The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS has taken a leading role in the development of microdisplays over the past decades and now presents a significant advancement in tools. The new technology, specified and funded as part of the EdgeVision Microdisplay project (FKZ 03RU2U061C) and also supported by the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture, and Tourism, as well as the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, promises substantial improvements in the efficiency and quality of manufacturing high-resolution microdisplays.
Key areas of use
Microdisplays are utilised in a wide range of applications, spanning from consumer electronics to specialised industrial sectors. Here are some of the key areas of use:
- Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): Enabling immersive experiences in headsets.
- Wearable Technologies: Compact and energy-efficient displays in glasses, smartwatches, and fitness trackers.
- Medical Devices: High-resolution image displays in endoscopes and diagnostic instruments.
- Industrial Applications: Important information in head-up displays (HUDs) for vehicles.
- Cameras and Projectors: Compact solutions for digital image representation.
- Defence and Aerospace: Displaying critical information in cockpits and helmets.
Due to their versatility and compact design, microdisplays are a central component of modern technologies, enabling innovative solutions across various industries, and the market is growing rapidly.
The Fraunhofer IPMS is considered the only independent research and development centre worldwide for microdisplay technologies, which also integrates backplane IC design in silicon foundry processes and OLED-on-silicon manufacturing technology under one roof. This allows the institute to develop and manufacture customer- and application-specific OLED microdisplays. However, scientists are also developing backplanes for other display technologies, such as micro-LED and LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon).
To continue being a leading provider of technology developments, the institute has now expanded and renewed its plant technology. This innovative technology promises a significant improvement in the efficiency and quality of manufacturing high-resolution microdisplays.
New equipment
“With the new equipment, we can thermally deposit complex organic stacks, metal layers, and oxides that enable us to develop and manufacture ultra-high-resolution OLED microdisplays, as well as sensors such as organic photodiodes,” explains Bernd Richter, head of microdisplay and sensor technology at Fraunhofer IPMS. “The industry-compatible systems are state-of-the-art and can be flexibly combined to meet the high demands of research and development projects while also providing high efficiency for pilot production.”
Specifically, the new technology achieves higher throughput, and significantly improved process control leads to stable manufacturing processes. The new etching chamber of the system can perform various pretreatments of wafers from different suppliers.
The greatest challenge in this context was to couple the new vacuum system components with the existing plant technology. The scientists are confident that they can remain competitive and offer their customers a unique portfolio: from the design of microdisplays to the production of initial prototypes to pilot manufacturing from a single source.
Full operational readiness is aimed for by the end of the year. The scientists are convinced that the expanded capacities will enable the institute to stay at the forefront of microdisplay technologies and offer a unique portfolio, from design to manufacturing to pilot production.