and manufacturing, invites you to attend the online lectures at no cost, to learn more about microLED, OLED and QD technologies.

The webinars include recorded presentations, which will be available online up until to November 22. You can register for the webinars here.

This is an article by TechBlick, organizers of the upcoming MicroLED Displays virtual event. MicroLED-Info readers get a 100 Euro discount.

In this article, using select technology slides, we highlight several interesting advancements in MicroLED and/or QD displays. More specifically, we cover 3600PPI “Silicon” Displays | Gravure printed microbumps | Electrohydrodynamically printed QD color converters | Laser LLO and Transfer for MicroLEDs | QD vs Phosphors | Energy saving credentials of microLED

“Silicon” Displays with an incredible 3600ppi full color using microLED and QD technology?

Sharp (HIRANO Yasuakie et al) has developed this technology.

As shown in the slide below, first blue-only uLEDs are formed on a sapphire substrate. Here, one LED array contains 352 x 198 micro LED dies of 24 um x 8 um in size. In parallel, an LSI chip containing the driving circuitry is formed on a silicon wafer. Here, the cathode (N-type electrode) and anode (P-type electrode) are fabricated for each micro LED die to apply driving voltage independently to each die. The Au bump electrodes are fabricated in accordance with the pitch of the LED dies. The two substrates are flip-chip bonded using Au-Au bonding. Here one can already see the parallel to the silicon and optoelectronic industry (vs. the traditional thin film display industry!). Next, the sapphire layer is removed via laser lift off. Finally, Cd-free quantum dots (green and red) are deposited atop the microLED dies to enable R G color conversion. This way one achieves RGB colors.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries (K&S) announced that it has received two purchase orders, from two separate customers, for its LUMINEX, a disruptive laser-based mini and micro LED die-transfer solution.

K&S says that its highly flexible system is capable of single die transfer, multi-die transfer and mass transfer, supporting sorting, mixing, re-pitching and placement process steps. The broad flexibility of this system addresses the growing advanced display value chain and supports needs of LED, OSAT, panel and display suppliers.

Taiwan-based laser micromachining subsystem and equipment manufacturer Bolite Optoelectronics announced its new automated side-wiring system, the laser-based Bolite SW-L, which can be used for the production of tiled microLED displays.

This laser-based tool offers high-precision alignment, advanced process control, and full automation with robotic handling. The minimum line with and spacing is 5 um. Bolite says that this system is highly compatible with TFT production processes. The SW-L systems are now available, and Bolite is already accepting orders.