As part of the HOT project (High-performance transparent and flexible microelectronics for photonic and optical applications), scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS have developed a semi-transparent microdisplay. This microdisplay is significantly lighter than conventional combiner-based optical see-through near-to-eye systems and offers high resolution. The microdisplay will be presented at the SID Display Week 2024 (14-16 May in San Jose, USA, at the German Pavilion, booth number 1124).
In today’s time, more and more augmented-reality (AR) glasses and see-through systems with different application areas are entering the market. To increase the acceptance of these devices and improve wearing comfort, they must be lightweight and easy to use. For mobile consumer electronics devices, the key acceptance criteria are form factor or compactness (volume, weight), battery life, connectivity, app ecosystem, and cost.
Image generators for VR, AR and MR
OLED microdisplays are ideal as image generators for virtual-reality (VR), augmented-reality (AR), and mixed-reality (MR) applications, due to their high resolution and technological level/maturity. However, these microdisplays are typically not transparent due to their silicon-based technology. Therefore, a complex optical system is required for use in see-through data glasses and similar devices, which allows the combination of real and virtual images (optical combiner). This has significant implications on the weight, size, and optical efficiency of the glasses. Current optical see-through near-to-eye displays (NTE) in augmented-reality devices attempt to solve the form factor problem through various technical approaches, such as coupling images from non-transparent image sources into waveguide or fold element optics.
The scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS have years of experience in developing innovative designs for novel microdisplays and possess a globally unique expertise in this field. Thanks to their newly developed semi-transparent OLED-on-silicon microdisplay technology, completely new possibilities for the optical design of slim, near-eye optics are being opened up.
Very thin circuitry layers
Philipp Wartenberg, Group manager IC and System Design at Fraunhofer IPMS, explains: “Modern and advanced silicon CMOS processes are increasingly being applied to silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. This wafer technology can be used for the implementation of very thin circuitry layers. With the help of a specific IC design and an appropriate process flow which enables transfer on a glass wafer semi-transparent microdisplays are possible.”
Depending on the design approach, micro-optics can already be directly integrated into the chip. The transparent microdisplay itself becomes an optical combiner element, significantly reducing the size of the optical system and improving optical efficiency significantly. Further internal technology studies indicate that transparencies of over 50% are achievable.
The scientists are pleased with the successful first technology demonstrator of the transparent microdisplay. They continue to work on increasing transparency and are ready for customer- and application-specific developments to bring this novel technology to market readiness.
About the HOT project
HOT stands for “High-performance transparent and flexible microelectronics for photonic and optical applications.” This work was funded within a Fraunhofer internal programme under grant number MAVO 840092. In addition, the scientists were supported by Fraunhofer IOF in the field of micro-optics.