MicroLED Display Technology

February 13, 2023

Context:

Apple is currently working on new display technology based on microLED and plans to implement the same on future watch models starting 2024, and gradually to its other devices including iPhones and Macs.

About MicroLED display technology:

MicroLED is a technology that helps a display to produce brighter and higher-contrast images that are not possible with other known technologies.

Principle involved:

- The basis of microLED technology are sapphires. A sapphire can shine on its own forever.
- A microLED screen is filled with such small but strong light. The picture in a microLED screen is generated by several individual light emitting diodes.
- A microLED is as small as cutting a centimeter of hair into 200 smaller pieces. Each of these microLEDs are semiconductors that receive electrical signals.
- Once these microLEDs are gathered, they form a module. Several modules are then combined to form screens.

MicroLED displays vis-i-vis OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) panels:

MicroLED displays are almost like OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) panels that are made up of numerous microscopic LEDs, which self-illuminate per display pixel.
Unlike OLED displays, microLED displays use inorganic materials, which also brings in the advantages of ultra-low black levels, but with higher peak brightness.

Benefits over other displays:

Better Viewing Angles: MicroLED displays have better color reproduction and provide better viewing angles.
Lower Power Consumption: Increased brightness, longer life-span and lower power consumption.
Limitless Scalability: They have limitless scalability, as they are resolution-free, bezel-free, ratio-free, and even size-free. The screen can be freely resized in any form for practical usage.
In addition to being self emissive, MicroLEDs also individually produce red, green, and blue colors without needing the same backlighting or color filters as conventional displays.

News Source: The Hindu