Since the introduction of Sony’s large-sized modular Micro LED display in 2017, other companies, including Samsung and LG, have successively made advances in Micro LED development, in turn generating much buzz for the technology’s potential in the large-sized display market, according to TrendForce's latest investigations. Emissive Micro LED TVs are expected to arrive on the market between 2021 and 2022. Even so, many technological and cost-related challenges are yet to be solved, meaning Micro LED TVs will remain ultra-high-end luxury products at least during the technology’s initial stage of commercialization.

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TrendForce indicates that Micro LED technology will likely first enter the market in several applications, including small-sized head-mounted AR devices, wearables such as smartwatches, high-margin products such as automotive displays, and niche products such as high-end TVs and large-sized commercial displays. After this initial wave of products, Micro LED technology will subsequently see gradual integration in mid-sized tablets, notebook computers, and desktop monitors as well. In particular, Micro LED will see the highest potential for growth in the large-sized display market, mainly since these products have a relatively low technological barrier. Micro LED chip revenue, driven primarily by TV and large-sized display integration, is expected to reach US$2.3 billion in 2024.

Taiwanese and Korean manufacturers are working to overcome technological and cost-related roadblocks in Micro LED displays

At the present stage, the vast majority of Micro LED TVs and large-sized displays features a traditional LED architecture of RGB LED chip packages paired with passive matrix (PM) drivers. Not only is PM costly to implement, but it is also limited in terms of how far the pixel pitch of the display can be decreased, making Micro LED technology viable for only commercial displays currently. However, various panel manufacturers and display brands have in recent years developed their own active matrix (AM) solutions, which make use of an active pixel addressing scheme and feature TFT glass backplanes. Furthermore, the IC design for AM, compared to PM, is relatively simpler, meaning AM requires less physical space for routing. All of these advantages make AM the more suitable solution for high-resolution Micro LED TVs.

Korean companies (Samsung/LG), Taiwanese companies (Innolux/AUO), and Chinese companies (Tianma/CSOT) have all currently demonstrated their respective AM display applications. With regards to LED light source, Samsung has partnered with Taiwan-based PlayNitride to create a full-color Micro LED display manufactured using semi-mass transfer of RGB LED chips. This process differs from the traditional method of LED display manufacturing, which utilizes RGB LED chip packaging technology instead. Conversely, Taiwan-based panel manufacturers AUO and Innolux have pioneered a color rendering technology that combines blue-light LED chips with quantum dots or LED phosphors.

On the other hand, the cost of Micro LED displays depends on the display resolution and chip size. As users demand higher resolution displays going forward, Micro LED chip consumption will also skyrocket. TVs and LED displays in particular will far dwarf other applications in Micro LED chip consumption. For instance, a 75-inch 4K display requires at least 24 million RGB Micro LED chips for its subpixel array. Therefore, the manufacturing cost, which includes technologies such as semi-mass transfer, and material cost of Micro LED chips will remain sky-high for the time being.

In light of this, TrendForce believes that technological and cost-related issues will remain the greatest challenge to the market availability of Micro LED TVs and large-sized Micro LED displays. As TVs trend toward large sizes and high resolutions in the future, manufacturers must confront increasing difficulties in Micro LED technologies, including mass transfer, backplanes, drivers, chips, and inspection and repair. Once these technological bottlenecks have been overcome, whether the cost of Micro LED manufacturing will undergo a corresponding, rapid drop will then determine Micro LED’s viability as a mainstream display technology.

2020 Micro LED Next-Generation Display Technology and Supply Chain Analysis
Release Date: February 29, 2020
Format: PDF
Language: Traditional Chinese / English
Pages: 140
Quarterly Update: Micro / Mini LED Market Perspective Analysis - Vendor Dynamics, New Technology Import (March, June, September 2020; Approx. 10-15 pages/quarter)

Chapter 1 Micro LED Definition and Market Size Analysis
- Micro LED Product Definition
- 2019-2024 Micro LED Output Value Analysis and Forecast
- 2019-2024 Micro LED Output Analysis and Forecast
- 2019-2024 Micro LED Display Penetration Forecast

