On February 11, South Korean media outlet Etnews reported that LC Square, a South Korean company specializing in the development of Micro LED display technology and products, announced that it has successfully developed an interposer technology that can transfer Micro LED chips with a width of only 15 micrometers and a length of 30 micrometers with a yield of 99.99% (i.e., 4N).
LC Square revealed that it ensures an excellent 4N-level yield by using high-speed laser technology to accurately identify and remove defective components on LED wafers during the wafer carrier (COC) manufacturing process, and then filling them with normal components. In this process, the wafer carrier, as a temporary substrate, plays a key role in separating and initially arranging the Micro LEDs from the wafer, further improving the overall yield.
The precise arrangement of red, green, and blue Micro LEDs on the interposer layer (Image source: Etnews)
It is understood that the transfer process of separating Micro LEDs from the wafer and transferring them to the substrate, as well as the bonding process of attaching them to the substrate, are extremely difficult technologies, leading to increased manufacturing costs and high prices for finished products. Low yield rates mean significant material loss, which is one of the main factors driving up the cost of Micro LED products. LC Square's technology can reduce this loss and is expected to promote the mass production of Micro LED displays.
LC Square stated that it plans to further increase the yield to 99.999% (5N) by the end of this year. Furthermore, because this interposer technology can handle ultra-small wafers at the 15μm level, it means that more Micro LEDs can be manufactured on the same wafer, thereby increasing production capacity.
Image source: Etnews
According to available information, LC Square was established in 2019 and is the first company established by the Korea Advanced Nano Wafer Center. The company's team members come from renowned organizations and companies such as the Korea Nanotechnology Research Institute, Samsung Electronics' semiconductor, video display, and network business divisions, and Lumens.
LC Square focuses on the development of Micro LED technology and products, including Laser-Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) technology, full-color (RGB) Micro LED Interposer Technology, and Micro LED bonding technology.
It's worth noting that Samsung Ventures has participated in multiple investments in LC Square. In late 2022, Samsung Ventures invested 6 billion won (approximately 33.71 million yuan) in LC Square. In 2023, Samsung Ventures and other companies participated in LC Square's Series B funding round, investing 16.6 billion won (approximately 93 million yuan). (Compiled)
