Toward Micro-Diode Display Panels?

VernonNemitz asks: "Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have been around for decades, and they come in all colors. Here are the basic principles behind their operation, information on what's currently in production , and other practical info. Now, you would think it obvious that video displays should be made from LEDs, to take on the various competitors. Certainly this has been done on a large scale, and I am not the first to be interested in LED display technology for home viewing. The apparent goal of silicon LEDs these days seems to be tied up with optical communications between circuits, have they forgotten the possibility of making high-resolution display panels?"

"Achieving a good image will require smaller pixels, and now I have a better understanding of what has been holding it up, so would like to share what I found out. Basically, unlike a lot of electronic technology, LEDs are mostly -not- made from silicon. So, while silicon diodes are common, and large arrays of them are also made (for sensors), LEDs are not easy to incorporate into standard integrated-circuit manufacturing. Nevertheless, researchers have been pursuing and steadily making progress toward integrating silicon-based LEDs. Even whole arrays, 'suitable for large two-dimensional areas', of silicon laser LEDs have been made, as far back as three years ago."

Comments

Re:OLEDs

[deglr6328]

I'd like to point out that anyone interested in OLEDS may like to have a look at what they are really capable of. A year or so ago I saw a ~9 inch (diagonal) demo of a Kodak OLED and it was nothing short of AMAZING!!! The contrast ratio was extremely high (very black darks and bright areas right next to eachother), color saturation was great(far better than any LCD I've ever seen), switching time was super short (MICROseconds) so there is no blurring and the whole thing was no more than 2mm thick.

Re:Sure, for black and white

[Anonymous Coward]

That is actually true, BTW.

It's my area of research . . .

[feyhunde]

I have experience in the industry, and can tell you that inorganic LEDs HD displays are not gonna happen. The inorganic LEDs cannot be deposited on silicon wafers. The inability to deposit means no way can it be cheap, or feasible. Not to mention the heat output by that many LEDs. I created a test box to evaluate LED's for lighting systems. Using the latest mass produced ones, I still had a significant heat output with 100 tiny ones. A HD inorganic LED panel would simply melt. Organic LEDs remain viable, yet still not ready. OLEDs can be deposited and can use much of the same wafer design. They have many issues, most dealing with lifetime and color shifting, but it works for HD. Kodak is spending a lot of effort on the technology, and I was allowed to use two of the OLED displays and gotta say they have a good design, but just need more help in the material science.