Chapter 2 Micro LED Application Products and Technology Development Trend
- Micro LED Application Products--Cost Analysis of Head-Mounted Devices
- Micro LED Application Products—Long-Term Cost Forecast of Head-Mounted Devices
- Micro LED Application Products—Head-Mounted Devices Shipment and Competitiveness Analysis
- Micro LED Application Products—Wearable Devices Cost Analysis
- Micro LED Application Products—Long-Term Cost Forecast of Wearable Devices
- Micro LED Application Products—Wearable Devices Shipment and Competitiveness Analysis
- Micro LED Application Products—Handheld Devices Cost Analysis
- Micro LED Application Products—Long-Term Cost Forecast of Handheld Devices
- Micro LED Application Products—Handheld Devices Shipment and Competitiveness Analysis
- Micro LED Application Products—IT Display Devices Cost Analysis
- Micro LED Application Products—Long-Term Cost Forecast of IT Display
- Micro LED Application Products—IT Devices Shipment and Competitiveness Analysis
- Micro LED Application Products—Automotive Display Devices Cost Analysis
- Micro LED Application Products—Long-Term Cost Forecast of Automotive Display
- Micro LED Application Products—Automotive Devices Shipment and Competitiveness Analysis
- Micro LED Application Products—TV Display Devices Cost Analysis
- Micro LED Application Products—Long-Term Cost Forecast of TV Display
- Micro LED Application Products—TV Shipment and Competitiveness Analysis
- Micro LED Application Products—Digital Display Devices Cost Analysis
- Micro LED Application Products—Long-Term Cost Forecast of Digital Display
- Micro LED Application Products—Digital Display Shipment and Competitiveness Analysis

Chapter 3 2020 Micro LED Key Technologies Analysis
- Micro LED Key Technical Bottleneck
- Micro LED Technical Bottleneck and Solution Overview—Manufacturing Process
- Micro LED Technical Bottleneck and Solution Overview—LED Epitaxy and Chip Manufacturing Process
- Micro LED Technical Bottleneck and Solution Overview—Transfer Technology/Bonding Technology/Driving and Backplane Technology

Chapter 4 Epitaxy and Chip Technology Bottleneck and Supply Chain Analysis
- Instruction of Micro LED Epitaxy and Chip Technology Process
- Micro LED Epitaxy Technology Overview
- Micro LED Epitaxy Technical Bottleneck Analysis
- Micro LED Epitaxy Technology Supply Chain Analysis
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Micro LED Epitaxy Key Technology—Equipment Manufacturers—Veeco
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Micro LED Epitaxy Key Technology—Equipment Manufacturers—Aixtron
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Micro LED Epitaxy Key Technology—Equipment Manufacturers—Amec
- Micro LED Chip Technologies Overview
- Micro LED Chip Technical Bottleneck Analysis
- Micro LED Chip Technology Supply Chain Analysis
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Micro LED Epitaxy Key Technology—Chip manufacturers—Epistar
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Micro LED Epitaxy Key Technology—Chip manufacturers—Lextar
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Micro LED Epitaxy Key Technology—Chip manufacturers—San’an Optoelectronics

Chapter 5 Mass Transfer and Bonding Technical Bottleneck and Supply Chain Analysis
- Micro LED Mass Transfer and Bonding Technologies Process Instruction
- Micro LED Mass Transfer Technology Overview
- Micro LED Mass Transfer Technical Bottleneck Analysis
- Micro LED Mass Transfer Supply Chain Analysis
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Technology of Micro LED Mass Transfer—Toray
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Technology of Micro LED Mass Transfer—ASM
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Technology of Micro LED Mass Transfer—X-Celeprint
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Technology of Micro LED Mass Transfer—eLux
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Technology of Micro LED Mass Transfer—Uniqarta
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Technology of Micro LED Mass Transfer—OPTOVATE
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Technology of Micro LED Mass Transfer—KIMM
- Micro LED Bonding Technology Overview
- Micro LED Bonding Technical Bottleneck Analysis
- Micro LED Bonding Supply Chain Analysis
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Bonding Technology of Micro LED—Indium
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Bonding Technology of Micro LED—SMIC
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Bonding Technology of Micro LED— SEKISUI
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Bonding Technology of Micro LED—Leti

