With the rapid development of smart cars, in-vehicle displays, as an important window for human-computer interaction, have been evolving continuously with their unique technology applications. High resolution, high brightness, high contrast, high color saturation, low power consumption, fast response speed, thin thickness, and long lifespan have become the quality requirements for a new generation of high-quality in-vehicle displays.

From the perspective of display technology, OLED and Mini/Micro LED self-luminous direct display technology will become the ultimate display solution in the future. However, constrained by costs and technology, Mini LED backlit displays have emerged from traditional LCD solutions due to their advantages of high brightness and high contrast, while being lower in cost than OLED and other direct display screens. Thus, they have become a hot solution for many mid-to-high-end models.

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According to industry insiders, in addition to the previously released models featuring Mini LED backlit screens from Ideal, NIO, SAIC Feifan, and Cadillac, the Mini LED market is expected to grow further this year.

Integrated large screens require higher brightness.

Why Mini LED?

So, what is a Mini LED backlit screen, and why has it started to be widely adopted in the past two years? First, let’s understand what Mini LED is.

Mini LED, also known as “sub-millimeter light-emitting diode”, refers to LED devices with chip sizes ranging from 50-200μm, which lies between small-pitch LED and Micro LED. It is the result of further refinement of small-pitch LED. Mini/Micro LED is a product of the refined development of LED displays, and as the technology path becomes clearer, it is set to become a new blue ocean for LED display applications.

Hawei Technology’s official introduction of Mini LED backlit panels.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mini LED Backlit Screens

The application of Mini LED in displays mainly divides into direct display and backlight methods:

Mini LED direct display uses Mini LED light beads directly as display pixels, providing the basic unit for imaging, thus achieving image display. When the size of LED is further reduced to below 50um, it becomes what we commonly refer to as Micro LED technology. This solution boasts advantages such as high brightness, wide color gamut, high contrast, fast response, low power consumption, and long lifespan. In terms of display effect, it has multiple advantages over ordinary LCD in terms of color integrity, high contrast, and thinness.

Mini LED backlight uses Mini LED as the backlight source for current LCD panels, giving them advantages such as ultra-high contrast, high color gamut, and high dynamic range (HDR).

Cadillac’s 33-inch miniLED backlit display screen from Cadillac’s official website.

Advantages of Mini LED:

1 Compared to LCD, Mini LED backlit screens have better display effects: The display effects of Mini LED have already been introduced.

2 Compared to direct display, Mini LED backlight is the mainstream:

In terms of direct display versus backlight, direct display solutions are unlikely to become mainstream application technologies for in-vehicle displays in the short term. On one hand, the maturity of direct display technology is not high enough to support mass production; on the other hand, at the same resolution, direct displays require more LED, which could result in a multiple increase in quantity, thus increasing costs significantly.

3 Compared to OLED, the main advantage is cost:

Similar to the second point, while OLED screens outperform in display effects and can be mass-produced, their prices are too high and their weather resistance is slightly inferior. For mid-to-high-end priced models, Mini LED backlighting still has certain cost advantages.

Comparison of applications for in-vehicle displays: LCD, Mini LED backlight, and OLED, sourced from the 2022 In-Vehicle Display Forum presentation.

Disadvantages of Mini LED:

Although considering comprehensive costs and display effects, Mini LED has certain advantages over OLED/Micro LED, its costs are still relatively high. For instance, the current Mini LED backlight still accounts for over half of the overall display screen cost.

As subsequent Mini LED production lines mature further, its costs can be reduced. Once its costs drop to a certain level, Mini LED backlit screens, due to their excellent display quality, are expected to be widely adopted in cost-sensitive but high-volume production models, replacing the existing high-resolution pure LCD screens.

In this trend, in the future, Mini LED screens in cars will become more prevalent. Where might Mini LED solutions be adopted in the future? Let’s take a brief look together.

