August 2017

A few days ago Apple was awarded with 52 different patents, covering a wide range of technologies that include 3D glasses, in-air gesturing, fingerprint sensing and more.

One of these patents details a Micro-LED device that is able to both emit and sense light. We have seen similar solutions based on OLEDs - in that case the photo-diodes were placed between the OLED pixels, to create a micro-display that can sense light (possible applications are for example eye-tracking in a VR headset).

Digitimes posted an interesting interview with Epistar's president, Jou Ming-Jiunn. Jou says that the most optimistic scenario is for micro-LED displays to enter production by the end of 2018, with real devices appearing in 2019. There are still challenges ahead though, and Epistar's customers have not yet committed to anything.

According to Jou, there are two main routes to the market for Micro-LED makers: VR/AR or wearable displays and large-area TV panels. It is not clear yet which will route will arrive first.

Market research company TrendForce says Micro LED displays still face several challenges. Commercialization of LED displays with small pitch sizes, which TrendForce calls "Micro LED-like" displays are expected by 2018.

TrendForce defines Micro LED displays as displays with LED size smaller than 100 microns. There are still several challenges ahead - with a major one being the the mass transfer of micron-size LEDs to a display backplane. Companies are now aiming to commercialize 150 micron displays as early as next year, and then will follow to develop processes to support small LED sizes.