Dev kits speed up microLED display designs

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

Plessey is offering a microLED Direct-Drive display platform and development kit, based on its proprietary monolithic GaN-on-Silicon technology, to help product developers design in microLED displays. The development kit enables developers to either retrofit current products or develop new designs integrating microLED displays.

The plug-and-play Direct-Drive platform targets applications that require symbolic content, instead of individually addressed pixelized content. Thanks to the Direct-Drive display’s small form factor, it can be integrated into compact product designs such as smart glasses, and head-mounted displays for navigation, sport & leisure and optical instruments.

Plessey said the symbolic content is fully customizable using monochrome or fully colorized segments with pixel capabilities down to 2-micron, which enables ultra-fine, ultra-high-resolution detail. The self-emissive display can be driven directly from an external source, and does not require a backplane, which simplifies the manufacturing process and improves power consumption.

The scalable starter package enables developers to get started using  small form-factor microLED displays . The kit includes the following:

• Direct-Drive display (Less than 5 x 5 mm)
• Embedded driver with open-source firmware
• The driver allows the die to be driven at up to 2 A
• ATMEGA processor
• Rechargeable (USB), ultra-small battery
• Integrated Bluetooth connection
• Protocols: I2C/UART/SDI/USB
• Technical documentation to support integration

“With a total input power of 250 mW, Plessey’s native green segments can emit 2 million nits of brightness,” said Dr. Samir Mezouari, optical engineering manager, in a statement. “For AR [augment reality] applications, the Direct-Drive displays can achieve a much higher brightness than OLED with a power consumption as low as 50 mW, allowing daytime viewing and a longer battery life.”

Targeting system engineers and other display technology enthusiasts, the Direct-Drive development kits will be available to order at CES 2020  in Las Vegas. Plessey will demonstrate the Direct-Drive solutions in booth 21861, South Hall 1, LVCC.