Q-Pixel has demonstrated 1 micron-sized pixels that can be driven to produce any visible color.
I’m in the i-Zone with a company called Q-Pixel, a two-year-old startup developing a tunable pixel architecture for microLED displays. While similar in concept to Porotech’s Dynamic Pixel Tuning, Q-Pixel uses a completely different approach.
How It Works
- Q-Pixel’s technology is based on a multi-quantum well structure.
- This structure can be continuously tuned from blue to red, with red being the most challenging wavelength to achieve.
- Entire process completed in a single growth deposition phase using standard manufacturing techniques.
- Physics details remain confidential, but the concept enables full-color tuning without separate RGB devices.
Key Milestones
- Patents: 6 granted, 12 pending.
- World’s first full-color resolution microdisplay:
- 10,000 PPI with devices only 1 micron in diameter.
- Polychromic version: 6,800 PPI.
- These numbers are industry-leading, though efficiency drops at micron-scale sizes.
Roadmap
Next steps include:
- Developing larger-area devices for demonstrators.
- Target applications:
- Smartphones
- Smartwatches
- AR devices
- Goal: Transition from lab prototypes to commercially viable products.
Why It Matters
Q-Pixel’s tunable microLED technology offers:
- Simplified manufacturing (single growth phase).
- Ultra-high pixel density for next-gen displays.
- Potential for full-color displays without complex assembly.
This is an early-stage but highly compelling proposition for the future of microLED displays.