Current Application Map of In-Vehicle Screens

1 Instrument Panel

The instrument panel assembly is the most important component of the car’s interior and is also the most eye-catching part in the car. It provides various information and data for the driver conveniently and safely during driving.

Recently, the million-dollar luxury car BYD Yangwang U8 was publicly unveiled, equipped with a 23.6 inch miniLED instrument screen and a 23.6 inch Mini LED backlit multimedia screen for the co-driver.

The instrument on the left and the entertainment screen for the co-driver on the right both use Mini LED backlit screens. Image source: Yangwang WeChat official account.

Feifan R7 is equipped with a 43 inch wide true color triple screen, including a 15.05 inch AMOLED central control screen, a 12.3 inch Mini LED co-driver screen, and a 10.25 inch Mini LED instrument screen.

2 Central Control

The third-generation Roewe 27 inch Mini LED4K panoramic smart interactive sliding screen can serve as both an instrument and central control or central control and co-driver display.

Image source: Roewe official website.

The third-generation Roewe RX5 Mini LED ultra-sensitive smart sliding screen.

3 Co-Driver Screen

Currently, some vehicles have a dedicated co-driver screen, but in the future, the instrument + central control + co-driver may also be integrated, such as the Mercedes-Benz EQXX concept car and Lincoln’s relevant models:

Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX 47.7 inch 8K resolution (7680×660 pixels) integrated Mini LED display screen.

Lincoln Navigator dual 23.6 inch surround 4K ultra-high-definition screen, using Mini LED Local Dimming backlight technology. Image source: Lincoln official website.

4 Streaming Rearview Mirror or Dashcam

The mirror of the interior rearview mirror may directly transform from a simple reflective mirror into a screen, generally becoming a simple dashcam in aftermarket installations; whereas in OEM installations, it will become a streaming rearview mirror integrated with dashcam functionality.

Using cameras and displays to replace the interior rearview mirror, the “streaming rearview mirror” has become an important configuration for many luxury and independent brands since Cadillac first introduced it to the market. This part is actually very cost-sensitive, but if the cost of Mini LED drops low enough, it is also likely to be adopted.

Magna ClearView can display images from three cameras simultaneously.

5 A-Pillar 1-CMS Electronic External Rearview Mirror

On July 1 of this year, the national standard GB 15084-2022 for the performance and installation requirements of indirect vision devices for motor vehicles was officially implemented, detailing requirements for the camera-monitor system (also known as the electronic rearview mirror CMS system), meaning that vehicles equipped with electronic external rearview mirrors can be legally driven on the road if they meet the standards.

This part of the screen currently has a large market variance. Since CMS relates to safety, the screen is required to have higher response speeds and wider field of view angles. Therefore, manufacturers may use OLED screens for high-end models; while cost-sensitive vehicles can use Mini LED backlit LCD.

New Audi e-Tron electronic rearview mirror using Samsung OLED screen.

Lotus ELETRE electronic rearview mirror using LCD.

6 A-Pillar 2-Transparent A-Pillar

The transparent A pillar serves to prevent the driver’s line of sight from being obstructed during driving. In the future, transparent A pillars may become an option for various vehicle models.

Nezha Upro transparent A-pillar. Image source: Sohu.

Chery Exeed transparent A-pillar.

Transparent A pillars, like CMS external rearview mirrors, use cameras to collect road information onto the screen on the A pillar. Currently, most use OLED, but considering the overall price, Mini LED backlighting may also be a possibility.

7 Steering Wheel Screen

The steering wheel screen can better achieve “medium interaction” than the central control screen. For instance, the user can manipulate the map and complete various settings through the steering wheel screen during driving.

The ideal L7/9 cancels the instrument screen and sets a smaller screen on the steering wheel to supplement relevant functions. This screen uses Mini LED backlighting.

The interactive screen of the Ideal L9 Mini LED is designed and produced by the domestic LED industry leader Jufei Optoelectronics.

