MicroLED Microdisplays Report + Supplemental

The 25% off Early Bird Coupon Code: 2024EARLY of $749 ends at midnight on Sunday, June 30th.

For those attending Augmented World Expo, the 50% Off ($499) Coupon Code
ends at midnight on Saturday, June 22nd.
Visit me at the XRMuseum, Long Beach Convention Center.

This 2024 Consumer Smart Glasses Report is focused on the latest developments in near-eye display technology. Like all my reports, it is written to be readable by an educated but non-engineering audience. There is still a lot that an engineer would find of value, though some passages may come off as optics for dummies.

The focus is on MicroLED microdisplays, put into the context of other competing light engine technologies, and includes an in-depth summary of the latest in waveguides, embedded within corrective optics.

What MicroLED microdisplay companies are profiled?

39 COMPANIES PROFILED

The 39 MicroLED microdisplay companies listed below are profiled. A few of these companies have been acquired. The details of their exit are included. One has since abandoned work in microdisplays (though continues work in large format MicroLED displays), after an initial foray in microdisplays development.

There are many other display companies experimenting in MicroLEDs that are explicitly NOT pursuing microdisplays. Those companies are not included. ONLY MicroLED companies that have done R&D specifically in microdisplays are profiled in this report.

What do these profiles include?

PLEASE READ

Each contending company in the MicroLED microdisplay market has a profile page that begins with a table of known specifications, documenting their R&D progress. With few exceptions, most do not yet have a microdisplay in the market. Sourcing a combination of press releases, white papers, trade show coverage, and executive interviews, a table of all known prototype specifications has been built. While a few have not released any specs at all, most have at least one prototype, while others have more than a half-dozen. In a few cases companies agreed to share exclusive specifications when contacted. The tables are not cookie-cutter. Different companies choose to highlight different specs.

Each profile is unique.

The body of NOTES covers the company background, notable executives, technological implementation (especially anything that might differentiate), academic research, patent filings, partnerships, milestones, and any other noteworthy business matters.

Given their extreme miniaturization, one characteristic unique to MicroLEDs is that commodity collimation optics—that is to say, the optics that steer light rays to move largely uniformly in the same direction, perpendicular to the plane of the display—have become the primary source of bulk in the light engine module. As a consequence, I afforded more attention to miniaturization of the collimation optics than might otherwise be typical in such a report, as I consider it existential to the success of MicroLEDs. What good is the smallest display ever mass produced, if it requires collimation optics, five or even ten times the dimensions of the display itself?

Most profiles contain at least one left sidebar. Depending on the company this may cover a unique technological approach or achievement, profile a specific partnership or relationship, or include an executive or founder profile.

Many profiles include an image of a prototype, or an illustration from a patent.

The first profile in the report is that of French startup Aledia—they have only just recently released specifications for their first publicly revealed prototype.

SAMPLE PROFILE PAGE

What else is included in the report?

93 PAGES

The report opens with a 15 page state-of-the-industry, explaining why MicroLED microdisplays are a crucial break-through technology, placing them in the context of other developments within the smart glasses industry, and explains the author’s unique point of view: how MicroLEDs fit into the larger goal of getting to a low-profile consumer-viable product (i.e.: getting to consumer smart glasses that will both viable pass for regular prescription glasses, or sunglasses, that are fashionable, with a feature-set that will exceed consumer’s high expectation).

The report covers competing engineering designs for achieving full-color RGB MicroLED microdisplays at high-yield scalability. Extensive focus is also given to micro-collimation optics, necessary to substantially reduce the bulk of the light engine.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY TEASER PAGES

There are seven charts and graphs showing how MicroLED microdisplay specifications have evolved overtime, and comparing their specifications to other competing display technologies, such as LBS, DLP, OLED, & LCoS.

BY THE NUMBERS TEASER

There is a 10 page supplemental section, showcasing ten waveguide manufacturers who are now known to have achieved a waveguide within a prescription lens.

WAVEGUIDE SUPPLEMENTAL TEASER

There is a chapter, “Coming Together,” on how MicroLED microdisplays, prescription waveguides, and other related breakthroughs will get us to a consumer viable smart glasses product.

COMING TOGETHER TEASER

The 25% off Early Bird Coupon Code: 2024EARLY of $749 ends at midnight on Sunday, June 30th.

For those attending Augmented World Expo, the 50% Off ($499) Coupon Code
ends at midnight on Saturday, June 22nd.
Visit me at the XRMuseum, Long Beach Convention Center.

Endorsed by Tipatat Chennavasin, General Partner of The Venture Reality Fund.

This is really well researched. If you want to know what the state of the art of optical #ar display tech is, I highly suggest buying this report #spatialcomputing https://t.co/3dJGewHfdp

— tipatat (@tipatat) June 19, 2024