The gist of it: a world-renowned non-profit research facility, mostly funded by government and partially by business contracts, and some grants and patents, has developed the world’s smallest pixel. It’s a great headline.
What I can add is that there are two sides to these European initiatives to improve the competitiveness and viability of local tech companies:
- Collaborative research and development (R&D) is collegiate, great things do happen, and a lot of very smart people get to hang out together and do great things.
- On the other hand, just having great R&D isn’t enough to create industrial strength and there is a great deal of financial conservatism and an aversion to risk that can hamper the entrepreneurial spirit.
That’s not to say that an institution like Fraunhofer doesn’t create value. It does fulfill its mission and deliver economic benefits. I just think you have to avoid looking at these opportunities through rose-tinted glasses.
You should check out Fraunhofer at Display Week 2023 where they will be presenting their discovery, and draw your own conclusions.
A 28-Nanometer 10,000 DPI OLED Microdisplay
Fraunhofer FEP has developed OLED microdisplays that utilize a 28-nanometer backplane technology on 300 mm wafers. These displays have a resolution of 1440 × 1080 pixels, with pixel sizes of only 2.5 micrometers, yielding a pixel density of 10,000 dpi (dots per inch). This is the highest pixel density yet in the global OLED microdisplay market. The display diagonal is 0.18 inches.
The OLED microdisplays are created on a larger wafer size (300 mm compared to the conventional 200 mm) and with a smaller process node (28 nm compared to the conventional 250 nm to 90 nm). The small node technology, which refers to the production process that creates extremely small semiconductor components, is employed here. However, this comes with the challenge of realizing the required voltages for driving complex photonic systems. The team at Fraunhofer FEP, through interdisciplinary research and a new type of display architecture, has managed to overcome this issue while achieving extraordinarily small pixels. The microdisplay also incorporates a programmable sequence control and a display-integrated frame buffer, which allows for flexibility in frame rates.
The increase in pixel density means a higher resolution, resulting in clearer, crisper images. This is particularly beneficial for applications like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), where image quality is paramount. The shift to 28 nm technology and the use of 300 mm wafers may lead to cost and energy efficiency benefits. Smaller node processes typically allow for more transistors to be packed into the same space, increasing performance and reducing power consumption. The new displays can lower their refresh rate to 0 Hz when the display content remains unchanged, thus avoiding unnecessary data transfer and reducing power consumption. This is particularly important for mobile applications where battery life is critical. At the same time, the new display can achieve frame rates up to 480 Hz, which can enhance the smoothness of motion in fast-paced applications.
Fraunhofer – The Institution
Fraunhofer is a non-profit research organization in Germany that focuses on applied research. All of its income is reinvested in its research activities. The company has over 70 institutes and employs over 29,000 people. Fraunhofer’s research dimensions cover a wide range of areas, including BIM (Building Information Modelling), Advanced Robotics, Sustainable Innovation, Smart Urban Systems, Flexible Production Systems, and Human-centred Technologies. The company’s services range from feasibility studies of an innovative idea and its implementation to prototyping and proof-of-concept. Fraunhofer’s applied research services primarily cater to small- and medium-sized enterprises looking to innovate their processes, automate, and digitize, both in production and construction.
Fraunhofer’s annual revenue is around €2.9 billion ($3.15 billion). Of this, around €2.5 billion ($2.72 billion) is generated through contract research. These are specific projects commissioned by companies that Fraunhofer carries out on their behalf. This allows Fraunhofer to stay relevant to the needs of the industry and ensures that its research has practical applications. Fraunhofer also participates in publicly financed research projects. These are often cooperative efforts with other research organizations or universities, and they’re typically funded by grants from government bodies or the European Union.
