The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Taiwan's largest and one of the world's leading high-tech applied research institutions, is going to showcase its latest developments at CES 2020 starring January 7, 2020, in Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center. (Image: ITRI) ITRI will present a wide range of innovative applications integrating AI, robotics and digital health technology, as well as its Micro LED technology. ITRI’s Micro LED display features its "pixel area release" technology, integrating sens...

Smart wearables including watches, glasses, headphones and others are considered rising stars in the consumer market with more and more big names launching products combining different functions for medical use, health care, entertainment and more. According to Trendforce, the global shipments of smart watches in 2019 are estimated to reach 62.63 million units. The requirements of wearable products include small size, light weight, low power consumption and environmental resistance. The progressing Micro LED technologies thus become critical for the development of smart wearables...

Japan Display (JDI) announced the development of a Micro LED display. The prototype Micro LED display will be presented at “FINTECH JAPAN 2019,” which is taking place in Makuhari Messe from December 4 to 6, 2019. The 1.6-inch Micro LED display of JDI is based on LTPS backplane developed by the company and Micro LED chips from glō, a Micro LED technology provider. The display achieves a resolution of 265 ppi with a pixel number of 300*300. (Image: JDI) JDI also noted that the Micro LED display has a wide viewin...

Automotive lighting and electronics provider Hella announced a new lighting system with high resolution, Digital Light SSL | HD. With the new lighting technology, more than 30,000 pixels can be controlled intelligently and individually, enabling numerous new safety functions like optical lane markings. According to Hella, "Digital Light SSL | HD" is a consistent further development and miniaturization of existing matrix LED systems. Together with an enlarged light-emitting surface, the s higher number of pixels is the basis for a multitude of new functiona...

As Mini LED products entering the market, equipment producer FitTech, who experts in Mini LED probing, sorting and testing is expect thriving business in 2020. (Image: FitTech) Mini LED and Micro LED technologies became more mature in the past year, leading to higher demands and requirements for back-end manufacture processes such as testing and probing. Thus, FitTech is taking orders from LED companies in Taiwan and China. Taiwanese chip producer Epistar just revealed that it will increase investment in testing equipment in 2020. In addition, currently...

The new Apple facility in Taiwan was said to be finished in December 2019 but analyst of LEDinside visited the site and noted that the building may not be completed at the scheduled time. Two weeks ago LEDinside covered that Apple is building a new plant in Taiwan which might be used for developing Micro LED products. The planned complete time was set on December 2, 2019; however, according to analyst of LEDinside who visited the site last week, the facility would take at least two to three months to be able to operate. (The new Apple facility in the front)...

At the Micro LED product launch, Konka invited Shuiji Nakamura, the Nobel winner in 2014, to share his ideas about Micro LED displays and the technology progress of his laboratory. According to Nakamura, Micro LED outpaces OLED in all the features including brightness, contrast, durability and more, however, the only challenge for Micro LED is production cost. And in order to reduce cost, the miniaturize process of LED might lead to efficiency degrease. Currently the research team has developed a 10μm Micro LED chip which is able to achieve 42% EO...

Macroblock was invited to participate in the product launch held by Konka Group at Chongqing Konka semiconductor and optoelectronics industrial park. Konka has been aggressively investing to develop Mini and Micro LED technology to aim at the high-end LED display market. At the product launch event, the company released its latest Micro LED TV series, APHAEA, including a 236 inches 8K TV with a pixel pitch of 0.68mm. The product adopt Macroblock's driver IC MBI5759 which provides image quality of 14-bit gray scale and comes with a common cathode...

Apple is currently constructing a new facility in Taiwan, next to Apple’s Taoyuan plant opened in 2015, reported Taiwan’s Wealth Magazine. According to the report, Apple is building the third plant in Taiwan which is scheduled to be finished in December 2019. Many believe that the new facility, like the old ones, are for Micro LED. (Apple's Micro LED research center in Taiwan, image: Seeking Alpha) Taiwan has been a key place for Apple in developing Micro LED technology where the iPhone maker strategically collaborated with local supply ch...

Microdisplay solutions provider Compound Photonics (CP) announced its partnership with Plessey, the UK-based Micro LED technology builder, for developing the world’s smallest 1080p (1920x1080 pixel) GaN-on-Silicon Micro LED based microdisplay solution suitable for integration into AR and MR smart glasses. Under this partnership, Plessey will bond CP’s high speed digital low-latency backplane silicon wafer with Plessey’s proprietary GaN on Silicon monolithic Micro LED array wafer. In turn, CP will utilize its deep experience in microd...

