What They Say
Apple has asked Samsung and LG Display to develop OLEDoS microdisplays with support for 3500ppi rather than a previously reported density of 2800ppi. (Samsung Display and LG Display developing OLEDoS and LEDoS techs and Samsung Display asked to develop MicroOLED by customers Apple and Samsung) The devices are likely to be used, if developed successfully, in a later version of an Apple HMD in 2024 or later.
The Elec reports that Samsung Display is also working on the development of a 6600ppi LED on Silicon technology (LEDoS) but is said to see OLEDoS as a better first target technology.
It also said that SDC sees the OLEDoS market as only a small one.
What We Think
DSCC has been saying for some time that the first Apple HMD would use two Sony microOLEDs and one from LG Display. The point about the relatively small potential of the market, as it looks at the moment, is one that I made when I made a talk at the Immersed Conference in 2018. However, it seems that the pressure from Apple, a key customer for SDC and LGD has ‘encouraged’ the firms to develop into this area. Of course, once you have devices developed and with a supply chain, they may well get into places that were not foreseen initially. However, the challenge for microLED will be to drive down costs.
Although the devices use a crystal silicon base, like CMOS chips, they don’t get the full advantage of Moore’s Law as the size of the device has significant impacts on the optics and potential efficiency of devices. You can’t simply scale down the sizes to cut the cost. (BR)
Image:Sony
