March 2018

OLED microdisplay maker eMagin reported its financial results for Q4 2017, and during the quarter's conference call its CEO, Andrew Sculley, discussed Micro-LED for microdisplays.

VueReal Micro-LED microdisplay prototype

eMagin actually did a research in this area with a University and has some patents towards micro-LED based microdisplays. However according to Andrew this technology still faces some challenges and it may take several years before Micro-LEDs could be applied to microdisplays - unlike TVs or larger displays which are already on the market.

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In early 2018 LG Display announced that it is developing Micro-LED displays, for large-area TVs at first. It is now revealed that LGD filed for three new trademarks in the EU, and all three seem to be related to microLEDs: XμLED, SμLED, and XLμLED.

In its filing, LGD says that these trademarks will primarily be used for smartphones, but the trademarks could also be applied to laptops, tablets, wearables and VR glasses. Interestingly LGD did not say it could be applied to TVs or large-area displays, which will probably be LGD's first Micro-LED application, so it's not really clear what these trademarks really mean.

The Korea Herald reports that Apple and its subsidiary LuxVue Technology applied for over 30 Micro-LED patents in Korea in the past 10 years. As Apple's Micro-LED project is progressing, the company aims to prevent its competitors in Korea (mainly Samsung and LGD) from using its key Micro-LED technology.

According to the report, Apple applied for 11 patents directly, while LuxVue applied for 23 patents. LuxVue was acquired by Apple in 2014. Apple applied for patents that related to the Micro-LED chip structure, the pick-and-place process and the driving system.

Australia-based RPCVD developer BluGlass announced that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with a "well-funded" microLED company to investigate the use of its Remote Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (RPCVD) production technology to produce RGB MicroLED devices.

BluGlass estimates that Micro-LED production will benefit from its low-temperature RPCVD manufacturing solution. The two companies will work together to demonstrate proof of concept of a unique red, green and blue (RGB) microLED display application. BluGlass will be paid for its deposition services and retain all RPCVD related IP rights resulting from the collaboration.

According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is making good progress in its Micro-LED development project, and has managed to produce promising display samples. Apple is seeking to use Micro-LED displays in future wearable products.

Apple display facility, Santa Clara, CA

Apple is not likely to become a MicroLED producer, and it will seek partners to eventually produce the displays. However controlling the basic technology could be very beneficial to Apple that aims to be the only company able to use Micro-LED displays - starting in wearables, but also perhaps in smartphones and VR HMDs. In any case, Bloomberg reports that it will still take a few years before Apple's technology is ready for production.

UK-based Optovate announced that it has developed a technology that enables multiple microLEDs transferred in parallel from a wafer to a substrate to be aligned in one step with a precision optical array.

Optovate says that this technology is protected in a portfolio of 20 granted and pending patents dating from 2008. The company is now looking for display partners to commercialize its technology.

Shanghai-based JBD is developing micro-LED based Microdisplays for near-eye and image projection applications, using the company's proprietary hybrid monolithic integration technology. JBD received a $10 million investment and developed a 5,000 PPI micro-LED array, with plans to reach 10,000 PPI.

JBD is already offering VGA monochrome (red, green and blue) micro-LED microdisplays. LEDs Inside posted an interesting interview with JBD's CEO and CTO that discuss the company's technology and its goal for 2018 and 2019.

Micro-LED microdisplay developer VueReal announced the initial closing of its $10.5 million Series A funding round, led by the venture arm of a large Asian company and a leading North American vendor focused on startups with emerging technology.

VueReal says that its proprietary sub-10 micrometer, high-efficiency micro-LED technology and its patented mass transfer process enables high-performance super low-power displays, coupled with a significant cost reduction.

Wuhan-based LED producer HC Semitek announced it is launching nine new development projects, with support from the Yiwu Information and Optoelectronics Hi-Tech Industrial Park.

One of these future new projects involves the development of components for Micro-LED displays. HC Semitek's investment in these nine projects will be $1.7 billion (this also includes the company's expansion and buildings in the Yiwu industrial park). The construction of HC Semitek's new facilities will be completed by 2025.