China’s Display Industry: From LCD to Micro LED
Over the past two decades, China’s LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) industry has achieved more than 70% of the global market share. Following this success, OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technologies have also reached the top global market position. According to Qin Feng, General Manager of Non-Display Business at Tianma Microelectronics R&D Center and Director of the Micro LED Research Institute, the next milestone is Micro LED (Micro Light Emitting Diode):
“With continued efforts, I believe China will soon lead the global Micro LED market as well,” said Qin at the 2024 Tianma Microelectronics Global Innovation Conference.
Overcoming “Chip Shortages and Screen Supply” Challenges
For years, “chip shortages” and “screen supply constraints” were significant hurdles for China’s technology industry. However, China’s display sector, particularly in LCD technology, has emerged as a global leader. Now, Micro LED technology is being hailed as the “ultimate display solution”, propelling companies like BOE Technology Group and Tianma Microelectronics to the forefront of this evolution.
What Makes Micro LED a “Hexagonal Warrior”?
Micro LED technology is built on miniaturization and matrixing of LEDs, integrating high-density, micro-sized LED arrays onto a single chip. Each pixel is addressable and individually illuminated, akin to a microscopic version of outdoor LED displays, with pixel pitches reduced from millimeters to micrometers (μm). To provide context, a single human hair is approximately 50 μm in diameter.
“Compared to LCD and OLED, Micro LED’s self-emissive properties grant it unmatched brightness, resolution, lifespan, viewing angles, contrast, response time, power efficiency, and adaptability, making it a true ‘hexagonal warrior,'” said Geng Yi, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of the China OLED Industry Alliance.
As of 2023, there were over 40,000 Micro LED patents globally, with a sharp increase in innovation since 2017, signaling the start of a new growth phase.
Breakthrough Applications: Seamless Public Display Screens
The 2024 Tianma Microelectronics Global Innovation Conference saw the launch of a 60-inch AM-driven glass-based Micro LED seamless display, jointly developed by Tianma Microelectronics and Hisense. This ultra-small-pitch display (Pitch = 0.4 mm) allows for modular horizontal and vertical screen stitching, aimed at public information display (PID) markets.
Tianma’s Micro LED Research Institute Deputy Director, Xi Kerui, highlighted two key technologies:
- GOA (Gate-on-Active Area) Backplane Technology: Reduces bezel widths for truly seamless displays.
- 3D Coating Side-Wiring Technology: Improves side-wiring efficiency by 300% and reduces costs by a similar margin.
The company plans iterative improvements and is set to release even more advanced seamless display solutions next year.
Massive Industry Investments in Mini/Micro LED
As of 2024, 15 new Mini/Micro LED projects have been signed nationwide, with a combined investment of $95 billion. These initiatives aim to bolster manufacturing and R&D resources for future production.
Tackling Key Challenges: Cost and Technology Gaps
Despite being hailed as the “ultimate display technology”, Micro LED faces two primary challenges:
- High manufacturing costs
- Technical hurdles in:
- Chip production
- Mass transfer processes
- Full-color displays
- Display drivers
“Cost reduction will define the future trajectory of Micro LED,” noted Geng Yi, emphasizing the industry’s collective focus on solving these bottlenecks.
Qin Feng compared these challenges to China’s earlier strides in LCD and OLED production:
“Challenges are expected. However, with a focused effort and industry-wide collaboration, these obstacles will be overcome, just as we did with LCD and OLED.”
Pioneers Driving Industry Maturity
San’an Semiconductor’s GaN Business Unit Deputy General Manager, Huang Shaohua, sees 2024 as a pivotal year:
“Micro LED development is accelerating domestically and internationally. Supply chains are increasingly synchronized, with demand driving maturity across the board.”
Huang emphasized that developing chips as small as 1 μm requires semiconductor-grade manufacturing, with dedicated resources to meet both domestic and international requirements.
China’s Position at the Industry’s Core
China’s Micro LED investments account for 90% of global R&D, according to Peng Jianfeng, Vice President of the China Electronics Video Industry Association. Recent milestones include:
- Tianma’s full-process Micro LED production line: Launched in June 2024, now in pilot production.
- BOE Huacan Micro LED Base: Operational since November 2024, focusing on wafer fabrication and pixel device assembly.
Outlook: The Next Five to Ten Years
Analysts predict Micro LED will dominate the next 5–10 years, mirroring OLED’s trajectory in 2015. Leading Chinese players are transitioning from R&D to mass production, aiming to dominate markets spanning:
- Commercial displays
- Consumer electronics
- Automotive applications
“China’s technology base and supportive policies position its companies to break through key technological challenges, leading the global Micro LED industry toward sustainable growth,” analysts conclude.
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