This new company is a developing a graphene-based interferometric pixel architecture.
I’m in the i-Zone at DisplayWeek 2024, looking at a brand-new technology from Scale Nanotech. If you’ve been in the display industry for a while, you might remember Mirasol, a Qualcomm-developed interferometric display based on MEMS technology. While Mirasol worked well in principle, it never reached sustainable commercialization. Scale Nanotech is now reviving this concept with key innovations.
The Original Mirasol Concept
- Used a MEMS membrane inside an etalon cavity.
- By adjusting the membrane height, the cavity produced interferometric colors:
- Different heights corresponded to red, green, or blue.
- Grayscale was achieved via pulse-width modulation:
- Switch between color and black positions rapidly.
The technology worked, but the heavy silicon MEMS membrane posed challenges for mass production and reliability.
Scale Nanotech’s Innovation
- Replaces the heavy MEMS membrane with a graphene membrane:
- Single-atom thick, extremely light, and easy to deflect.
- Operates on the same principle:
- Adjust cavity height for color tuning (red, green, blue).
- Membrane moves like a drumhead, enabling fast switching.
- Grayscale still achieved via pulse-width modulation.
Current Status
- Scale Nanotech has been developing this technology for 7–8 years.
- Now showing early prototypes:
- Difficult to view directly due to optical setup.
- Working on a new backplane to enable a more compelling demonstration.
Why It Matters
This approach could deliver:
- Ultra-thin, lightweight displays
- Low power consumption
- Potential for high color purity and fast response times
If successful, Scale Nanotech’s graphene-based interferometric displays could offer a unique alternative to conventional LCD, OLED, and microLED technologies.