"For ViP technology, Visionox has completed the integration of large-scale industrial processes as mass production is imminent."
On May 9, 2023, Dr. Zhang Deqiang, Chairman and President of Visionox, launched the world's first Visionox RGB Self-aligned Pixelization Technology Without Fine Metal Mask- Visionox intelligent Pixelation (ViP) at the World UHD Video Industrial Conference 2023, pushing the display industry into a new era of AMOLED+.
As the strategic choice of Visionox, ViP technology remains the inevitable result of technological innovation that Visionox has promoted over the years. In its new medium- and long-term development strategy for the next decade, Visionox suggests "consolidating the success in small-sized display applications, expanding new medium-sized display applications, and opening up a new large-sized display market" in emerging displays.
After solid technological development and verification for years, Visionox has achieved key breakthroughs in ViP and the development and integration of mass-production processes. Having successfully tested medium-sized samples based on ViP technology, Visionox is speeding up the work on mass production for all AMOLED sizes.
Photolithography-based Pixel with Ultra-high Performance
"This technology achieves more precise AMOLED pixels using the semiconductor photolithography process, which significantly improves product performance."
ViP technology features no FMM (Fine Metal Mask), independent pixels, and high precision, which increases the effective light-emitting area (aperture ratio) of AMOLED from the traditional 29% to 69%* and pushes pixel density to over 1,700ppi*. When combined with Visionox's Tandem stacked devices, ViP OLEDs enjoy a 6X increase in lifetime, or a 4X increase in brightness, compared to standard FMM AMOLEDs.
The increased pixel precision ensures the panel still uses Real RGB pixel arrangement at high ppi. Furthermore, the replacement of FMM by photolithography could solve problems, such as color mixing between subpixels during evaporation and crosstalk between subpixels during driving at low brightness. Therefore, it further fully unleashes the advantages of AMOLED in terms of clarity, color performance, and uniformity.
ViP can also strengthen Visionox's existing FMM AMOLED technologies already verified in mass production, such as Tandem stacked devices, under-display camera (UDC), and color filter on encapsulation (COE). For example, without any design alterations or cost increases, ViP technology can double the transmittance rate of under-display sensors compared to what may be achieved with the FMM process, creating new opportunities for UDC technology.
Plan in Advance to Accelerate Mass Production
"Visionox has made a forward-looking strategic plan on ViP technology with remarkable performances."
As a mature technology in the semiconductor field, photolithography-based patterning serves as a sharp tool to realize high-precision patterning, with wide application in TFT arrays in the display industry. Over the years, many institutions around the world have been conducting research and development to apply the photolithography process to the patterning of AMOLED pixels. Aiming at mass production, Visionox has accumulated technologies in this field for a long time and has reaped innovation breakthroughs.
Since OLED materials are sensitive to water, oxygen, and UV, Visionox has designed an insulated column structure creatively, enabling the application of photolithography-based pixel patterning for mass production. Visionox originated from the OLED research group at Tsinghua University, which started research on OLEDs from lab tests to the industrialization of PMOLEDs. It has accumulated rich experience in shape design and material selection through many development and design work on insulated column, which supports Visionox's breakthroughs in the application of photolithography-based patterning process in display pixel patterning.
To accelerate the industrialization of photolithography-based pixel patterning, Visionox developed a simulation model corresponding to special processes of ViP technology. In addition, based on its innovative technologies and mature experience in mass production of small and medium-sized AMOLEDs for more than ten years, it promoted the industry chain to move toward mass production. In 2016, Visionox (Gu'an) G6 Full-flex AMOLED Production Line boasted the ability to develop the photolithography-based pixel patterning process. In 2022, to meet the rapidly-growing demand in the mid-to-large size AMOLED panel market, Visionox began the construction of a ViP mass production line at its Hefei base to build out volume capabilities.
Regarding ViP technology, Visionox has filed patents across multiple domains, including photolithography-based pixel patterning, auxiliary cathode, independent OLED devices, and independent packaging. As of now, Visionox is home to nearly 100 core patents.
Reshape the Industry to Play to Its Strengths
"ViP will build a new sector for China's OLED industry chain, accelerating the construction of an autonomous and controllable industry chain to leverage greater value."
ViP technology eliminates FMM AMOLED technology limitations on display size, resolution, and screen performance. It offers an upgraded solution for the mass production of AMOLEDs with ultra-high performance, full-size coverage, and agile delivery. Featuring deep customization and wide application, it will reshape the industry chain and give full play to the strengths of China's emerging display industry.
ViP technology solves the pain points of FMM, such as high design cost, long production lead time, and a high threshold for minimum order quantity. Moreover, it generates new advantages in mass production: lowered minimum order quantity, improved panelization, and made-to-order free-form display.
Based on ViP's characteristics and advantages in mass production, AMOLED can achieve full coverage of full-size applications in all fields, including AR/VR, wearables, smartphones, and medium and large-sized displays, such as tablets, laptops, monitors, auto displays, and TV. In response to the specific needs of these market segments, ViP will play to its overwhelming advantages that extend beyond traditional technologies, to deliver a new visual experience to terminal clients and consumers.
At present, many terminal clients have worked with Visionox to define future ViP-based terminal products.
A new era of AMOLED+ is beginning.
* Based on Visionox Lab data, MP product performance may vary slightly with development requirements.