The MicroLED-Info newsletter (July 20, 2021)

US-based Microdisplay developer Kopin announced an agreement with a leading Japanese consumer electronics maker to develop 2K x 2K full-color microLED microdisplays.

Under the agreement, Kopin will develop and supply its proprietary backplane silicon wafers and its new partner will develop bonding and color conversion processes. The two companies expect to demonstrate a 1-inch microdisplay prototype within 24-months. Kopin says that this development program is customer funded.

Samsung Electronics announced a new microLED The Wall display module, that offers upgraded performance and a thinner profile compared to its current displays. It has installed the first such display at its Suwon office.

Samsung says that the new module uses LED chips that are 40% smaller compared to current models (for which the chip size is around 100um so the new ones are likely to be around 60 um). The new TVs will support a refresh rate of 120Hz, 8K resolution, and a new enhanced AI processor.

SAPIEN Semiconductors, based in Korea, is a fabless design company that provides innovative PWM CMOS backplane and µ-driver ICs for Micro-LED displays. The company utilizes its own patented technologies to achieve lower power consumption, lower leakage, better repairability and improved testability.

In the following interview, we discuss the company’s technology and business with its CEO, Myunghee Lee.

Q: Hello Mr. Lee, thank you for your time. Can you give us a short introduction to SAPIEN and your microLED technologies?

SAPIEN specializes in developing CMOS Backplane SoCs (System-on-Chip) for Micro-LED display applications. SAPIEN was founded in 2017 by industry veterans who have over 230 years of combined design experience in Display Driver ICs (DDI).