On the 29th, OSRAM disclosed an intellectual property-related news on its official website. OSRAM Opto Semiconductors recently signed a technology and patent license agreement with X-Celeprint, and this agreement deals with X-Celeprint's Micro-Transfer-Printing.
“Because of this technology, we will be able to develop LED products that meet the requirements for miniaturization and versatility,” said Martin Behringer, Ph.D., director of advanced development at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors. In addition, it offers new innovations that combine different technologies quickly and accurately. method."
According to statistics, X-Celeprint, a US start-up company, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of XTRION NV. Its core technology is the Micro-Transfer-Printing technology developed by John A. Rogers and others of Illinois University in the United States. It uses wet etching of the sacrificial layer and The PDMS transfer technology, which transfers Micro LEDs to flexible substrates or glass substrates to make Micro LED arrays, was split up to Semprius in 2006 and X-Celeprint was awarded an exclusive license in 2013. The advantage of this process is that it can transfer a large number of Micro LEDs at a time. The company's subsequent patent application is based on an extension of this technology.
The X-Celeprint μTP technology, in simple terms, uses an elastic stamp in combination with a high-precision motion-controlled print head to selectively pick up an array of micro-components and print it onto a target substrate.
Specifically, first, a microchip is fabricated on a "source" wafer, and then the sacrificial layer below the semiconductor circuit is removed to "release" the microchip away from the original substrate. Subsequently, the microchip is picked up using a microstructured elastic stamp that matches the "source" wafer and transferred to the target substrate.
In addition, X-Celeprint also developed Micro LED display technology, mainly to solve the problem of low yield and efficiency due to the complex structure design of Micro LED.
The license agreement signed this time refers to Micro-Transfer-Printing technology, and this technology belongs to MicroLED related technology, which seems to imply that OSRAM Opto Semiconductors will deploy MicroLED.
According to LEDinside editors, if OSRAM is truly deploying MicroLEDs, it is not difficult to understand that its market prospects are promising. Due to its high resolution, high brightness, power saving and fast response, Micro LED is considered as a new generation of display technology and has attracted global manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, LG, Sony, Facebook, Google, etc. The manufacturers Sanan Optoelectronics, Huacan Optoelectronics, Qianzhao Optoelectronics, Liade, and Siu Chi shares, etc., Taiwan Industrial Technology Research Institute of China, and companies such as Jingdian, AUO, Qunchuang, Chuangchuang, and Accumulation, etc., are actively rushing into the market.
According to LEDinside's latest report, "1Q18 Micro LED Next Generation Display Technology Market Report - 2018 Micro LED and Mini LED Industry Outlook", it is estimated that by 2025, the output value of Micro LED market will reach 2.891 billion US dollars.