With heightened interest in futuristic smart devices such as wearables, there has been increasing demand for the development of micro LED display technology. Micro LED chip has quickly emerged as the next generation display technology as it is manufactured generally on the level of 10 to 100 ㎛ size and its high efficiency, yield and reliability enable it to be applied to all optical applications requiring low power, compact size and low weight.

Korean government announced its plan to include micro LED in new growth engine industry project by establishing LED convergence industry hub. The decision was made as micro LED is deemed to be very suitable as the next generation item for small and medium companies. Developing custom micro LED light source could increase added value for wearables, which are one of future industry trend, and create new markets through convergence with IT, medical, agriculture and fisheries, textile and communication technology.

Flexible display market is projected to become as big as USD23.4 billion by 2020 and micro LED display is getting attention as a way to take the technology to another level.

Micro LED can be applied to wearable smart devices to create displays, smart textile, bio contact lens, head-mounted display (HMD), etc. Its application to Li-Fi technology enables compact equipment to be implemented.

 
▲Micro LED is emerging as an alternative method to make VR devices lighter and clearer.

In particular, micro LED has emerged as an alternative method to make VR devices lighter and clearer. It can be even used to implement big screen, which make it appropriate for TV displays.

Micro LED to be commercialized in 5 years

Commercialization of micro LED is plagued with a number of difficulties. Development of micro LED display requires custom micro chip based on flexible material/device. Especially important is the process technology to transfer the developed or arrayed micro LED to flexible substrate. It also requires printed electronics technology for LED bonding. 

Dr. Sang-Hun Lee of Korea Photonics Technology Institute (KOPTI) emphasized that “developing and differentiating high-level packaging technology is so important that bonding and packaging to produce modules rather than chip manufacturing technology is key to the micro LED.” “If printed electronics technology capable of producing micro linewidth for organic TFT, fine-wiring circuit, etc. can be developed, commercialization of micro LED will be achievable within 5 years,” he concluded.