Macroblock

Followed by Macroblock’s Micro LED forum in Taipei, the next celebration activity of Macroblock’s 20th was the international LED display symposium, which was held in Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen on 7/24. Facing the 5G trends, it is important for the LED display industry to grab the great opportunity. Therefore, Macroblock invited speakers from diverse industries to address what’s the display future and how to break through the current barrier to make the 5G as an accelerator to future growth.

The symposium was divided into two sessions. The first session focused on the connection within the 5G and LED displays and the development of Micro LED and Mini LED. The topics of the second session included the standard, applications, and technology of high-end displays.

The opening remarks brought by Macroblock’s Chairman Dr. L.C. Yang led the audience into the 5G world. He expressed clearly that the 5G era is coming on the first page of his slides. The opportunity initiated by the 5G is based on the three technology breakthroughs, including EeMBB (Enhanced Mobile Broadband, eMBB), uRLLC (Ultra-reliable and Low Latency Communications), and mMTC (massive Machine Type Communications). He also encouraged everyone to think about what will be the changes for the industry and in future. Besides, the 8K display demand driven by Tokyo 2020 Olympics will accelerate the miniaturization trend. When Micro LED and Mini LED are in mass production, the cost structure will be better than SMD solutions (using flip-chip and COB technology). Furthermore, the mature mass transfer technology may further reduce the production cost and speed up the high-end display development. Finally, Dr. L.C. Yang reminded that if we want to enter consumer display business (ex. TV), it is necessary to provide standardized products.
Figure 1. Macroblock’s Chairman Dr. L.C. Yang

Hope Lee, the Senior Market analyst from Futuresource inferred that the LED display market will keep over 10% yearly growth rate as comparing with LCD video wall and B2B projection markets during 2018-2023. Futuresource also expects that the fine-pitch market value will be higher than the LCD market value and will continuously grow. Nowadays, LED makers’ growth engine comes from acquisition, geographic expansion, and business model flexibility. The makers need to require a good understanding of the local markets, business culture, dynamic channels, and vertical demand to pass the international expansion barrier. As for the 5G opportunity, she emphasized that “Live Television” and “Digital Signage” will be the top growth area for the LED display industry.
Figure 2. Hope Lee, the Senior Market analyst from Futuresource

Following the 5G topic, FIA’s CEO Brian Qi shared how the 5G influenced the eco-system of internet business. He defined 5G challenges by different perspectives, including traditional carrier (ex. AT&T), traditional handset ODM/OEM, service provider, chipset provider, Asia IoT solution providers (ODM/OEM) and international IoT solution providers (ODM/OEM). Since the 5G infrastructure cost is paid majorly by traditional carriers and traditional handset provides, therefore, the service providers and IoT solution providers have a unique opportunity to expand their market without affording the great cost. Besides, he highlighted the computing capability of the 5G. When the LED display can integrate gateway and small cell, it will be able to handle big data and provide real-time information. Moreover, if the LED display combines AI technology, it can be the “computer center.” That is how LED displays realize the core value of “mMTC**.”
*FIA is the franchise of Fibocom, which is the solution provider of wireless communication modules and IoT.
** massive Machine Type Communications
Figure 3. FIA CEO, Brian Qi

Kuai Qin, R&D director from Nationstar started his talks of Mini LEDs from market trend, backlighting application, and display application. Based on the display size, he identified Mini LED market into three segments: 1. over 110”, Mini LED Displays; 2. 65”-110” and 32”-6”, Mini LED backlight; 3. <6”, Micro LED. Besides, Both Mini LED displays and backlight applications markets have strong growth projections. If the LCD makers use Mini LEDs as the backlight source to strengthen the local dimming performance, the Mini LEDs can enhance the contrast ratio. Compared with OLED displays for large size TV, e-sport, and automotive display applications, LCDs with Mini LED backlight perform better. At the end of his session, he mentioned that because of the COB design, Mini LED modules can increase reliability and decrease damage risk. In 2021, Nationstar is going to launch Micro LED products.
Figure 4. Kuai Qin, R&D director from Nationstar

“Convergence” is a concept raised by Eric Su, Macroblock’s Special Assistant to GM. At the beginning of his speech, he quoted a figure from 'Huawei 5G White Paper' to explain that  “cloud AR/VR” is the top application scenario. Then, combining Sony’s high-end display requirements: high resolution, high grayscale, wide color space, HDR and high frame rate, make Micro LED display as a “display convergence” to become the mainstream display of the 5G era. Presently, the production barrier still exists. If we follow the 6 sigma theory and the production yield rate reaches 99.99%, there are 2,488 LEDs needed to be repaired for a 4K UHD Micro LED display. Therefore, it is harder to complete an 8K resolution Micro LED display. Also, the productivity of Micro LED/ per machine is only 10% of SMD LED/ per machine, and that is the reason why we are eager to develop mass transfer technology. Even though there is a huge barrier of Micro LED production, Micro LEDs have many great features, such as high resolution, self-emitting, and slim. As the 5G era is coming, the features of Micro LED help to expand new applications: head-mounted device, automotive displays, and transparent displays. Samsung and Sony also endorse to Micro LED development and aim to upgrade visual experience.
Figure 5. Eric Su, Macroblock’s Special Assistant to GM

Macroblock’s Product Manager, Freddy Lo indicated that the 5G will bring 2 display challenges: 1. How to display perfectly of the high-quality video source? For example, the high frame rate (120 FPS) video source will cause image data input and output problems. Therefore, the driver IC needs to have “DCLK double edge trigger” and “Internal GCLK” functions to “restore” video source. 2. If we want to replace LCDs by LED displays for the indoor mainstream display solutions, the pixel pitch of LED displays will be around P0.4 mm (for 8K resolution, the display size will be 138”). And this would be the main territory of Mini LED and Micro LED displays. To meet the unmet needs of Mini LED and Micro LED display, Macroblock launches the flagship highly integrated driver IC, MBI5864, which supports up to 64 scans and can be used for P0.4mm module design. The scan-sharing architecture of MBI5864 leads to use of fewer driver ICs. When comparing modules’ backplane of MBI5864 with MBI5759, the MBI5864 module’s PCB layout is simple. Moreover, the power-saving performance of MBI5864 is quite amazing. When using MBI5864 driver ICs, we can have a lower surface temperature and avoid the color shift problem of LED displays. MBI5864 also upgrades the IC’s current accuracy and has GFN and BGA IC packages for users to choose.
Figure 6. Macroblock’s Product Manager, Freddy Lo

For the first half-session wrap-up, Robert Chen, Macroblcok’ s General Manager echoed the trends mentioned by speakers, such as IoT, AI, and the 5G. He highlighted that the 5G trend will soon become part of our life. Besides, the 5G will bring positive impacts on high-quality video shooting, immersive displays, and the streaming industry. In the end, he concluded that we will have a world without special limitation and restore the real world. And, our life will be changed definitely by the 5G for certainty.
Figure 7 Robert Chen, Macroblcok’s General Manager