MicroLEDs emit vibrant light through a process where each individual LED (Light Emitting Diode) in the array is an independent source of light. Here's how it works:
Emission of Vibrant Light:
- Semiconductor Layers: MicroLEDs are made from semiconductor materials like gallium nitride (GaN) or gallium arsenide (GaAs). When an electric current passes through these layers, it excites the electrons, moving them to a higher energy state.
- Recombination: As these electrons fall back to their lower energy state, they release energy in the form of photons. The color of the light depends on the bandgap of the semiconductor material, which can be engineered to emit red, green, or blue light.
- **High Brightness:** Due to their small size and direct emission, MicroLEDs can achieve very high luminance levels with very low power consumption, making the light they emit vibrant and clear.
Input Light Sources for AR Glasses:
- **MicroLED Arrays:** The primary light source in AR glasses using this technology is the MicroLED itself. Each pixel in the display can be a MicroLED, allowing for very high resolution and contrast.
- **RGB MicroLEDs:** For full-color displays, arrays of red, green, and blue MicroLEDs are used. These can be combined to create any color in the visible spectrum, providing vibrant and true-to-life visuals.
- **Laser Diodes:** In some more advanced systems, laser diodes might be used as the initial light source, with MicroLEDs functioning as modulators or for specific color enhancement. However, this is less common due to the complexities in managing laser safety and efficiency in AR applications.
- External Light Sources: Though not typical for MicroLED-based AR glasses, external light sources like ambient light could be harnessed, for example, through light harvesting technologies to enhance battery life, although this would not be the primary light source for the display.
In AR glasses, these vibrant light sources are crucial as they need to produce images that are both visible and seamlessly blended with the real world, requiring high brightness, efficiency, and precision in color reproduction.