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Article | Micro-nanoelectronics


Lighting and displays

Micro-LED Arrays

CEA-Leti is developing a new generation of photonic components: micro LED (µLED) arrays. This breakthrough technology brings advances in multiple applications including smart lighting, augmented reality in integrated smart glasses and large/transparent, flexible 3D displays.

Published on 12 March 2021

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A new generation of photonic components: µLED arrays.

  • CEA-Leti is developing a new generation of photonic components: micro LED (µLED) arrays. This breakthrough technology brings advances in multiple applications including smart lighting, augmented reality in integrated smart glasses and large/transparent, flexible 3D displays.

  • Growing interest in wearable devices has highlighted the need for high-performance microdisplays. These displays currently implement LCD, OLED or MEMS technologies like micro-mirror arrays and laser beam steering. A brightness of 5000 cd/m² and lower energy consumption are needed for many applications, such as see-through eyeglasses, but today's technologies do not provide satisfactory display solutions. Smartphones, tablets and TV screens also call for lower consumption display technology. Inorganic GaN based LED technology has prompted a breakthrough in the lighting market due to its outstanding energy efficiency. 

  • CEA-Leti has implemented this LED technology to manufacture high-brightness µLED arrays hybridized on silicon circuit with a 10-μm pixel pitch and the institute manufactures blue and green arrays offering a brightness of 107 cd/m². µLED arrays developed by CEA-Leti provide energy efficiencies five times higher than the best published values, which eminently demonstrates the promise of this technology in relation to producing high-resolution, high-brightness, GaN-based microdisplays and large displays.