Chapter 6 Detection and Repairing Technical Bottleneck and Supply Chain Analysis
- Micro LED Detection and Repairing Process Instruction
- Micro LED Detection Technologies Overview
- Micro LED Detection Technical Bottleneck Analysis
- Micro LED Detection Equipment Supply Chain Analysis
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Detection Technology of Micro LED—Equipment Manufacturer—KLA
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Detection Technology of Micro LED—Equipment Manufacturer—Toray
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Detection Technology of Micro LED—Equipment Manufacturer—KONICA MINOLTA
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Detection Technology of Micro LED—Equipment Manufacturer—TOPCON
- Micro LED Repairing Technology Overview
- Micro LED Repairing Technical Bottleneck Analysis
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Repairing Technology of Micro LED—Equipment Manufacturer—Toray

Chapter 7 Full Color Technical Bottleneck and Supply Chain Analysis
- Micro LED Full Color Technical Process Instruction
- Micro LED Full Color Technologies Overview
- Micro LED Full Color Technical Bottleneck Analysis
- Micro LED Full Color Supply Chain Analysis
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Full Color Technology of Micro LED—Material Manufacturer—NANOSYS

Chapter 8 Backplane and Drive Technical Bottleneck and Supply Chain Analysis
- Micro LED Backplane and Driving Technical Process Instruction
- Micro LED Backplane Technology Overview
- Micro LED Backplane Technical Bottleneck Analysis
- Micro LED Backplane Technology Supply Chain Analysis
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Backplane Technology of Micro LED—AUO
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Backplane Technology of Micro LED— CSOT
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Backplane Technology of Micro LED—Tianma
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Backplane Technology of Micro LED— Kyocera
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key Backplane Technology of Micro LED— Plessey
- Micro LED Driving Technology Overview
- Analysis on Challenges of Micro LED Driving Technology
- Analysis on Micro LED Driving Scheme Providers
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key driving Technology of Micro LED—Macroblock
- Analysis on Manufacturers with Key driving Technology of Micro LED—Chipone

Chapter 9 Analysis on Micro LED Development and Supply Chain Competition by Region
- Analysis on the worldwide Micro LED supply chain
- Analysis on Micro LED development by region- Taiwan
- Analysis on product strategy and development of regional companies- the strategic partnership of Epistar & Leyard
- Analysis on product strategy and development of regional companies- the strategic partnership of PlayNitride and RIT Display
- Analysis on product strategy and development of regional companies- Foxconn
- Analysis on product strategy and development of regional companies- AU Optronics
- Analysis on Micro LED development by region- China
- Analysis on Product Strategy and Development of Regional Companies- Reward Policies from the Chinese Government
- Analysis on Product Strategy and Development of Regional Companies- the Micro LED Projects of San’an Optoelectronics
- Analysis on Product Strategy and Development of Regional Companies- the Strategic Partnership of Konka and Chongqing Liangshan Industrial Investment
- Analysis on Product Strategy and Development of Regional Companies- the Strategic Partnership of Konka and LianTronics
- Analysis on Product Strategy and Development of Regional Companies- the Strategic Partnership of BOE and Rohinni
- Analysis on Micro LED development by region- Japan & Korea
- Analysis on Product Strategy and Development of Regional Companies- Samsung in Close Collaboration with Partners in Japan and Taiwan
- Analysis on Product Strategy and Development of Regional Companies- the Strategic Partnership of Seoul Semiconductors and Visosys
- Analysis on Product Strategy and Development of Regional Companies- the Collaboration of JDI & glo
- Analysis on Product Strategy and Development of Regional Companies- the Collaboration of Kyocera & glo
- Analysis on Product Strategy and Development of Regional Companies- EU and US companies
- Analysis on Product Strategy and Development of Regional Companies- Plessey Focuses on Developing AR Applications
- Analysis on Product Strategy and Development of Regional Companies- OSRAM Focuses on Transparent Displays for Automotive Applications

Chapter 10 Analysis on Micro LED development of key players
- The Lowdown Of Micro LED Development By Brand- Apple
- APPLE Product Display Technology List
- APPLE's Micro LED Camp
- The Lowdown Of Micro LED Development By Brand- Samsung
- Samsung Product Display Technology List
- Samsung's Micro LED Camp
- The Lowdown Of Micro LED Development By Brand- LG
- LG Product Display Technology List
- LG's Micro LED Camp
- The Lowdown Of Micro LED Development By Brand- Sony
- SONY Product Display Technology List
- SONY's Micro LED Camp