Wearables - Page 3

We're happy to interview 3D Micromac, as part of our series of interviews with MicroLED Industry Association members. Germany-based 3D-Micromac is the industry leader in laser micromachining and roll-to-roll laser systems. The company offers laser equipment for µLED forward transfer, lift-off and repair process steps - ready for high volume production.

Hello, can you introduce your company and technology?

Frank Richter (Head of Sales at 3D Micromac): 3D-Micromac has established itself as a leader in laser micromachining and a pioneer of new production technologies for various industries for the last 20 years. This especially applies to the excimer and ultra-short pulse laser technology.

We have extensive experience applying innovative laser technology to new and emerging applications to support their volume-production requirements. For MicroLED production, ultra-high precision in combination with the highest reliability and stability is needed. These are core competencies of 3D-Micromac.

Our product portfolio includes several laser-based system solutions for various manufacturing steps in the MicroLED production process. All systems offer integrated process control and monitoring to assure stable and reliable operation, thus enabling high throughput and low yield losses. 

According to reports from Japan, AUO is thinking about closing down its 4.5-Gen AMOLED production line in Singapore, as the company is shifting its focus on microLED display technologies.

AUO's first target it to start producing wearable microLED displays. It has reportedly signed a deal with Tag Heuer to supply it with smartwatch displays. In April 2023 AUO 'launched' its wearable microLED display, and it seems it is ready to begin small scale production. It will take time for AUO to expand production, as the path towards low-cost and mass-production of microLED displays (even for applications such as smartwatches) it not clear yet. 

We're happy to interview Yenrich, as part of our series of interviews with MicroLED Industry Association members. Yenrich, spun-off from Epistar and now part of the Ennostar group, develops mini-LED and micro-LED packaging. The company is focused on direct-view displays, both miniLED based and microLED based.

Hello! Can you introduce your company and technology?

Yenrich, a member of Ennostar, focuses on the development of Mini/Micro LED technology and products for fine pitch displays and provides customers with integrated solutions of front-end chips and back-end system applications.

Q: Can you say why you joined the microLED association and what it is you hope to achieve?
1.    Learn the latest Mini/Micro LED technology and information from the MIA and get more correct product roadmap in this field
2.    Understand the needs of Micro LED for AR/VR and automotive applications and technology

The MicroLED Association published its first white paper (LED Cost Analysis for MicroLED Smartwatch Displays) in January 2023, and has published two more white papers since.

The association is happy to announce that there have been over 2,200 downloads for its three whitepapers. MicroLEDs are considered to be the next generation display technology, and display professionals are looking for information and analysis regarding the latest microLED developments and technologies.

Taiwan-based MicroLED developer PlayNitride (a MicroLED Industry Association member) has demonstrated its latest microLED displays at Display Week 2023.

First up we have the company's tiled large-area microLED displays, called PixeLED Matrix. The company showed a 166" vertical installation, that is made from 324 modules. The total resolution is 1440x4860 (30 PPI, or a pixel pitch of 0.833 mm). This was a very nice looking demonstration.

Taiwan-based Innolux demonstrated several new microLED display prototypes at Display Week 2023.

First up is a small round active-matrix 1.1" 374x374 (338) PPI microLED panel. This one was produced on an LTPS backplane and offers a brightness of 500 nits (relatively low for a microLED display. The LEDs are 40 um in size.

AUO has demonstrated its latest microLED displays at Display Week 2023. Most of these displays have been shown before, but this was an impressive lineup for the Taiwanese display maker, and we'll detail the displays below.

So first up we have the 13.5" 1920x1080 (163 PPI) transparent microLEDs, which AUO says is the highest-resolution transparent microLED display ever demonstrated. The display offers a transparency of 55% and a high brightness of 5,000 nits. The microLEDs used in this display are 30 micron in size.

MicroLED developer VueReal says that it achieved a breakthrough in its MicroSolid Printing Platform, enabling it to go below 7um LED pitch (on the wafer) for full color microLED deposition. The company reports that its newest (and smallest) microLEDs show minimal impact on EQE, and this enables high-efficiency display production.

VueReal says that its new technology could soon compete on price with OLED displays while offering higher performance, and could be viable for many display segments - from wearables through smartphones to automotive and more. According to its current tests, its microLED displays will offer a brightness of 3,000 nits (and higher), while consuming around half the power compared to the latest AMOLED displays. In addition, its printing process is highly scalable and should not have a problem handling the demands of even the smartphone industry with hundreds of millions of displays per year.

A few days ago, AUO announced that it has finalized the development of its wearable microLED display, and the company is now launching the 1.39" round smartwatch display commercially, with mass production expected in the second half of 2023.

Yesterday AUO announced that it plans to convert its LCD 5A fab in Taiwan's Longtan District into a microLED production line. The new line will begin microLED production in 2025 or 2026, targeting wearable displays, automotive displays, TVs and signage displays. 

AU Optronics released some very interesting information as the company gets ready to showcase its latest microLED displays and technologies at Touch Taiwan 2023.

So first of all, AUO announced that it has finalized the development of its wearable microLED display, and the company is now launching the 1.39" round smartwatch display commercially. AUO demonstrated the wearable microLED display back in 2021 - a 1.39-inch 472x472 full-circle panel, that was developed together with PlayNitride. It's not clear when AUO actually plans to start selling this display to its customers, and what will be its production capacity.