December 2024

Researchers from France's CEA-Leti and CNRS institutes have succeeded in growing highly efficient red, green and blue InGaN submicron microLED nano-pyramids.

The researchers have deposited the nanopyramids by using an MOCVD-based technique, and using nanoselective area growth using an in-situ patterned graphene on SiC as a mask. The researchers report that these microLEDs offer high efficiency with the red microLED offering very regular quantum wells emitting at 620 nm with an In content up to 40%.

A year ago Foxconn announced a strategic partnership with Porotech to co-develop microLED microdisplays, targeting AR, wearable and other applications. Foxconn said that this partnership will utilize Porotech's Dynamic Pixel Tuning color-tunable GaN-on-Silicon microLED technology and Foxconn's technologies in semiconductor wafer manufacturing, packaging, IC drivers, CMOS backplanes, module assembly and system assembly.

According to a new report from China, Foxconn plans to build a microLED epiwafer production line in Taichung, Taiwan. Foxconn aims to start mass production by the end of 2025.

Here are some of our top MicroLED stories and updates featured at MicroLED-Info, in case you missed it:

• Mark your calendars for the 2025 MicroLED-Connect event!
• Meta announces $10,000 AR glasses powered by microLED microdisplays
• JBD developed a 2 million nits full-color microLED microdisplay, plans production in 2025
• Google shows AR glasses powered by Raxium microLED microdisplays
• PlayNitride reports its first quarterly profit ever as revenues increase 50%
• AUO stays committed to microLED technologies, plans to increase investments
• Apple cancels its microLED wearable project
• Researchers develop high-density 10 million nits 3400 PPI microLEDs
• The MicroLED Association and Techblick conclude a highly successful MicroLED Connect 2024
• Samsung shows a transparent microLED display prototype
• Avicena demonstrates the world's first microLED-based transceiver IC in 16nm
• The MicroLED Industry Association publishes its first microLED industry roadmap
• PlayNitride to build a microLED production line for AUO, in a $21 million deal
• HC Semitek starts building a $700 million microLED production line in Zhuhai, China
• Samsung Electronics launches a $100,000 89-inch microLED TV in Korea

We are excited to announce the 2nd annual MicroLED-Connect conference, scheduled for September 24-25, 2025, in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The event is a joint-collaboration between the MicroLED Industry Association and Techblick, and in 2025 it will be co-located with the 1st AR/VR-Connect conference.

This in-person event will unite leading industry experts to explore the latest innovations, advancements and challenges in microLED display technology. Attendees can look forward to engaging activities such as tours, masterclasses, exhibition and more.

Stay tuned for more information regarding the agenda and registration details. In addition to the flagship in-person event in Eindhoven, MicroLED-Connect also includes a year-long online program and access to all recordings and proceedings from MicroLED-Connect 2024 and all previous virtual events. We eagerly anticipate your participation, and you can already register to MicroLED-Connect now, enjoy our early bird pricing and access our online events and recordings.

China-based MicroLED microdisplay developer Jade Bird Display have developed a full-color microLED microdisplay that achieves a brightness of 2 million nits (white-balanced).

JBD says that its Phoenix series RGB microdisplays offer a pixel pitch of 5 micron, an ultra-thin stack of less than 5 micron, native RGB emitters and high color fidelity. JBD hopes to commercialize its full color microdisplays in Q3 2025. 

A state-of-the-art GaN production facility in Europe has been put up for sale. As per the seller, the facility offers extensive GaN capabilities as well as a track record of doing high-volume CMOS production. The facility include 40,000 sqft of cleanroom space, and about 200 process tools (80% of which are 200 mm). This facility is currently engaged in R&D development and low-volume micro LED manufacturing with existing profitable revenue. The identity of the seller has not been published.

The sell has exclusively retained ATREG to handle the sale. ATREG says that the facility is offered with a comprehensive IP portfolio, over 250 skilled employees (of which 110 are engineers), and specialized capabilities in MOCVD, CMP, and wafer bonding. In addition to the current micro LED capabilities, the fab is suited for GaN power devices, advanced photonics, GaAs processing, and MEMS/sensors manufacturing. The fab has received significant investment over the past five years, including sub-fab upgrades, cleanroom expansion, utility improvements, and other facility upgrades.

Pyramidical GaN microLED developer Polar Light Technologies announced that it has managed to produce red (625 nm) microLEDs based on its non-etching bottom-up platform. The company now has demonstrated the production of red, green and blue pyramidal microLEDs using the same material compound. 

Red is the most challenging microLED emitter, and companies have been looking at several alternatives to native GaN red microLEDs, including 3D nanowires, color conversion, and color tunable LEDs.  Polar Light Technologies’ microLED is composed of pyramid shapes that are built with a novel bottom-up approach, a technology that the company says comes with unique benefits, including reduced strain in the lattice of the InGaN/GaN structure, a unique possibility of frontplane integration, no etching damage (and so higher efficiency), ability to produce small microLEDs, even sub-micron, a narrow emission cone and more. 

Veeco announced that PlayNitride has evaluated its Luina MOCVD systems for microLED growth, and has now qualified it for production. PlayNitride placed an order for two systems that will be delivered in 2025

PlayNitride is building a complete supply chain for microLED production, from epiwafer production through chip processing, transfer process and more. Last year AUO announced a $21.5 million agreement with PlayNitride to build a 6-inch microLED production line at AUO's Longtan factory. Earlier in 2023, PlayNitride said that it is increasing its production volume to 10,000 6" wafers per month.

Last month OTFT developer Smartkem announced that it has partnered with AUO to jointly develop rollable transparent microLED displays, based on Smartkem's OTFT backplane technology. The project will be based on a novel OTFT production process developed at ITRI. 

Smartkem announced today that it was granted $1.1 million from the Innovate UK fund to support this project. This funding is part of the 2024 UK-Taiwan Collaborative R&D Initiative. The funding will be paid over the period of the two-year project, starting in early 2025.

In 2022, Google acquired Raxium, a US-based microLED microdisplay developer. The company has since continued the development of these microdisplays, and yesterday it has demonstrated its latest Project Astra AR headset, that is powered by Raxium microdsiplays.

Google did not disclose any more information on these displays or the headset. The new prototype was shown during the company's joint-event with Samsung showcasing Google's new XR initiatives and Samsung's latest headset design.