The search for a breakthrough display technology that addresses the needs of next generation products could be over.
A growing number of emerging applications, such as Head Up Displays (HUDs), AR/VR headsets and general wearables, are looking at new display technologies to enable the development of next generation products that will meet growing global demand. According to research consultancy Yole Développement, the market could reach as many as 330million units by 2025.indoor fixed led display
Although augmented and virtual reality are probably being seen consumer technologies, they are increasingly used in industrial and manufacturing applications, providing skilled and semi-skilled workers with access to information that can assist them in a range of tasks. Examples may include showing a worker the correct sequence for fixing and tightening bolts in an engine, or rivets in a larger structure such as a fuselage. When tools are also connected, the process becomes altogether more integrated, delivering quality assurance as each fixing is recorded or highlighting those that haven’t yet been secured.
Head-mounted displays not only add a level of realism to the scene, they can further increase productivity by allowing workers to move around unencumbered by large handheld displays or tablets.
Display technology is evolving in order to meet demand for smaller, lighter headsets that can be worn for an entire shift without becoming a burden or potential health hazard. The drive for more efficient displays is pushing innovative manufacturers towards microLEDs; a technology that promises lighter, smaller and more efficient displays.Headsets are one important and emerging application area for smaller displays, but others include HUDs, which are now being integrated into road vehicles. Existing applications include general wearables such as smart watches and, of course, displays have always been part of the Human-Machine Interface. This will continue, as smaller displays will allow them to be embedded within a wider range of devices.
Displays generally fall into one of two categories; reflective or emissive. Reflective displays typically require a separate light source and mirror arrangement, while emissive displays, such as LEDs, generate their own light.
Today’s headsets are often based on reflective display technology due to the lack of available emissive displays, which is why they appear large and heavy and are generally power-intensive. Moving to an emissive display solution for headsets will reduce the overall size, weight and power consumption, leading to a significant change in market dynamics.
Like other forms of emissive display technology, microLEDs feature three LEDs per pixel – red, green and blue – in order to provide the full spectrum of visible light. The name reflects the small size of each LED, often 10μm or less, on a pixel pitch of less than 40μm. While this makes them suitable for HUD applications, they can, in theory, be applied to any display of any size; scalability is one of the technology’s many benefits.
