Apple is now making its partnership stronger than before with its chip supplying partner, TSMC (Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company). According to the latest report, the two sides are cooperating to develop ultra-advanced display technology.
As per the news, Apple plans to develop micro OLED displays, which is a brand-new display technology built directly on the chip wafer. The company is looking to apply this new technology in the upcoming AR (augmented reality) devices.
Micro OLED displays are not like traditional LCD screens in smartphones and TVs, nor are they directly built on glass substrates like OLED displays in high-end smartphones.
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These new displays can be built directly on wafers, which are the base material for manufacturing semiconductor chips. This material can be used to make thinner, smaller, and less power-consuming displays, making them more suitable for wearable AR devices.
The micro OLED project is currently in the trial production stage and it will take several years to achieve mass production. The size of the display currently under development is only less than 1 inch.
“Panel players are good at making screens bigger and bigger, but when it comes to thin and light devices like AR glasses, you need a very small screen,” said a source who has direct information on the micro OLED R&D project. “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.”
In addition, the planned micro OLED display production part will use TSMC’s existing chip production equipment and processes. This project is one of two ongoing projects (and micro-LED) in Apple’s secret laboratory in Longtan District, Taoyuan, northern Taiwan.
(Via)
