MicroLED-Info

MicroLED-Connect is an upcoming hybrid event series, a year-long program of virtual and onsite events, all focused on the microLED industry. The first MicroLED Connect virtual event is coming up later this month, a 2-day virtual event that will be focused on microLED (and also miniLED) technologies. The event will include over 25 lectures from leading companies, researchers and market analysts. The series is organized by the MicroLED Industry Association together with TechBlick.

In this post we share three online presentations, taken from last year's online microLED event (November 2022). The first video, above, is from the SSLEEC group (led by Prof. Denbaars and Prof. Nakamura) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, that discusses the latest microLED research performed at this world-renowned group. 

Samsung, Sony, LG and others are producing commercial microLED panels, mostly for ultra-premium, signage and commercial applications. The ultra-large size displays are made from small microLED modules, seamlessly tiled together.

MicroLED technology makes it possible to connect two tiles in a way that retains exactly the same pixel pitch even at the tile connection (this is something that is challenging to do with OLED or LCD displays). When the displays are active, it is indeed very difficult to spot the seam. When the display is completely black however, this is not the case.

France-based Hummink develops high percussion capillary printing technology, that enables a highly controlled and prices (sub-micron scale) deposition of materials. The company's VP Business Development, Dr. Frederic Raynal, will give a lecture at the upcoming MicroLED-Connect virtual webinar on November 2023, and was kind enough to answer a few questions we had.

Hello Dr. Raynal. Can you give us a short intro to your company and microLED product/service?

Hummink is the leading developer and supplier of High Precision Capillary Printing (HPCAP), a revolutionary technology in many applications including the display and semiconductor industry. Spun-off from world-renowned research institutes, the company is based in Paris, with representatives in key regions (Korea, US, Taiwan, Japan, Europe). HPCAP involves the controlled deposition of materials, achieving high pixel densities with accurate alignment at extremely small sizes (sub-micronic scale), which is mandatory for the manufacturing of current and future generations of MicroLED. Hummink is a technology provider, enabling customers to have access to both equipments and inks through a single partnership.

Singapore-based nsc innovation is an integrated circuit design company, that develops microLED microdisplays based on a monolithically integrated silicon CMOS with GaN LEDs platform, produced at full wafer scale. Kenneth Lee, nsc's co-founder, will give a lecture at the upcoming MicroLED-Connect virtual webinar on November 2023, and was kind enough to answer a few questions we had.

Hello Kenneth, can you give us a short introduction to nsc and your microLED technology?

nsc is an integrated circuit design company based out of Singapore. nsc aims to enhance the human experience through future technology by creating ground-breaking integrated circuits that will underpin future technological waves. 

Our chips are the first to effectively integrate silicon CMOS with GaN LEDs monolithically and at full wafer scale, while maintaining compatibility with traditional CMOS manufacturing. By doing so, nsc offers the functionality and manufacturability needed to enable widespread adoption of microdisplays.

US-based eLux was established in 2016 in the USA as a spin-out from Sharp Labs of America, with an aim to develop a massively parallel assembly (transfer) process that enable low cost manufacturing of microLED displays. eLux's president and CEO Jan-Jong Lee will give a lecture at the upcoming MicroLED-Connect virtual webinar on November 2023, and was kind enough to answer a few questions we had.

Hello JJ, can you give us a short intro to your company and microLED product/service?

eLux proprietary fluidic assembly technology (FSA) has several significant advantages over conventional mass transfer methods used for competing microLED displays. Most important is that massively parallel assembly can achieve assembly rates over 5 million devices per hour using simple equipment and assembly can be scaled up to Gen 6 backplanes. eLux welcomes collaboration IP license with display companies to introduce microLED displays to the market.

Innovation Semiconductor is a US-based early stage company that develops technologies for color-tunable vertically-integrated microLED displays. The company's CTO and co-founder Matthew Hartensveld will give a lecture at the upcoming MicroLED-Connect virtual webinar on November 2023, and was kind enough to answer a few questions we had.

Hello Matthew, can you give us a short intro to your company and microLED product/service?

Innovation Semiconductor is a pioneering microLED startup offering comprehensive monolithic display solutions. We're advancing unique technologies like GaN-based MOSFETs and microLEDs on one wafer. Additionally, we're crafting color-adjustable microLEDs all while using standard semiconductor equipment.

What will you talk about during the microLED Connect's event?

During the microLED Connect's event, I will discuss our innovative approach to color-tunable microLEDs. We utilize strain engineering to produce regions with varying Indium content, enabling red to blue emission from a singular InGaN material system. We've also fabricated prototype arrays to demonstrate the capabilities of this technology.

With summer nearing its end and the new year right around the corner, we thought a few updates were in order! It's been a busy year at MicroLED-Info.

In 2022, we launched the MicroLED Industry Association, to serve as an international industry forum to promote microLED technologies and collaboration. The association closed a successful first year, growing to over 40 companies, including leading microLED developers, supply chain companies, researchers, and more. We have organized 11 webinars and meetups, published four white papers and the microLED Library - and conducted our first onsite meeting during Display Week 2023.

We have exciting plans for the second year of the MicroLED Association, including two onsite meetings (one in Europe, and one in the US), the publication of our first roadmap, and a drafting of suggested practices as part of a first industry standards document.

Here are some recent and popular MicroLED stories featured at MicroLED-Info, in case you missed it:

• LG Electronics launches a 118-inch 4K MAGNIT MicroLED TV
• MicroLED Connect: the world's first microLED-focused industry event
• JBD starts shipping full-color RGB microLED microdisplay samples
• PlayNitride to expand its production volume to 10,000 6-inch wafers per month
• The MicroLED Association reports over 2000 downloads for its white papers
• Samsung Display developed a 0.25" Full-HD microLED AR microdisplay
• SID Displayweek 2023 - MicroLED summary
• TrendForce: the microLED chip market is set to reach $580 million in 2027
• Mojo Vision developed the world's highest density red microLED microdisplay
• TrendForce: Apple delays the launch of its microLED smartwatch further to 2026
• HC Semitek starts building a $700 million microLED production line in Zhuhai, China
• Samsung Electronics launches a $100,000 89-inch microLED TV in Korea
• AUO to convert one of its LCD fabs to microLED production by 2025
• KAIST researchers create microLEDs that are not sensitive to sidewall defects
• DSCC: LGD to build a microLED backplane line for Apple by the end of 2024

MicroLED-Info, in collaboration with the MicroLED Industry Association (MIA) and TechBlick are jointly launching MicroLED Connect, a microLED-focused conference that will take place on September 24-26 2024, in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

The event will include a conference, masterclasses, an exhibition - and will place a big focus on networking opportunities and activities. MicroLED-Connect will bring together leading researchers (academia and R&D institutes), microLED developers and display makers, who will present the latest technology and research advancements, the challenges still facing the industry, the current status of the industry and market, and much more!

In addition to the live (in-person) event in September, MicroLED-Connect will also offer a year-round virtual program of microLED focused webinars.

On September 4th the MicroLED Industry Association will host a private webinar on automotive displays and technologies. The automotive market represents a very good segment for microLED developers, as it offers high performance requirements, relative microLED maturity and the ability to adopt premium solutions.

During the webinar, we will look at current solutions and future roadmaps, learn how the automotive industry looks at display solutions and next-generation technologies and see how microLEDs could find a market in the automotive industry.

The upcoming Seminar will feature three world-leading speakers, and will also be open to a Q&A session, to help increase microLED developers knowledge and involvement in the automotive industry: