10 patents in this list

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In the world of micro-LED display production, achieving pixel uniformity is a persistent challenge. Variations in brightness and color can disrupt the seamless visual experience expected from high-quality displays. These inconsistencies arise from differences in micro-LED size, placement, and electrical characteristics, making uniformity a key concern for manufacturers.

The task is to ensure each pixel emits light consistently, without the visual anomalies that can detract from display performance. Factors such as precise alignment, consistent current distribution, and effective heat management are critical in overcoming these challenges.

This page explores various engineering solutions that address these issues. Techniques such as alternating splicing areas, improved current distribution, and substrate segmentation are discussed. These approaches aim to enhance pixel uniformity, resulting in displays that offer reliable performance and visual fidelity under diverse conditions.

1. Micro-LED Display Device with Alternating Splicing Areas and Offset Transfer Pattern

PlayNitride Display Co., Ltd., 2023

Micro-LED display device and manufacturing method for improving display quality by reducing visible boundaries between adjacent regions. The device has a display substrate divided into arranged areas with splicing areas between them. Micro light-emitting elements are bonded to conductive pad pairs on the substrate. The splicing areas have filling positions alternating between two groups. 

In each transfer step, micro-LEDs are moved from a carrier to the substrate, with the transfer pattern leaving gaps for subsequent transfers to fill. This creates areas on the substrate where the LEDs have different offsets from the pads, blurring the boundaries between arranging areas when the display operates.

2. Micro-LED Display with Separate Digital and Analog Drive Circuits on Silicon and IGZO Layers

Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC, 2023

Driving LED-based displays with high color depth, power efficiency, and reduced brightness variation, especially for micro-LED-based displays like those in AR/VR headsets. The display uses separate digital drive circuits on a silicon wafer and analog drive circuits on an indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) layer between the micro-LED wafer and silicon wafer. This allows optimizing the digital and analog circuits using different processes. The analog circuits in IGZO have a higher voltage, lower leakage, and better uniformity for driving micro-LEDs, while the digital circuits on silicon generate control signals. The separation with level shifters avoids large transition regions.

3. Substrate Segmentation and Micro-LED Transfer Method for Luminous Property Uniformity

POINT ENGINEERING CO., LTD., 2023

Method for manufacturing a micro-LED display that prevents non-uniformity of luminous properties. It involves segmenting the first substrate into regions and transferring the micro-LEDs from each region to different second substrates. This prevents uniform non-uniformity of luminous properties of the micro-LEDs on the first substrate from being transferred to the second substrate.

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4. Sequential Micro-LED Block Transfer Method with Electrode Alignment for Uniform Substrate Integration

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., 2022

This is a method for transferring micro-LEDs from a transfer substrate to a target substrate to improve display uniformity. The method involves sequentially transferring micro-LED blocks from the transfer substrate to the target substrate. The key aspect is to ensure that the direction of the micro-LED electrodes in the second block matches the direction of the first block. This helps minimize luminance and chromaticity differences at the block boundaries. This is accomplished using different transfer substrates with micro-LEDs having electrodes in different directions.

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5. Reflective Layer with Transmissive Windows in Micro-LED Display Panel Pixel Structure

AU Optronics Corporation, 2022

Micro-LED display panel pixel structure that improves display quality by optimizing luminance uniformity between pixels. The pixel uses a reflective layer with transmissive windows on the micro-LED. The reflective layer surrounds the micro-LED encapsulated in a transmissive filling material. The transmissive windows allow light from the micro-LED to directly pass through the reflective layer. The windows farther from the micro-LED have larger areas to compensate for light attenuation. This provides uniform luminance across pixels.

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6. Patterned Substrate with Grooves for Uniform Micro-LED Epitaxial Layer Thickness

KONKA GROUP CO., LTD., 2022

A patterned substrate design for growing uniform Micro-LED epitaxial layers with consistent wavelength. The substrate has grooves to collect excess epitaxial material during growth. By preventing the excess material from centrifugal force, it avoids uneven thickness that causes variable wavelength. The grooves improve the uniformity and spectral consistency of Micro-LED epitaxy. This enables high-yield Micro-LED production with uniform wavelength across devices.

7. Directional Orientation-Based Micro-LED Transfer System Utilizing Varied Transfer Substrates

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., 2021

Transfer micro-LEDs from the growth substrate to the target substrate to minimize luminance and chromaticity variations at the blocks' boundaries. This is done by using transfer substrates with micro-LEDs oriented in different directions.

8. Micro-LED Pixel Structure with Sidewall Light-Transmissible Material and Variable Aperture Reflective Layer

AU Optronics Corporation, 2020

Pixel structure for display panels that can improve the uniformity of overall optical properties of a displayed image from micro-LEDs. The pixel has a micro-LED surrounded by a sidewall structure filled with a light-transmissible material. A reflective layer on top has windows that transmit light. The micro-LED projects upward onto the reflective layer. The windows further from the projection area are larger, adjusting the aperture ratio of the reflective layer to balance brightness between pixels.

9. Micro-LED Color Display Device with Sub-Pixel Separation Support Layer

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., 2019

Micro-LED color display device that improves color uniformity and stability. The display has an array of blue, green, and red sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel contains a micro-LED. The key feature is a support layer between the driving and package substrates. This support layer helps separate the sub-pixels and reduce color crosstalk. It prevents the peak wavelength shift in one color sub-pixel from affecting adjacent sub-pixels. The support layer improves green color stability and overall color uniformity of the display.

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10. Series-Connected Micro-LED Pair Configuration Within Pixels for Enhanced Color Uniformity

PlayNitride Inc., 2018

Micro-LED display panel that improves display quality by reducing pixel defects and improving color uniformity compared to conventional micro-LED displays. This is achieved by connecting two micro-LEDs in series within each pixel, with one having a dominant wavelength in a specific color range. If one has a defect or a different wavelength, the other can compensate for displaying the intended color by using series-connected pairs of micro-LEDs.

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It's nevertheless challenging to maintain uniformity in color and brightness across millions of micro-LEDs, despite recent improvements in the industry. Correcting this irregularity is the only way to get the immersive viewing experience that micro-LED display uniformity improvement delivers.