SBIR Phase II: Monolithic Integration of LED Arrays and Silicon TFTs for Super High Brightness Microdisplays

该小型企业创新研究(SBIR)二期项目旨在通过将高性能硅晶体管与化合物半导体光电材料进行单片集成来开发新的高亮度光引擎平台。先前已经制造了发光二极管(LED)的密集阵列，以展示在微显示和投影概念中使用这种阵列的机会。然而，如果没有主动控制电路，最终的亮度和分辨率是有限的。这项在SBIR中开发的技术独一无二地允许在单一基板上制造具有集成控制电路的LED阵列，从而实现具有高峰值亮度、高动态范围和高效率的光引擎平台。已经制作了LED阵列和晶体管器件的原型，下一步实现这一平台的是开发先进的硅电路来直接控制LED阵列和颜色产生方法，实现全彩显示。该项目的预期结果是片上驱动电路和颜色生成方法的开发，这些方法将与LED阵列集成，形成商业就绪的原型。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发具有现有系统所不具备的功率效率、亮度、成本和外形因素的光引擎。特别是，确定了三个市场，在这些市场中，这种技术比目前的技术具有显著的优势。这些市场包括微型显示器市场、微微投影仪市场和投影仪市场。该光引擎平台外形小巧、使用寿命长、环境稳健性强、能效高，并具有太阳光可读性所需的高亮度。这些功能对于创造真正无处不在的显示设备和实现新的透明增强现实体验或更小、更集成的便携式投影仪是必要的，这在当前技术下是不可能的。该设备的商业化将影响所有这些领域，并使一系列新的下游应用得以实现，包括其他非显示行业，如3D扫描和新颖的用户界面。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to develop a new high brightness light engine platform by monolithically integrating high performance silicon transistors with compound semiconductor optoelectronic materials. Dense arrays of light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been previously fabricated to show the opportunity of using such arrays in microdisplay and projection concepts. However, without active control circuits, the ultimate brightness and resolution are limited. The technology developed in this SBIR uniquely allows for the fabrication of LED arrays with integrated control circuits on a single substrate enabling a light engine platform with high peak brightness, high dynamic range, and high efficiency. Prototype LED arrays and transistor devices have been fabricated, and the next step to realize this platform is the development of advanced silicon circuitry to directly control the LED arrays and color generation methods to achieve full-color displays. The anticipated results of this project are on-chip driving circuits and development of color generation methods which will be integrated with arrays of LEDs to form a commercially-ready prototype.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is the development of a light engine with a power efficiency, brightness, cost, and form factor unavailable in incumbent systems. In particular, three markets are identified where this technology significant advantages over current technologies. These include the microdisplay market, the pico projector market, and the projector market. This light engine platform offers a small form factor, long lifetime, environmental robustness, high energy efficiency, and the high brightness required for sunlight readability. These features are necessary to create truly ubiquitous display devices and enable new see-through augmented reality experiences or smaller, more integrated portable projectors, not possible with current technologies. Commercialization of this device will impact all of these areas and also enable a range of new downstream applications including other non-display industries, such as, 3D scanning and novel user interfaces.