Trichrome Pixel Layout for Hexagonal-to-Square Micro-LED Grids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing micro-LED display technologies face challenges in transforming a densely packed grid of hexagonal light emitters into a compatible square rectilinear grid for use in imaging and display technologies, leading to issues with alignment, addressing, and optical properties.
Innovation Solution
The transformation of a regular hexagonal emitter array into a square rectilinear grid of irregular hexagonal emitters, where each pixel consists of differently sized and shaped red, green, and blue emitters, allowing for adjustable emitter areas to control optical current density and wavelength sensitivity, while maintaining a high packing density and compatibility with existing hardware and software.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a hexagonal emitter array layout is used, then packing density is improved, but compatibility with rectilinear pixel geometries and conventional hardware/software deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by transforming the symmetric hexagonal emitter layout into an asymmetric irregular trichrome pixel layout. Each pixel contains three emitters of different colors (red, green, blue) with different areas, creating an asymmetric arrangement that maintains hexagonal packing density while achieving rectilinear pixel geometry compatibility for conventional hardware and software interfaces.
2Reliability
If emitter areas are adjusted to control optical current density, then wavelength sensitivity and quantum efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different areas to individual emitters within each pixel based on their specific color characteristics. The red emitter has a larger area than the green and blue emitters to compensate for its lower quantum efficiency and wavelength sensitivity, while the green and blue emitters have smaller areas. This localized area differentiation optimizes overall pixel performance without requiring complex external control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables compatibility with existing technologies, improves optical properties such as wavelength sensitivity and quantum efficiency, and facilitates easier addressing of pixels, enhancing the operational capabilities of micro-LED displays.
Implementation Method 1
a first plurality of III-nitride blue emitters emitting blue light, each blue pixel having a first area; a second plurality of III-nitride green emitters emitting green light, each green pixel having a second area; and a third plurality of III-nitride red emitters emitting red light
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are presented for transforming a layout of a densely packed grid of micro-LED light emitters to a layout of a square rectilinear pixel grid to achieve compatibility with hardware and software used in imaging and display technologies. In particular, a pattern of regular hexagonal emitter cells for fabrication on a III-nitride substrate can be transformed to a square pixel array of irregular hexagonal trichrome pixels that are readily addressable. Separation between adjacent trichrome pixels, and between their constituent emitters, can be established for overlay tolerance, while maintaining a cell packing density of about 70% and a pixel pitch of about 4.0 μm. Wavelength and quantum efficiency properties are shown to depend on optical current density, which can be determined by the emitter area specified in the grid layout.