The recent buzz in the tech world is around Apple and its venture into a new display technology named microLEDs. Considered as the future of the display industry, these self-illuminating diodes offer brighter screens and superior colour reproduction compared to the existing Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display technology. This marks an exciting development in an industry always thirsty for technological breakthroughs.
Understanding MicroLEDs
MicroLED technology operates with the utilization of sapphires, renowned for their inherent shine. This innovative technology involves microscopic light-emitting diodes (LEDs), densely packed to generate a vivid, high-quality display.
Contrary to OLED displays that rely on organic materials, microLEDs utilise inorganic substances such as gallium nitride. A microLED can be imagined as a centimetre of hair divided into 200 smaller pieces. Each of these semi-conductor microLEDs receives electric signals, and when compiled, they create a module. Concatenating multiple modules paves the way for screen formation.
Advantages of MicroLEDs
MicroLEDs offer brighter screens with enhanced colour reproduction and viewing angles. They possess limitless scalability due to their resolution-free, bezel-free, ratio-free, and size-free characteristics. This feature allows screens to be resized freely for practical usage.
Unlike other technologies, microLEDs are self-emissive. This means they individually generate red, green, and blue colours, eliminating the need for backlighting or colour filters.
Challenges Associated with MicroLEDs
While microLEDs display impressive benefits, the road to their commercialization is strewn with challenges. The manufacturing process is exceptionally intricate, demanding extreme precision across several variables to ensure top-notch quality.
The cost of producing microLED displays is currently towering, which could delay widespread adoption until prices drop. Moreover, microLEDs consume substantial power, potentially making them less energy-efficient than alternative display technologies.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Questions
In the 2021 UPSC Civil Services Examination, a question pertaining to lighting technology was asked: “With reference to street lighting, how do sodium lamps differ from LED lamps?” The correct answer was options 1 and 3 only: Sodium lamps produce light in 360 degrees unlike LED lamps, and the spectrum of visible light from sodium lamps is almost monochromatic while LED lamps offer significant colour advantages in street lighting.
Another relevant question from the 2017 examination focused on the advantages of OLED displays over Liquid Crystal displays. The correct answer encompassed all provided options indicating that OLED displays can be fabricated on flexible plastic substrates, roll-up displays embedded in clothing can be created using OLEDs, and transparent displays are possible using OLEDs.
The Nobel Prize in Physics of 2014 had also revolved around the topic of LEDs, awarded jointly to Akasaki, Amano, and Nakamura for the invention of Blue LEDs in the 1990s. This revolutionary innovation has significantly improved the everyday life of human beings.
The evolution of display technology, as represented by Apple’s move towards microLEDs, illuminates the ceaseless pursuit for offering consumers brighter, more vibrant viewing experiences. Such technological advances signify the industry’s commitment to overcoming challenges and driving forward with innovative solutions.
