Micro LEDs open new growth windows for Chinese TV firms

Micro light-emitting diodes (LEDs), an emerging flat-panel display technology with immense growth potential, are expected to be applied in a range of fields, such as large-sized display products, wearables, augmented reality, virtual reality, optical sensors and fingerprint recognition, industry experts said.

Micro LEDs are based on tiny LEDs that are used to directly create color pixels. Compared with traditional liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, micro LED displays offer much better image quality and are highly efficient. Moreover, it promises to be brighter and more durable (longer lifetime) with a higher color gamut than organic light-emitting diodes (OLED).

Chinese television manufacturer Konka Group Co Ltd said it will increase its investments in 5G, 8K ultra-high definition, the internet of things powered by artificial intelligence (AIoT) and micro LED, as part of a broader push to propel the development of the semiconductor display industry.

Shenzhen-based Konka also announced in September it plans to invest 1.5 billion yuan ($213 million) to establish a micro LED research institute together with Chongqing Liang Shan Investment Co for the research and development, production and sales of micro LEDs.

Zhou Bin, president of Konka, said the company's R&D investment increased by more than 20 percent year-on-year in 2018, emphasizing they will accelerate efforts in the micro LED sector, make a breakthrough in technological innovation and strengthen cooperation with partners, along with consumption upgrade.

Konka has unveiled its first micro LED TV named Smart Wall. "We have teamed up with Migu Co Ltd, China Mobile's entertainment content subsidiary, to build up a 5G ultra-high-definition laboratory, and established the first 5G commercial base with China Mobile's Shanghai branch," Zhou said.

The company invested 482 million yuan in R&D last year, mastered about 100 key technologies, and developed the Aphaea chip with independent intellectual property rights, he said.

The traditional TV market is almost saturated and companies need to seek new growth points, said Dong Min, an independent researcher in the home appliances sector.

Following LCD and OLED, micro LED is now one of the next-generation display technologies that are in the spotlight. South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled its 146-inch modular TV featuring self-emitting micro LED technology during CES 2018 in Las Vegas last year.

LG Electronics also showcased its own 175-inch micro LED at IFA 2018, the world's leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances in Berlin. Media reported that Apple Inc is also planning to adopt advanced micro LED display technology in its wearable devices.

Chinese display panel makers, such as BOE Technology Group Co Ltd and Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co Ltd, a subsidiary of consumer electronics giant TCL Corp, have tapped into the micro LED panel industry.

"New specification standards will raise the technology barrier for market entrants. The need for cross-industry collaboration will also prolong the R&D period for developers of micro LED displays."