Where will MicroLED technology take us? We’re only beginning to see all the possibilities it holds for display and imaging, but there are many reasons to envision a bright future. Ioannis (John) Kymissis, is the Kenneth Brayer Professor of Electrical Engineering at Columbia University and Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering. The president-elect of the Society for Information Display (SID) shares his engineering expertise in display technology during a conversation that illuminates how MicroLEDs are leading the way toward unprecedented innovation.
Q. What are some of the diverse applications of microLED technology across industries, and how does its versatility contribute to innovation?
A. Today, we are seeing microLEDs primarily considered for displays but there are also a range of applications outside displays that can benefit from the technology. Applications include 3D printing, communication, and use as illumination sources in structured backlights and cameras.
Q. How is MicroLED technology revolutionizing the display industry beyond traditional TVs and smartphones, and how is it driving innovation in areas like automotive displays and AR/VR devices?
A. I think the most immediate application area has been in high-intensity headlights; ams OSRAM has released a product that allows for dynamic illumination with 20,000 pixels in each field. There has also been some product traction in AR/VR displays; Vuzix and Jade Bird Display have released a very compact and compelling optical system that allows for the creation of compact glasses using MicroLED technology.
While current displays offer very high-quality images — more or less at the limit of human perception — microLEDs offer the potential for even better displays with a higher energy efficiency and luminance well above what is possible with other display technologies. I'm especially optimistic about the potential in the AR/VR/MR space, where the high luminance allows for display configurations that are impossible today, with daylight readability, integration with the environment, and high enough energy efficiency to allow for battery-powered operation.
Q. How are highly stretchable, liquid metal-based, deformable microLED displays contributing to advancements in imaging and display technology?
A. Liquid metals are an interesting technology that allows for large flexibility and stretchability for conductors. I think that the integration with microLEDs that will be presented will allow for a range of new form factors and display formats.
Q. How will Display Week offer educational opportunities to further explore the wide-ranging applications of microLED technology across various industries?
A. In addition to the symposium topics focused on emerging display technologies for digital and e-signage displays and technologies for customizing display design, Display Week will have both a seminar and a short course on microLEDs as well as some content on light guides and the design of optical elements. MicroLED is one of the most active areas for the conference.
MicroLEDS and Mega Possibilities at Display Week 2024
Keep up on the latest advancements in MicroLEDs and other imaging technologies May 12-17 in San Jose, California. Display Week puts you at the center of the industry with unmatched technical sessions on a broad range of topics and a vibrant exhibition floor showcasing new products from over 200 leading companies. This year’s program also includes special events such as the Business Conference, the Young Leadership Conference, the CEO Forum, the Women In Tech panel discussion and specialty panels on microLED and AR/VR/MR/XR technology. Additionally, the MicroLED Association 2024 Annual Meeting will be held during Display Week on May 13.
Join more than 7,000 experts from 50-plus countries at the conference and expo that shapes the future of the $169.2 billion global display industry. Display Week is presented by SID, the international organization that brings together top scientists, engineers, corporate researchers, and business leaders to promote and support a thriving industry.
Register for Display Week 2024 today.
Ioannis (John) Kymissis is the Kenneth Brayer Professor of Electrical Engineering at Columbia University. He graduated with his SB, M.Eng., and Ph.D. degrees from MIT. His M.Eng. thesis was performed as a co-op at the IBM TJ Watson Research Lab on organic thin-film transistors, and his Ph.D. was obtained in the Microsystems Technology Lab at MIT, working on field-emission displays. After a post-doc and work at QDVision, he joined the faculty at Columbia University in electrical engineering in 2006 as an assistant professor, and is currently serving as chair of the department. Kymissis has won a number of awards for his work, including the NSF CAREER award, the IEEE EDS Paul Rappaport award, and the MIT Clean Energy Prize. He is a fellow of SID, IEEE, and Optical, and is the President-Elect of SID.
