Micro-LED technology has emerged as a frontrunner in the display industry. It outperforms OLED and micro-OLED displays in brightness, contrast, energy efficiency, and lifespan. It excels across micro-displays and medium to large screens, delivering a game-changing leap in visual technology. Yet, the transition to Micro-LED commercialization is challenging for most companies due to issues with yield rates and cost control.

Sitan Technology, a research-led pioneer in the commercialization of Micro-LED technology, is strategically positioned to successfully navigate these complexities with a solid technical foundation and excellent engineering capabilities.

As the first national “Little Giant” specialized enterprise in the Micro-LED industry in China, Sitan specializes in the R&D, production and sales of Micro-LED semiconductor display technology. The successful launch of the Xiamen mass production line in June 2024 is underpinning its capability for rapid commercialization of Micro-LED technology. Now Sitan is one of only two companies in China capable of mass-producing Micro-LED displays chips. Its production capabilities, backed by a pilot line in Shenzhen, are bolstered by comprehensive process experience. With an annual capacity exceeding millions of Micro-LED chips, Sitan is well-equipped to meet the demands of its customers.

Originating from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a birthplace of Micro-LED innovation, the team comprises R&D specialists and professionals with master’s and doctoral degrees who drive Sitan’s passion for widespread Micro-LED adoption.

“We aim to push the boundaries of what micro- LED displays can do by bringing this advanced technology to the world,” says Xiaowei Yue, chief financial officer.

Revolutionizing Displays with Game-Changing Solutions

Driven by the vision of ‘illuminating the world with our Micro-LED chips,’ Sitan is solving industry pain points with its premium Micro-LED displays and their applications in display systems. Backed by an independently managed Micro-LED research center, it focuses on providing one-stop Micro-LED chips under 0.5 inches for AR/XR, automotive displays.

AR/XR

Sitan’s portfolio includes the industry’s highest 10000+ PPI micro-display products with monochrome brightness reaching 8 million nits. This makes it the ideal choice for clients looking to solve the challenges arising from the AR/ XR market’s transition toward next-gen devices. Existing technologies, such as liquid crystal on Si (LCoS) and Micro- OLED, struggle to meet the demands for both high brightness and portability. OST-based AR glasses typically demand exceptional specifications.

Automotive Displays

The automotive industry is also reaping the benefits of Sitan’s pioneering technology. Sitan solves the pain points of pixel headlights, ambient lighting and AR-HUD. Micro-LED technology in pixel headlights provides high pixel density with ultra-low transmission loss and lightweight benefits, allowing car manufacturers to implement smart features like road projection and zone lighting cost-effectively. Given the superior imaging performance of Micro-LED technology, it holds substantial value for car manufacturers looking to upgrade to projection imaging in HUD and ambient lighting systems.

Self-Developed CMOS Driver ICs

Sitan utilizes a monolithic integration approach to building compact high-PPI Micro- LED displays, which aligns and bonds the silicon-based complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-driving chip with the Micro-LED light-emitting chip, bypassing the challenges of mass transfer techniques.

Sitan is one of the few companies that has mastered the art of designing silicon-based CMOS driving ICs for Micro-LEDs, it optimizes the performance synergy between the driving and the light-emitting chips by drawing on an in-depth understanding of the technology. A self-developed, digital driving method ensures that the algorithm is adapted to the characteristics of current silicon-based Micro-LED products while significantly reducing power consumption and enhancing display quality. This results in a display-driving backplane that is more suitable for micro-display/micro-projection scenarios, far exceeding other driving IC solutions. This high degree of customization is coupled with precise control over pixel size, luminous efficacy, and exceptional chip-level bonding accuracy.

Full Color Solutions

Currently, Sitan’s single-screen, full-color brightness can achieve 150,000 nits. The pain points of full-color solutions, such as large volume, low material compatibility, and high-power consumption are addressed by employing a quantum dot (QD) color conversion scheme. Its method involves the production of only blue light chips, which are then bonded with a driving backplane. Red and green quantum dots are applied to the designated sub-pixel areas. QD, through its photoluminescent properties, absorbs the blue light and emits red and green light, enabling full-color display using only blue LED chips.

Sitan Technology’s QD color conversion solution comes with innovative features that sharpen its competitive edge. Its advanced COC die scheme allows for micrometer-level alignment accuracy, setting the stage for next-generation, high-resolution display chips. Its proprietary design, M Bank Structure, enhances light emission and improves display brightness significantly. Reflected light is recycled through its DBR and side metal architecture to reduce pixel crosstalk and expand the color gamut, delivering more vibrant and accurate colors. Sitan also follows the substrate etching process to minimize interlayer crosstalk and remove surface impurities, resulting in a drastic increase in brightness.

Quality and Innovation, Guaranteed

Sitan’s innovative, best-in-class products, from proprietary driving ICs to one of the industry’s most mature single-screen full-color solution, are a culmination of years of deep-rooted industry expertise and ingrained knowledge. Its independently developed products have been successfully integrated by top optical waveguide manufacturers and end customers.

The team’s customized collaboration model helps build customer trust and drive the widespread adoption of micro- LED technology across domains like AR/XR and automotive applications. It engages with customers to understand specific application needs and collaboratively design solutions.

“From prototyping and technical support to mass production and ongoing service, we provide end-to-end services to deliver the optimal Micro-LED display for each customer,” says Yue.

At the helm of Sitan’s ability to drive a mega revolution in mass production and commercialization of Micro-LED technology is the sheer dedication of its incredible team of experts and innovation-led culture. Its complementary team originates from the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Displays and Optoelectronics at HKUST. Sitan’s founder, Dr. Zhaojun Liu, is the inventor of active-driving Micro-LED technology.

Over 60 percent of the team dedicated to R&D. Sitan has submitted over 700 intellectual property applications, of which more than 400 have been granted. It has established a comprehensive intellectual property landscape encompassing materials, manufacturing processes, devices, systems and applications, securing a leading position in the Micro-LED industry with its end-to-end IP strategy.

We aim to push the boundaries of what micro-LED displays can do by bringing this advanced technology to the world

Steering ahead, the team aims to commercialize its Micro-LED solutions globally by increasing its investment in technological innovation and collaborating with upstream and downstream companies.

Through self-driven innovation, Sitan stands as the vanguard driving the advancement and industrialization of Micro-LED technology.