AI Terminal and Microdisplay Industry: Insights from the CMMA Exchange

Introduction

The AI terminal and microdisplay industry is at a critical juncture of technological advancement and market expansion. On March 1, 2025, a closed - door exchange meeting organized by the CMMA association took place in Hangzhou. Key players from across the industry gathered to discuss pivotal issues facing the AI terminal and microdisplay sectors. This article summarizes the key discussions and insights gained from the meeting.

AR Glasses Light - Weight Trend and Microdisplay Technologies

Opportunities and Challenges of MicroLED, MicroOLED, and LCoS

• MicroOLED: Offers high resolution and superior color performance, making it ideal for indoor entertainment applications like movie - watching. Its potential to integrate AI voice, eye - tracking, or gesture interactions could enable it to replace existing TVs, smartphones, and VR devices for entertainment purposes.

• MicroLED: Features smaller size and higher brightness, suitable for outdoor information - based prompts. It can replace some watch or phone notification functions and is perfect for real - time translation and cue - giving applications.

• LCoS: Can achieve full - color high PPI at a relatively lower cost, but with slower response times. It remains a viable option until MicroLED full - color technology matures.

MicroLED Full - Color Technology and Mass Production

Technical Routes and Challenges

• Material - based Routes: Include GaN material modifications, such as ion injection, rare - earth doping, and quantum dot color conversion. These methods require extensive development and stability testing.

• Engineering - based Routes: Involve optical combination schemes like three - color light engines and waveguide combination. Wafer - level Bonding technology for three - color chips is a promising approach, with domestic engineering capabilities already demonstrating progress.

Expected Mass Production Timeline

The industry anticipates that full - color MicroLEDs will reach a more mature stage by 2027, aligning with the release schedules of major international manufacturers like Meta and Apple.

DeepSeek's Impact on AR Glasses Development

DeepSeek's AI capabilities enhance AR glasses by enabling more efficient data processing and interaction. This, combined with microdisplay technology, provides a smoother user experience, making AI glasses a key to unlocking metaverse interactions.

SiC Optical Waveguide Commercialization Challenges

While SiC technology shows promise for AR glasses, challenges remain in terms of high substrate costs and production scaling. The transition from 8 - inch to 12 - inch wafers and the move towards full - color production are critical steps that need to be addressed.

Future Opportunities and Collaborations

The next 3 - 5 years will see exciting developments in AI terminals and microdisplay applications. Collaborations between industry players, academia, and research institutions will be crucial in driving innovation and addressing technical challenges.

In conclusion, the AI terminal and microdisplay industry is poised for significant growth and innovation. By addressing the technical and market challenges discussed at the CMMA exchange, industry stakeholders can work together to accelerate the development and adoption of advanced microdisplay technologies, opening up new possibilities for AI - enabled devices and applications.