In the InGaNious project, we are developing a unique InGaN epitaxial platform for the microLED market, which will revolutionize display resolution and brightness. InGaNious has the potential to unlock next-generation, ultra-high resolution and high-efficiency displays for the global opto-electronics industry, and enable many new display applications. The project aims to bring the InGaN platelet technology to 6” Si wafers and demonstrate ultra-small, sub-1-µm high efficiency microLEDs for red emission.
Conventional GaN/InGaN planar technologies are struggling to keep efficiency high as the pixel size is reduced below 10µm. This is a problem, in particular for display application where a high density is needed, i.e VR, AR, HUD, and even for smart watches.
The InGaNious technology solves several of the issues that the conventional technologies are struggling with by a unique defect filtering approach that also minimizes material stress and enables easier tuning of emission wavelength. In addition, the technology works from the bottom-up, avoiding issues with plasma processes that cause damage to the material. Further, the technology also allows for the integration of red, green, and blue emitting microLEDs on the same epitaxial wafer. This would drastically simplify all display manufacturing, even on large TV panel sizes, which do not necessarily need the ultra-high resolution. Thus, our technology can address not only the AR/VR emerging markets but also the extremely large TV and smart phone markets, which means very large production volumes.
The project objectives were the demonstration of high quality deep red InGaN platelet sub-1µm microLEDs, show initial scaling to 150mm wafer size (Si) and engage with industrial partners in order to secure a joint development program.
As society today depends on modern technology, displays are found everywhere. Most of us carry at least one display with us at all time and use many more on a daily basis.
With the emergence of a competitive microLED technology, enabled by InGaNious, many new opportunities in the VR, AR, and HUD segments will arise that have the potential to revolutionize a range of market segments, including transport, medicine, and education. With state-of-the-art efficiency there is ample room for reduction in energy consumption and improved and simplified integration flow, a higher yield and lower cost production process of displays. In addition, a technology like InGaNious established in Europe aims to significantly assist in bringing the LED market and hence thousands of jobs back to Europe.
