- Smartkem (SMTK, Financial) secures a new UK patent for MicroLED display manufacturing, expanding its IP portfolio to 140 patents.
- The patented method enhances material efficiency and reduces production costs by enabling source wafer reusability.
- Smartkem's IP portfolio includes 17 patent families and 40 codified trade secrets, positioning them for a competitive edge in display technology.
Smartkem (SMTK) has announced the acquisition of a UK patent for a groundbreaking method in MicroLED display manufacturing. This development expands their intellectual property (IP) portfolio to a total of 140 granted patents, organized across 17 patent families, along with 40 codified trade secrets.
The patented technique introduces a novel approach by selectively transferring MicroLEDs from a growth substrate to a display substrate, integrating organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) backplane technology. This selective transfer method allows for the reusability of source wafers, a significant departure from traditional monolithic methods, potentially reducing material waste and lowering production costs significantly.
The process involves preparing a MicroLED wafer with an adhesion layer, exposing selected MicroLEDs, and then depositing an OTFT backplane. This assembly is then transferred to a new display substrate, allowing the source wafer to be reused multiple times. This innovation is expected to deliver both economic and environmental benefits, as it decreases the consumption of expensive semiconductor materials.
Smartkem's CEO, Ian Jenks, expressed that the patent not only enhances manufacturing efficiency but also plays a critical role in sustaining Smartkem’s competitive advantage in the market. With this strategic addition to their IP portfolio, Smartkem continues to reinforce its position in the semiconductor industry, focusing on both material and process innovation.