Apple just won another Micro LED related patent with other 63 patents issued on October 8, 2019, reported Patently Apple. The patent, titled “Optical Verification System of verifying Micro Device Transfer,” focuses on mass transfer process, which has been one of the most challenging issues that slow down Micro LED commercialization. (Image: the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) In the patent, Apple described an optical verification method and mass transfer system which includes optical imaging and inspection for monitoring Micro LED transfe...

Micro LED specialist glō is going showcase its Micro LED display at the CEATEC show from October 15 to 18 in Chiba, Japan. glō has cooperated with Kyocera and introduced a 1.8-inch Micro LED display at Display Week 2019. The Micro LED display based on LTPS backplane achieves a resolution of 200 ppi and brightness up to 1 million nits. The product will be demonstrated in Japan during the CEATEC show targeting smart wearable applications. (Image: glō) glō’s technology creates Micro LED with InGaN for RGB pixels without...

Plessey announced that it has successfully achieved native blue and green color emission on the same epitaxy wafer with its GaN-on-Silicon process. (Image: Plessey) To form RGB Micro LED displays, typical approaches are to use a pick and place process to transfer discrete R, G and B pixels or to use Native Blue LEDs as the light source for subsequent color conversion, to Red and Green. But the tiny chip size makes the placement process and conversion very difficult. Plessey’s latest patented growth approach simplifies the color conversion process by c...

Micro LED technology is on its way to take off with various applications launched by leading companies across the world. Small size displays for wearable products, middle size display for automotive applications and extra-large TVs are the three major areas targeted by current Micro LED players according to their strategies of Micro LED technology. LEDinside observed several roadmaps of Micro LED technology developments of different leading companies in the field. Luxury Micro LED TVs Since Micro LED technology still faces the challenge of high pro...

Patently Apple published a new article noting that Apple was granted another Micro LED related patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent is titled “Micro LED mixing cups,” describing the integration of different layers in Micro LED. The mixing cups structure, according to the patent description, includes “a diffuser layer adjacent the LED, an angular filter directly over the diffuser layer and the LED, and an overcoat layer directly over the angular filter and the LED.” These layers are designed to integrate differen...

In this press release, TrendForce provides predictions of the information and communication technology industry for 2020, focusing on 10 key themes. Demand from AI, 5G, and automotive will push back against headwinds in the global semiconductor market The global semiconductor market has been in a slump this year on account of the fallout from the US-China trade dispute. Although the demand outlook remains uncertain for 2020, TrendForce expects the market to make a gradual recovery on the back of the demand related to 5G, AI, and automotive applications. The strategies...

Mikro Mesa Technology announced a breakthrough in Micro LED mass transferring and bonding which successfully transferred Micro LED chips sized 3µm to manufacture a 4-inch display. (Image: Mikro Mesa) Mikro Mesa’s technology is capable of transfer chips sized 2 to 5 µm and can produce display with a resolution of 1,800 ppi with millions of Micro LED chips, enabling large size applications including TVs above 55-inch. In addition, the technology is featured with low temperature and press-free bonding for better yield. The low temperature process ...

Plessey announced the launch of a Micro LED Direct-Drive display platform and development kit, based on its proprietary monolithic GaN-on-Silicon technology. According to Plessey, the Direct-Drive displays provide OEM’s and product developers with a solution to retrofit current products or develop new concept designs. Sized smaller than 5x5mm, the display can deliver a brightness of 2 million nits with an input power of 250 mW. (Image: Plessey) The Direct-Drive displays are designed to presents symbolic content with pixel capabilities for 2µm. Du...

Samsung is providing its Micro LED display, The Wall Luxury, for two events, Paris Fashion Week and the Monaco Yacht Show (MYS). With its meticulous display performance, Micro LED displays are perfect fits for high-end business event to display details of innovative design and fashion. (Image: Samsung) The Wall Luxury was demonstrated as part of the Trunk Show by the Italian luxury fashion brand Colombo Via Della Spiga, held at Ritz Paris on September 23, the first day of Paris Fashion Week featuring Colombo’s new crocodile collection. ...

Micro LED and Mini LED related applications are in the spotlight of this year's Touch Taiwan International Smart Display Exhibition. Products showcased during the event included large-size Mini LED RGB outdoor displays, Mini LED backlight gaming displays, Micro LED automotive displays, and small-size wearable panels, demonstrating the technical strength of manufacturers. These next-generation display applications feature fine images and vivid colors, which are the result of uniform arrangement of millions of LED dies on the driver backplane. However,...

