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Apple and TSMC Team Up to Develop Micro OLED Displays for Mixed Reality Apps
Apple has partnered with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to develop ultra-advanced display technology at a secretive facility in Taiwan, according to Nikkei Asia. Apple is expected to use micro OLED displays for their emerging mixed realty headsets. The micro OLED project is now at the trial production stage, sources said, and it will take several years to achieve mass production. "Apple is partnering with TSMC to develop the technology because the chipmaker's expertise is making things ultra-small and good, while Apple is also leveraging panel experts' know-how on display technologies."
Some parts of the planned micro display manufacturing will use TSMC's existing chip-production equipment and processes, sources said.
The project is one of two being conducted at Apple's secretive labs in Longtan District in the northern Taiwanese city of Taoyuan. In addition to micro OLED displays, the company is also working on MicroLED technology, and has trial production lines in place for both types. Apple's complex in Longtan Science Park consists of several unmarked white buildings -- there is no company logo or address on the outside, and only a very faint apple symbol could be seen in the lobby, Nikkei reporters saw on a recent visit. Apple registered a company at the park in 2014 and expanded it in 2020. The complex is within walking distance of TSMC's advanced chip-packaging and testing plant, which is located in the same science park. Apple has hired dozens of veterans from Taiwanese display maker AU Optoelectronics to work on the micro OLED project, one of the sources familiar with the situation said, as well as display experts from Japan and elsewhere. Signing up to work on the program requires signing a strict non-disclosure agreement that forbids employees from even meeting with friends or acquaintances working in the tech industry, the source added. Apple is reportedly working with Sony Semiconductor Solutions, a longtime supplier, which has developed micro OLED display technology that can be used in AR and VR glasses.
Apple's other display project at the Longtan campus focuses on micro LED technology, which the company hopes to eventually use in the Apple Watch, iPads and MacBook’s. Apple has partnered with Taiwanese LED company Epistar to co-develop the technology. The micro LED project also involves some chip manufacturing technology. Samsung, Apple, BOE Technology and San'an Optoelectronics are all working to make the technology commercially viable but finding a way to mass-transfer millions of tiny components to a substrate accurately and affordably remains a major hurdle. "Not every technology that Apple develops will be introduced or actually used in its products, but the company could strategically apply patents for its own patent portfolio and technology advancements to gain more control in the next generation technologies," one of the people said.
BOE had been developing Micro OLED since 2018 through Kunming BOE Display Technology, its joint venture with Yunnan province. BOE is planning to commercially launch a Micro OLED display in the second half of 2021, according to The ELEC. The panel will use for augmented reality and virtual reality viewing.
South Korea-based Sunic Systems has supplied BOE with its deposition equipment used to manufacture the MicroOLED panel. In May of last year, the company signed a US$225 million supply deal with BOE. Sunic Systems had said at the time that it expects high demand for its MicroOLED deposition equipment from launches of AR and VR devices by global IT firms going forward. The company expects its Micro OLED deposition equipment to account for 40% of its sales in 2021. It accounted for 50% in 2020. Sunic Systems expects sales to increase this year from expanded investments into OLED by Chinese companies. The company posted sales of around 120 billion won in 2017 and 2018. But in 2019, this dropped to 88 billion won. In 2020, up to the third quarter, it posted sales of 36.1 billion won, down 20% from the same time period in 2019.
Apple has partnered with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to develop ultra-advanced display technology at a secretive facility in Taiwan, according to Nikkei Asia. Apple is expected to use micro OLED displays for their emerging mixed realty headsets. The micro OLED project is now at the trial production stage, sources said, and it will take several years to achieve mass production. "Apple is partnering with TSMC to develop the technology because the chipmaker's expertise is making things ultra-small and good, while Apple is also leveraging panel experts' know-how on display technologies."
Some parts of the planned micro display manufacturing will use TSMC's existing chip-production equipment and processes, sources said.
The project is one of two being conducted at Apple's secretive labs in Longtan District in the northern Taiwanese city of Taoyuan. In addition to micro OLED displays, the company is also working on MicroLED technology, and has trial production lines in place for both types. Apple's complex in Longtan Science Park consists of several unmarked white buildings -- there is no company logo or address on the outside, and only a very faint apple symbol could be seen in the lobby, Nikkei reporters saw on a recent visit. Apple registered a company at the park in 2014 and expanded it in 2020. The complex is within walking distance of TSMC's advanced chip-packaging and testing plant, which is located in the same science park. Apple has hired dozens of veterans from Taiwanese display maker AU Optoelectronics to work on the micro OLED project, one of the sources familiar with the situation said, as well as display experts from Japan and elsewhere. Signing up to work on the program requires signing a strict non-disclosure agreement that forbids employees from even meeting with friends or acquaintances working in the tech industry, the source added. Apple is reportedly working with Sony Semiconductor Solutions, a longtime supplier, which has developed micro OLED display technology that can be used in AR and VR glasses.
Apple's other display project at the Longtan campus focuses on micro LED technology, which the company hopes to eventually use in the Apple Watch, iPads and MacBook’s. Apple has partnered with Taiwanese LED company Epistar to co-develop the technology. The micro LED project also involves some chip manufacturing technology. Samsung, Apple, BOE Technology and San'an Optoelectronics are all working to make the technology commercially viable but finding a way to mass-transfer millions of tiny components to a substrate accurately and affordably remains a major hurdle. "Not every technology that Apple develops will be introduced or actually used in its products, but the company could strategically apply patents for its own patent portfolio and technology advancements to gain more control in the next generation technologies," one of the people said.
BOE had been developing Micro OLED since 2018 through Kunming BOE Display Technology, its joint venture with Yunnan province. BOE is planning to commercially launch a Micro OLED display in the second half of 2021, according to The ELEC. The panel will use for augmented reality and virtual reality viewing.
South Korea-based Sunic Systems has supplied BOE with its deposition equipment used to manufacture the MicroOLED panel. In May of last year, the company signed a US$225 million supply deal with BOE. Sunic Systems had said at the time that it expects high demand for its MicroOLED deposition equipment from launches of AR and VR devices by global IT firms going forward. The company expects its Micro OLED deposition equipment to account for 40% of its sales in 2021. It accounted for 50% in 2020. Sunic Systems expects sales to increase this year from expanded investments into OLED by Chinese companies. The company posted sales of around 120 billion won in 2017 and 2018. But in 2019, this dropped to 88 billion won. In 2020, up to the third quarter, it posted sales of 36.1 billion won, down 20% from the same time period in 2019.
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