OLED is a next-generation display technology that is replacing LCD displays in several markets, such as small displays for mobile applications, TVs and microdisplays. OLEDs are made from thin films of organic light emitting materials that emit light when electricity is applied. OLEDs have a much simpler structure compared to LCDs and have several advantages over the incumbent technology.
eMagin XGA096 OLED-XL
OLED microdisplays
OLED microdisplays are considered to be the current state-of-the-art near-eye display technology. OLEDs offer many advantages over competing technologies:
- No backlight - a direct emissive display with high contrast and a wide color gamut
- Fast refresh rate
- Low power consumption (this depends on the image shown)
- Wide operation temperature range
OLEDs do suffer from lower lifetime, limited market capacity, high price. Many believe that microLEDs will offer the ultimate solution for microdisplays, with their inherent high brightness and efficiency, but these displays are not commercial yet.
The OLED Microdisplay market
Several companies in the US, Europe and Asia are producing OLED microdisplays - including eMagin, Sony, OLiGHTEK, Kopin, BOE and SeeYa.
If you're interested in adopting OLED microdisplays in your device, we'll be happy to help, you can browse available display in our OLED marketplace. Be sure to send us a mail and together we can find the best display for your project.
OLED-Info's OLED and MicroLED Microdisplay Market Report
If you want more in-depth information on the OLED (and MicroLED) Microdisplay market, look no further! Our OLED and MicroLED Microdisplay Market Report explains:
- Why OLED microdisplays are better than LCD or DLP ones
- The disadvantages of OLED microdisplays
- What kind of displays are available on the market today
- New technologies on the horizon, including MicroLED microdisplays
The report package also provides a complete list of OLED and microLED microdisplay makers and developers, their current (and future) products, and personal contact details into the leading microdisplay makers. Read more here!
The latest OLED microdisplays news:
Seeya starts constructing its second OLED microdisplay production line in Shanghai
OLED microdisplay developer Seeya Technology announced that it is starting to build its second OLED microdisplay production line, in Shanghai. The company will start to move in and install the production equipment next month.
The new production line will have a monthly capacity of 9,000 300 mm substrates, similar to the company's first line which is already in mass production. The total cost of the new fab is expected to reach 2 billion Yuan (around $275 million USD).
OLEDWorks awarded a $8.6 million US Army project to develop high-performance OLED microdisplays
OLED lighting developer OLEDWorks announced that it has been awarded a $8.6 million US army project to develop high-performance OLED microdisplays for consumer and defense applications. The display is targeted specifically towards head-mounted display applications in the AR and VR markets.
OLEDWorks says that its microdisplay platform offers high brightness, full color, and excellent lifetime. The company says that it is developing three OLED microdisplay products. The company's displays are based on OLEDWorks' proprietary multi-stack (3, 4, and 5-stacks) OLED technology to OLED microdisplays.
Kopin progresses with its OLED microdisplay projects with its new European foundry partner
Kopin Corporation announced that it has a achieved two important milestones in its OLED projects. First, Kopin is in the process of establishing an OLED deposition partner in a "strong NATO-member European country" through a transition effort that is scheduled to be production ready in 2024. Kopin did not disclose its new foundry partner, but it is likely to be France's MicroOLED.
The second achievement is that this same deposition partner has completed initial life testing and has achieved near-zero degradation in brightness performance after operating displays at brightness levels exceeding 20,000 nits for several thousand hours. In addition, the initial displays using Kopin proprietary backplane have been fabricated and are entering into performance validation testing.
Samsung Display: the OLED microdisplay market is set to boom in 3-4 years
In 2022, Samsung Display confirmed it is developing OLED microdisplays, and the company has since stepped up its efforts to bring OLED microdisplay to the market. SDC's CEO said that the OLED microdisplay market will 'mature' in 3-4 years, meaning that it is likely that demand for such solutions will drastically increase, and the technology and production will be able to meet this demand.
Samsung itself plans to ensure that it does not fall behind in the race to develop next-gen OLED microdisplays, and will invest and deploy manpower to become a leading supplier. Samsung's $218 million acquisition of US-based eMagin is part of the company's strategy.
Tianyi Micro to co-develop OLED microdisplay backplanes with Tower Semiconductor
China-based display IC developer Tianyi Micro announced a strategic cooperation with Israel-based foundry Tower Semiconductor, to develop next-generation OLED microdisplay backplanes.
The new driver ICs will be based on Tower’s unique 180nm and 65nm dedicated micro display backplane process flows, supporting current-driven (as opposed to voltage-driven) OLED pixel designs.
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China-based OLED microdisplay maker Lumicore raises $100 million in its Series A funding round
Shanghai-based OLED microdisplay maker Lumicore announced that it has closed its series-A funding round, raising $100 million. Lumicore will use the funds to ramp-up its 8-inch production line in Nanjing, and introduce its first products to market.
Lumicore developed several OLED microdisplays, including a 2K 144Hz 1.32" display. The company is also developing 4K microdisplays.
Lakeside Lightning Semiconductor progresses with its 12-inch OLED microdisplay production line
China-based OLED microdisplay developer Lakeside Optoelectronics (also known as Lakeside Lightning Semiconductor) announced that it is progressing with its 12-inch OLED microdisplay production line project in Yixing (Wuxi). The building itself is nearly complete, with the last floor concrete poured in.
The new fab will have a capacity of 7,000 monthly 12-inch substrates, and should enter production in October 2025. The company also plans a 2nd phase which will double its capacity and enable it to produce around 10 million OLED microdisplays per year.
Sony demonstrates a professional MR headset based on its 4K OLED microdisplays
Sony is demonstrating an early-stage MR headset, based on dual 1.3" 4K OLED microdisplays (or at least this is what is assumed, as Sony did not exactly detail the displays). The headset, which isn't yet a product, uses Qualcomm's XR2+ Gen 2 processor, includes passthrough video (soft-AR), and unique controllers. Sony said its headset is "primarily designed for professionals who work with 3D".
It is likely that this headset uses Sony's ECX344A displays - which are actually 1.41" 4K (3552x3840) OLED microdisplays, announced in August 2023. These same displays are used by Apple in its Vision Pro headset.
Sidtek's 12-inch OLED microdisplay fab is on track for 2024 production, starts to install equipment
OLED microdisplay maker Sidtek announced that it is starting to install production equipment at its 12-inch production line in Wuhu City, Anhui Province. The company says the first production line in the project is on track to start production in 2024.
Sidtek is currently producing its OLED microdisplays on a 8-inch production line, also in Wuhu. The first phase of its 12-inch fab will have a monthly capacity of 6,000 substrates, and the company is planning an expansion to 18,000 substrate. The total investment in the 12-inch fab (including the 2nd stage) is estimated at 6 billion Yuan (around $840 million USD).
