Key Takeaways
1. Coherent is improving display cutting techniques using laser technology to aim for bezel-less displays.
2. The company focuses on annealing and creating tools for cutting displays post-manufacturing.
3. Deep-UV lasers with a wavelength of 266 nm can achieve precise cuts with minimal damage, allowing for borderless designs.
4. Current challenges include the need for higher power lasers (20W) to enable mass production effectively.
5. Coherent has not provided a timeline for when these advancements will be implemented in manufacturing.
Coherent, the organizer of the Mid-Europe Chapter Conference of the Society of Information Display (SID-MEC Conference) in Germany, has shared insights about its plans to enhance display cutting techniques. As a company specializing in laser technology, the firm based in Göttingen not only focuses on annealing as a preliminary step in display manufacturing but also creates tools for the cutting of displays afterward.
Innovations in Display Cutting
Coherent is leveraging laser technology to improve the cutting process, aiming to produce displays without bezels in the future. Over recent years, the borders of these displays have become slimmer, as some manufacturers have folded the edges to create an illusion of a bezel-less design. Nevertheless, the material tends to fracture at the edges, which are then concealed by a bezel. This also serves to protect the display since these edges are vulnerable points where layers may begin to separate.
Laser Technology Advances
An image provided illustrates the glass cut from a side angle. Using a UV laser with a wavelength of 355 nm results in a visibly uneven finish. The separation edge shows that the display layers are not neatly cut, necessitating a frame around the display. A slight improvement is seen with 345 nm, but it still does not meet the standards for a truly bezel-free display.
Achieving a perfect cut can be done with deep-UV lasers, as depicted in a third image. A wavelength of 266 nm allows for such precision that the edges experience minimal damage, resulting in a borderless display. The anticipated material loss at the edge is expected to be less than one pixel. Coherent claims there is already a gap of 50 to 60 micrometers between pixels where the cut can occur. Nonetheless, the cut edge will still require some form of protection.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the advantages of using deep UV lasers in display production, there are challenges to overcome. The technology is not yet suitable for mass production. The existing 10W lasers are not capable of fast display cutting, making it economically unfeasible. Coherent is looking for lasers with 20W output, which should facilitate mass production.
As for timelines, Coherent has not disclosed when this advancement will take place. The equipment will need to be transported from Göttingen to the manufacturers and integrated into their existing production systems.
