November 2022

This is a sponsored post by STAr Technologies

With more and more mature technology for Mini- and Micro-LEDs fabrication, manufacturers are gearing up for the production phase and critically looking for more test efficiency and fast testing for the optical devices. STAr Technologies, as the leading Mini- and Micro-LEDs tester supplier continuously develops measurement technology to enhance optical testing capabilities and parallel test efficiency and to achieve cost-effective high-volume production.

Image: STAr Unicorn-LAIT II Tester Equipped EMI Shielded Test Environment

STAr’s Unicorn-LAIT II tester is designed to meet diverse industry requirements and to ensure accurate and reliable measurement results in the shortest amount of test time, based on an integrated parallel test architecture. The tester is ideal for electrical, optical measurement, driver functionality, RGB testing, etc. The tester is equipped with high efficient Dark and EMI Shield test environment dedicated to LED and Laser Applications. The system can be upgradeable with an autoloader for a fully automatic test with a cassette.

In August 2022, we posted that both Samsung Display and LG Display started to develop microLED microdisplay technologies. According to a new report from Korea, Meta is in talks with both Korean companies regarding the future supply of both OLED and MicroLED microdisplays.

It is said that Samsung targets AR devices with its microLED microdisplay technology, while it targets VR devices with its OLED microdisplays. Samsung's microLED displays will achieve a resolution of 6,000 to 7,000 PPI (higher than its OLED devices).

Researchers from Korea-based KAIST institute developed a microLED-powered wearable patch that acts as an UV-induced inhibitor for melanogenesis, the creation of brown or dark pigments that can lead to skin diseases.

LEDs have been used to photo-stimulate in skin care, but normal devices cannot conform to the skin shape, they operate from a distance which is problematic. If the patch is connected to the skin, it achieves much more effective photo-treatment. In this research, the team fabricated a 4x4 cm² wearable device made from an array of 100-micron sized microLED chips, vertically interconnected for high flexibility.

We're happy to interview Lextar, as part of our new series of interviews with MicroLED Industry Association members. Lextar, a global LED developer, was established in 2008 in Taiwan as a subsidiary of AU Optronics, and is now part of Ennostar following a merger with Epistar. Lextar is producing microLED chips, and has launched its first commercial microLED products In 2018.

Q: Hello! Can you introduce your company and technology?

Lextar Electronics, a subsidiary of Ennostar Inc., was founded in May 2008 and has top research and developed team on T.E.M.O.( Thermal．Electrical ．Mechanical. Optical ) vertical integration technology with over 2,300 patents worldwide and offers excellent optoelectronics technology solutions and services based on great expertise and group support. Lextar’s products cover LCD backlights, Mini LED, automotive, 3D/2D sensing, UV sterilization/curing and professional lighting which are widely applied in home appliances, automotive, industrial areas, etc.

In order to accelerate the investment of advanced applications and improve operation efficiency, Lextar and EPISTAR jointly established the best compound semiconductor investment platform - Ennostar Holdings (stock code 3714) through share swap in 2021.

Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), is introducing its latest microLED microdisplay technologies, and unveils its latest microdisplay prototype.

The 0.5" display offers full-color images (using blue LEDs and quantum-dots based color conversion), high resolution (over 2,000 PPI) and high brightness (over 20,000 nits). The display offers high power efficiency - ITRI says it consumes less than half the energy of current solutions (likely compared to OLED microdisplays).

3D-Micromac announced that a leading optical solutions provider has purchased several microMIRA laser lift-off (LLO) systems to use in the production of microLED devices. The systems will be installed in pilot lines and production lines at its state-of-the-art LED chip factory in Asia

3D-Micromac says that the microMIRA laser system provides highly uniform, force-free lift-off of different layers on large-area substrates at high processing speeds without the need for costly and polluting wet chemical processes. The unique line beam system is built on a highly customizable platform that can incorporate different laser sources, wavelengths and beam paths to meet each customer's unique requirements. The system is capable of processing different substrate materials and sizes, and can achieve processing speeds (including handling) of up to 60 eight-inch wafers per hour.

LG Display demonstrated a 12" 100 PPI (pixel pitch 40 um) full-color stretchable MicroLED display. The display can stretch up to 20% (to create a 14" display).

LGD says that this display can be commercialized soon, as it is highly flexible, durable, and reliable. The new display is produced on a "highly resilient film-type substrate made of special silicon used in contact lenses".

DSSC says that microLED display revenues will grow from around $40 million in 2023 to over $1.3 billion in 2027. While this is fast growth, it means that DSCC does not believe microLED will penetrate large display markets at least until 2028, and indeed the analysts say that lowering production costs will be necessary before microLEDs can become competitive against OLEDs and LCDs.

DSSC sees microLED microdisplay, produced using a monolithic process, taking up about 25% of the microLED display market. The largest segment for microdisplays will be smartwatches or wearable displays - as the low pixel size (relative to other display segments, at least) means that microLED technologies is relatively mature for that segment.

In the next two weeks, Toray Research Center (TRC) is hosting online webinars focused on display technologies. TRC, who supplies technical analysis and support for R&D and manufacturing, invites you to attend the online lectures at no cost, to learn more about microLED, OLED and QD technologies.

The webinars include recorded presentations, which will be available online up until to November 22. You can register for the webinars here.

We're happy to interview ALLOS Semiconductors, as part of our new series of interviews with MicroLED Industry Association members. ALLOS Semiconductors is an IP licensing and technology company that focuses on GaN-on-Si technology for the microLED industry. ALLOS offers a turn-key technology transfer to establish a super-uniform CMOS-compatible large epiwafer process at customers within only 12 weeks.

Q: Hello! Can you introduce your company and technology?

ALLOS Semiconductors is the global leader for gallium nitride on silicon epiwafer technologies (GaN-on-Si) for next generation, micro LED-based display solutions and other applications building on more than 20 years track-record.

Our customer and partner base includes top-tier companies from the electronic device, display, LED and semiconductor foundry industries. They benefit from the cost, yield and performance advantages of our patent-protected 200 and 300 mm GaN-on-Si micro LED epiwafer technologies – including our unique 1 bin® technologies.