MicroLED microdisplay developer Plessey Semiconductor announced that it has developed new passive-matrix monochrome microLED microdisplays. Plessey says it can customize the resolution and color of its PM displays to the customer requirements.

Plessey demonstrated its first such PM microdisplays with the 48x36 blue panel you see above. The company says it plans to introduce 384x128 monochrome and 128x128 RGB passive matrix microdisplays by the end of 2020.

China-based display producer China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT, owned by TCL) announced a joint-venture with Xiamen Sanan Integrated Circuit (Sanan-IC, owned by San'an Optoelectronics) to develop micro LED materials and production processes and equipment.

The two companies will invest a total of 300 million Yuan (around $43 million USD) in the new venture, with CSoT holding 55%.

Taiwan-based Unity Opto Technology announced plans to invest $1.9 billion NT (around $64 million USD) to setup six new production lines for mini-LEDs and micro-LEDs.

Unity Opto Technology, established in 1993, develops and markets a wide variety of LED products, including LED packages, LED back lighting for displays and automotive LED products.

Digitimes reports that Samsung Electronics has partnered with Taiwan-based Epistar to supply the Korean display maker with micro-LED chips, as it aims to release its first microLED TVs in H2 2020.

According to Digitimes, Epistar will work together with PlayNitride to supply the microLEDs. Epistar is an investor in PlayNitride. Digitimes says that PlayNitride is currently producing over 1,000 6" microLED wafers per month, and is aiming to increase its production capacity to 10,000 monthly wafer this year.