Can Microdisplays deliver?
Microdisplay module market could reach $4.2 billion, says Yole, but it depends on applications and if the technologies can deliver on their promises
In its latest report 'Microdisplays - Market, Industry and Technology Trends', Yole Développement forecasts a CAGR of more than 100 percent in microdisplay modules for emerging applications. The market value could reach $4.2 billion by 2025, but it depends on applications and if the technologies can truly deliver on their promises.
Consumer AR headsets are a major microdisplay driver with a focus on OLED-on-silicon and microLEDs. In the meantime, LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) and DLP (digital light processing) technologies have the lion’s share. However, there is questions over what compelling use cases will convince the consumer.
Yole’s analysts assume that this will eventually happen, but says device maker OEMs will need to step up their game and provide better application demonstrations over the next couple of years.
If that happens, Yole thinks the microdisplay module market for AR headsets could grow at 110 percent CAGR until 2025, to reach $1.8 billion.
Another potential market is head up displays (HUDs) for cars, according to Eric Virey, principal display market and technologies analyst within the Photonics, Sensing & Display division at Yole. “Cars have ever more displays, while more safety is also required. HUDs can help join both worlds”.
To provide useful, convenient, and safe heads-up displays that occupy as little volume as possible, new projection technologies will be required, alongside innovative optical components.
The first of these modules has just been released in the newest Mercedes S-Class. Yole analyst Zine Bouhamri says: “As we are seeing the first models using a projection microdisplay, we expect the microdisplay module market for automotive HUDs to grow at a 107 percent CAGR until 2025, to reach $285 million”.
The endgame, be it for headsets or HUDs, will be 3D displays. But Yole does not expect the 3D display market to reach significant volumes within five years at a reasonable level of performance.
