The patents purchased by LG Display this time are in Micro LED technology, most of which are Transfer process technology, which can be appliedMicro LED technologies used for Micro LED mass transfer, touch sensing, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), head-mounted displays (HUD), etc. are also included in the patent purchase catalog.
The biggest problem with Micro LED is mass transfer. Because Micro LED chips are small, they are difficult to operate. If the electricianThe production efficiency is low and maintenance (repair) projects to replace defective micro-LEDs are required, which will lead to increased costs.
Most of the Micro LED-related U.S. patents that LG Display purchased from Taiwan Ultra Display (UDT) in June this year are a complete set of technologies, including Micro LED lamination and sensing technologies..
It is speculated that LG Display purchased Micro LED patents to increase the profitability of related businesses. LG Display has built a backplane line for Micro LED Apple Watch in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, but it is difficult to ensure profitability with only the backplane.
In the Apple Watch series, Apple also plans to first use Micro LED on the latest Ultra models, and then expand the scope of applications. The reason why Apple plans to start applying Micro LED from Apple Watch is that when the screen size is less than 2.5 inches, it supports pixel density of 300~400 PPI (PPI: Pixels PerInch) smart watch application Micro LED is relatively easy. The screen size of recent organic light-emitting diode (OLED) flagship smartphones is 6 to 7 inches, with a pixel density of around 500PPI.
If Apple ensures mass-produced Micro LED technology capabilities, it can also be applied to AR devices after the Apple Watchdevices and smartphones. LED is an inorganic substance and has advantages over organic OLED in terms of product life and brightness. In addition, the mass production time of MicroLED Apple Watch has been postponed again from the second quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026.
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