Micro LED technology, which uses micron-sized LEDs as pixel light-emitting units, is recognized for its advantages, including high brightness, high contrast, high pixel density, and the ability to be seamlessly tiled. It is currently considered the most suitable display technology for augmented reality (AR). The full-color technology of Micro LED is mainly divided into three categories: color-mixing technology, quantum dot technology, and monolithic stacking technology.
I. Color-Mixing Technology
Currently, color-mixing technology is the most widely adopted full-color Micro LED technology in the AR field. It involves the following key methods:
- X-Cube Color-Mixing (Prism Color-Mixing): This technique uses three separate monochrome panels for Red (R), Green (G), and Blue (B), which are fixed on three sides of an X-Cube prism. The three colors are mixed via the X-Cube and emitted through a fourth side, after being collimated and projected by a set of micro-lenses. The X-Cube module has a compact size of less than 1.4cc.
- Waveguide Color-Mixing: This method employs three independent monochrome light sources (R, G, B) and typically integrates multiple layers of waveguides or multiple coupling ports to achieve color mixing. The waveguide system directs the combined colors into a full-color display output.
II. Quantum Dot Technology
Quantum dot technology uses UV/blue LEDs to excite quantum dots or phosphor materials for color conversion. Since phosphor particles are typically larger, quantum dots are favored due to their better ability to control emitted wavelengths after excitation. The color output can be tuned to produce RGB light, which is then combined to create full-color displays. Quantum dots offer narrow half-peak widths and wide absorption spectra, along with high luminescence efficiency, leading to superior color purity and saturation in displays.
However, the practical application of quantum dot technology still faces challenges such as material instability, short lifespan, and poor color uniformity.
III. Monolithic Stacking Technology
Monolithic stacking technology for full-color Micro LED displays offers broader application potential. These displays have larger viewing angles, smaller optical engine sizes, and simplified AR headset system integration, reducing optical losses and improving waveguide alignment efficiency.
- MIT Team (February 2023): A team from MIT developed a full-color vertical stacked Micro LED using two-dimensional material layer transfer technology. The array density reached 5100 PPI, with pixel sizes as small as 4μm and stack heights of 9μm.
- JBD Prototype (August 2023): JBD unveiled the world’s first **0.22-inch 2K resolution single-chip full-color vertical stacked Micro LED prototype, named Phoenix. The stack height of the Phoenix prototype is less than 5μm, minimizing absorption loss within the cavity. The native epitaxial materials enable high light flux density, allowing for a peak brightness of up to 1,000,000 nits. Additionally, the fully native color solution provides a narrow full-width half maximum (FWHM) spectrum, resulting in higher color quality and purity. The Phoenix prototype is scheduled for mass production in 2025.
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