In fact, many car manufacturers have related concepts for steering wheel screen designs, such as these two models from Hyundai.

Hyundai steering wheel screen. Image source: Sohu Auto.

Image source: Auto Headlines.

8 Rear Entertainment Screen – Seat

Starting from the business models of BMW and Mercedes-Benz, rear entertainment screens have become a configuration in many new energy vehicles today.

Evergrande Auto Hengchi 1. Image source: Phoenix Auto.

9 Rear Entertainment Screen – Hanging

Last year’s popular Ideal L9 has surprisingly realized a five-screen three-dimensional space interaction function, including a 15.7 inch rear entertainment screen, suspended above the rear seats, supporting gesture control, making it very suitable for rear entertainment. However, it may not be convenient for those who are nearsighted and do not like to wear glasses, and its interaction precision also needs improvement.

Ideal L9 rear viewing experience.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Source: Webasto WeChat official account.

10 Door Trim Display Screen (Rear Control)

Similarly, the all-new BMW 7 Series integrates a display screen on its rear door panel.

11 Armrest Screen/Seat Control

The armrest control screen can adjust music, air conditioning, and seats, thus improving passenger comfort.

High合Z. Image source: 42 Car Garage.

12 Roof Display Screen

HARMAN showcases a QLED MoodRoof ceiling display screen that is nearly the same size as a panoramic sunroof.

Intelligent display on the sunroof.

13 Car Window Display (can use Mini LED direct display)

There are many places in the cabin that can be used for displaying sound and images, not only on the ceiling but also on the windows, which can directly showcase intelligent display technologies, presenting a different entertainment interaction system.

BOE (Jingdongfang) flexible transparent OLED interactive window.

BMW DEE window display.

Currently, the demos for window displays either use OLED transparent screens or directly use projection technology. This transparent display effect can also be achieved when using Mini/Micro LED direct displays.

Tianma showcases a Micro LED transparent display screen.

14 Front Face Interaction (Screen Application)

In the future, the design of smart surfaces and display screens will gradually be applied to the front face to display different interaction information. For instance, the display screens from Hyundai Mobis can interact with vehicles and pedestrians and also use QR codes for payments.

BMW-i-Vision.

15 Dynamic Car Logo with Mini LED (Direct Display)

The car logo is located in a prominent position on the front face of the car, and a dynamic car logo with intelligent scene capabilities is extremely eye-catching, attracting consumers’ attention. At the same time, the dynamic logo becomes a customizable information output medium for human-vehicle interaction.

16 Pixelated Smart Taillights with Mini LED (Direct Display)

As cars become increasingly intelligent, car lights are no longer just for illumination. Under the perfect integration of creativity and technology, Mini LED is combined with traditional car taillights to achieve high-definition full-color image displays, implementing rich intelligent driving assistance and human-vehicle/vehicle-vehicle interaction functions in various driving scenarios, opening a brand new interaction channel.

Custom graphic display (in traffic jam). Material source: Mandar Optoelectronics.

Mecha Dragon ISD smart interactive taillight.

Zhiji L7 digital taillight.

The article is compiled from the internet. If there are any infringements, please delete.

Aibang has established an in-vehicle display group, where many upstream and downstream enterprises from the display and bonding industry chain have joined, including FAW, SAIC, Geely, Great Wall, Changan, Harman, Marelli, Huayang, Desay SV, Hangsheng Electronics, Tianma, BOE, TPK, Changxin Technology, Xinli, Legrand, Lens Technology, Bern, Teiy, Victory Precision, Star Technology, Xuxinda, TDK, Wacker, 3M, Tongli Optoelectronics, Corning, Schott, Asahi Glass, Dongxu, Niebling, Sumitomo, and Saibel. Friends are welcome to join the group for discussions and mutual progress.

Event Recommendation 1: The Fourth In-Vehicle Display New Technology Industry Forum (August 17, Shanghai)