Written by Lin Yuyuan
International manufacturers are regarding to launch micro-LED TVs in the third quarter of this year, announcing that the long-awaited micro-LED technology has finally been commercialized. In the next few years, niche applications including automotive, transparent displays, and AR will be gradually introduced into micro-LED, which will refresh the horizon of global display products in one fell swoop. The key technologies are in the hands of Taiwan. This new-generation technology in the flip-panel industry has also been recognized by the ITRI Elite Industrialization Contribution Gold Medal this year.
The competition of micro-LED technology is not only regarding technology, but also regarding endurance. With the full support of the Technology Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the assistance of the Industrial Bureau to expand the application scope, Fang Yanxiang, head of the Institute of Electronic and Optoelectronic Systems, ITRI, and his team have devoted 10 years to the difficult micro-LED research and development from the initial bold topic selection; In 2016, the “Micro-LED Alliance” was established to horizontally integrate the industry chain, connecting upstream semiconductors, advanced packaging and testing, and downstream panel factories to international exports, pushing Taiwan into a leadership position in next-generation display technology. Recently, ITRI launched the world’s first “micro-LED miniature full-color display”, which combined with quantum dot materials, has become the only high-immersion and high-resolution solution on the market with a single panel with three primary colors of red, green and blue.
In addition to hard work in the research and development of micro-LED, the more important significance of ITRI is to promote the cooperation and upgrade of the domestic industrial chain. Fang Yanxiang said, “The success of micro-LED research and development is a major breakthrough in Taiwan’s display technology. Domestic players have gone from fighting alone in the past to now directly binding terminal systems and brand players, and at the same time connecting upstream and downstream for joint development, cutting into functional requirements. oriented micro-LED display market, the added value has been successfully increased.”
Taiwan used to be a big producer of monitors in the past, but unfortunately most of the products are of fixed specifications, and the innovative R&D part is dominated by customers. At the beginning of ITRI’s investment in micro-LED, it abandoned the display products that simply used cost as a market entry, and instead considered forward-looking products that might perfectly utilize the characteristics of micro-LED as a premise, and then mastered the global micro-LED technology. , coupled with a complete supply chain, persuaded major material and system manufacturers such as the United States and Japan to participate in joint research and development with Taiwanese manufacturers.
First find out the joint development of the upstream and downstream supply chains in Haikou
Fang Yanxiang said that in the early stage of research and development, the ITRI team set the goal of “finding the sea first”, so the Proof of Concept (POC) was very important; Traveled to global technology exhibitions to introduce the feasibility and potential of this new technology to the market. Efforts were not in vain. International brand manufacturers such as in-vehicle, TV, AR, etc. with terminal access to the sea saw the successful proof of concept of ITRI, and decided to introduce micro-LED, the next-generation display technology.
Once the downstream export market is determined, domestic supply chain manufacturers can invest in R&D with confidence, and the Industrial Technology Research Institute can also play the role of technology integrator. In the micro-LED industry alliance, it also includes industry players that did not belong to the display industry in the past, such as : Semiconductor equipment, PCB, advanced packaging and testing, etc.
“The key technology of micro-LED is mass transfer, which has been mastered by the Industrial Technology Research Institute, but it still needs the cooperation of mass testing and repairing.” Fang Yanxiang explained that the production yield of micro-LED has reached 99.99%. (Only one micro-LED is damaged for every 10,000 micro-LEDs.) However, in terms of 4K and 2K displays, there are 24 million micro-LEDs. The above yield rate means that there will be thousands of defective products in each display. How to pick out before mass transfer and quickly repair following mass transfer is the key Know-how. In addition, due to the forward-looking technology of micro-LED, it must be customized to meet the unique needs of brand manufacturers. Mass testing or There is also no precedent for patching. From technology development to industrial integration, “every stage is a challenge,” Fang Yanxiang admitted.
Three niche applications of in-vehicle, AR/MR, and transparent display
Niche applications for micro-LEDs to achieve the fastest include: automotive market, AR/MR, transparent displays, etc. First of all, in the automotive field, the micro-LED’s miniature, low-power and high-brightness characteristics allow sensors to be integrated into the same module. It will be merged into a single large screen, and has the characteristics of a curved, interactive smart cockpit, which can detect biometric features such as driver or passenger gestures, eyeballs, etc., driving a highly immersive intelligent experience.
In the field of AR/MR, that is, the application of the Metaverse, the high brightness, high power saving, small size and high resolution of micro-LED can be clearly displayed in sunlight; at the same time, the power consumption is extremely low, which can be used for a long time. Power shortage bottleneck. Another feature of the Metaverse is interaction. Sensing components play an important role. Micro-LEDs are thin and light and can be easily integrated with sensing components. In the future, AR glasses using micro-LEDs will look similar to ordinary glasses.
The third application is a transparent display. By introducing micro-LED technology on the windows of high-speed rail, MRT, trains, and buses, travel and historical information can be displayed on the window glass when passing through scenic spots. In addition, shopping mall windows, home mirrors and glass, etc., have the opportunity to become the application field of micro-LED transparent display, and the market is quite extensive.
The increase in added value shows that the industry is turning bones
In addition to introducing new supply chain players, micro-LED also helps traditional display manufacturers to successfully transform. Taking the panel factory as an example, instead of passively mass-producing according to customer specifications, it participates in the design-in stage according to the above-mentioned niche applications, and invites upstream and downstream materials, equipment, and testing factories to jointly develop, The added value can thus be greatly increased.
Fang Yanxiang said that micro-LED has transformed Taiwan’s panel factory into a Tier 1 supplier of brand factories, playing the role of system integration, which is very suitable for the industrial characteristics of Taiwan’s “island-intensive supply chain”, “micro-LED drives the transformation and upgrading of the panel industry. It has happened, and the results will show in 3 to 5 years.”
Reprinted from the July 2022 issue of the 364th issue of “Industrial Technology and Information” Monthly, and may not be reproduced without authorization.