Swiss equipment supplier Evatec reported that it has received repeat orders from Taiwan’s Micro LED company PlayNitride. Evatec will deliver multiple fully automated thin film production tools to PlayNitride for Micro LED manufacture. The tools from Evatec will support PlayNitride’s scale up production. (Image: Evatec/PlayNitride) Evatec’s Head of BU Optoelectronics Dr. Stefan Seifried commented, “With our complete thin film process portfolio for metals, TCOs, passivation layers and DBRs Evatec sputter technology was al...

SiliconCore built a partnership with TOPCON to supply its LED driver IC products for Taiwan-based display manufacturers to meet growing demands in the progressing Micro LED and Mini LED display market. TOPCON will help SiliconCore to deliver its LED driver ICs featured with common cathode solution. Compared with LED displays adopting common anode drivers, the common cathode ICs based LED displays can save energy consumption up to 40 percent with lower surface temperature. The products are suitable for Mini LED and Micro LED display prod...

Foxconn reportedly dismissed its Micro LED R&D team in August 2019, according to the report of a Chinese online media, Smart Display. The company denied the adjustment of its teams and claimed that the dismissed team does not belong to the Foxconn Group. Foxconn has been an active player in Micro LED technology development. The company acquired Micro LED transfer technology developer eLux and chip producer Epileds, aiming to integrate internal resources including AOT, Innolux and Sharp to build up a Micro LED chain. Industry resources also noted tha...

Micro LED technology is seeing commercialization in one or two years with wearable products and large size displays leading the way. Taiwan-based Micro LED company PlayNitride is planning to increase investment for Micro LED product production while China-based Konka Group also announced to put RMB 1.5 billion (US$ 211 million) in Micro LED research and development. PlayNitride teamed up with RiTdisplay to jointly develop PM Micro LED product for wearable applications with trial production starting this year and mass production expected in 2020. Seein...

SEMICON Taiwan 2019, as a key event of the semiconductor industry, was held from September 18 to 20 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center in Taiwan. More than 700 exhibitors across the world participated in the show with focuses of smart applications, autonomous electric vehicles and more, attracting about 50,000 visitors to explore the latest technology development. During the show, LEDinside noted that several leading semiconductor equipment providers unveiled solutions and systems of Micro LED and Mini LED. The industry players are cooperating to build an eco-...

Fine pitch display is becoming a trend in the panel market with more and more manufacturers developing advanced display products and technology solutions. GaN-on-Si Micro LED specialist Plessey announced that it has produced a record-breaking 2.5-micron pixel pitch ultra-high resolution Micro LED display for AR/VR wearable applications. Plessey created an ultra-fine, ultra-high resolution 2000×2000 pixel display on a 2.5 microns pitch with its propriety monolithic GaN-on-Si technology. The UK-based company is dedicated to embedded Micro LED technology for...

With Nichia’s LED and driver IC from Infineon, advanced automotive front light with Micro LED enables safer driving and innovative application. The two companies announced that they have started the development of a high-definition (HD) light engine with more than 16,000 Micro LEDs for front light applications. According to Nichia, the Micro LED-based matrix light will offer a resolution about 180 times higher compared to current front light solution, paving the way for improved safety features. For example, HD light can be used to warn the driver of haza...

Plessey, the UK-based optoelectronic technology solutions developer, said that it has transferred its business focus from high-powered solid-state lighting, horticultural lighting and healthcare/ safety sensors sector to GaN-on-Si monolithic Micro LED display technology. The company is disrupting the global display market with a new generation of Augmented Reality (AR) devices and display solutions based on the Micro LED technology. (Image: Plessey) Featured with high brightness, high contrast, lower power consumption, fast refresh time and the capabilities of int...

Sony announced that it has launched its Crystal LED display system for consumers. The Micro LED display from Sony is able to provide up to 16K video content, offering an unrivaled cinema experience at home, if the customers are able to pay US$ 5 million. (Image: Songy) Having initially introduced its Micro LED display Crystal LED for use in commercial and entertainment venues, Sony began to offer residential configurations and installation of its Micro LED display module. The company provided some samples for residential configuration including 4K size w...

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Germany and Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI) announced their cooperation on the development of printed quantum dots (QD) color filters for Micro LED displays. Dr. Youngsam Kim, President of KETI and Prof. Alexander Böker, Head of the Fraunhofer IAP seal the continuation of their cooperation.  Quantum dots are nanocrystals with optical, magnetic or electronic properties. These nanocrystals have a diameter of about 1-10 nm. The small diameter causes so-called qua...