In 2018, Micro LED will be mass-produced on the display of smart wearable devices, and it is estimated that 2020 will introduce smart phone display applications.
Following traditional LCDs and OLEDs, Micro LED is regarded as the perfect application for next-generation display technology. With the recent increase in the importance of Micro LED by two major companies, Apple and Sony, the industry has attracted many investors to invest in it, thereby accelerating the time-to-market for Micro LED commercialization. According to the latest research from LEDinside, a subsidiary of TrendForce's Green Energy Business Unit, the 2018 Micro LED will be mass-produced on the display of smart wearable devices, and it is estimated that it will introduce smart phone display applications by 2020.
LEDinside analyst Zhang Jiahong said that Micro LED not only has features such as high brightness, super power saving and fast response speed, but also meets the design requirements of high PPI (pixel density), flexible and transparent products, and breaks through the traditional LCD and OLED at one stroke. Technical limitations. Although Micro LED technology has many technical challenges in the display area, achieving mass production is just around the corner.
Zhang Jiahong pointed out that the current level of production of Micro LED is the choice of pixel density and pixel number, so Apple and Sony respectively accelerate the commercial application of two directions:
1. Small number of pixels, high PPI
Apple prefers to reduce the size of its LED and display it in high quality, but it only uses a small-sized display for wearable devices, avoiding low cumulative yields and unacceptable price levels. Recently, Apple's Longtan plant has been experimentally lit. 6-inch Micro LED display. Apple's acquisition of LuxVue, investment in Taiwan's Longtan plant, and development of strategic partners have enabled the development of the high-PPI full-color Micro LED to advance. Compared with the Apple Watch, the quality of the Apple Watch can be even higher.
Zhang Jiahong stated that in view of the current technological level and Apple's plan, the possibility of launching a wearable device equipped with a Micro LED in 2018 is very high. However, it can be used for mobile phones such as the iPhone that require high pixel prices.
2. Multi-pixel quantity, low PPI
Sony prioritized the size of the display screen and set the target to be viewed from a distance. Since the number of LED chips needed was too large, the production cost was time-consuming, and only low PPI (large LED size) was expected to be used in exchange for high yield. After the introduction of the costly Crystal LED Display in 2012, Sony adjusted its target for commercialization this year, demonstrated the splicing display CLEDIS, overcame the cost and yield constraints, and is expected to fulfill its 2017 production target.