Microoled partners with Vortex Optics on weapon sights, opens US operation…

08 May 2025

…and Polar Light shows its pyramidal microLEDs can be hybridized to mainstream CMOS drivers, creating new micro-display.

Microoled, a Grenoble, France-headquartered developer of AMOLED displays, has announced a partnership with Vortex Optics, based in Barneveld, WI, USA, to advance the development of weapon sights for optical sighting systems. At the same time, Microoled announced a new US-based operation in Dallas, TX.

The collaboration with Vortex continues Microoled’s commitment to delivering display solutions that enhance optical accuracy, durability, and user experience in mission-critical environments.

Microoled’s AMOLED technology offers what the company calls “unparalleled image clarity, high contrast ratios, optimal energy efficiency, enhanced visibility and faster target acquisition” – which are key attributes for situational awareness in battlefield environments.

Integrated displays

By integrating these displays, Vortex Optics aims to improve the performance of its weapon sights. Beyond defense, AMOLED displays are also key components for commercial optics, such as for outdoor enthusiasts, smart eyewear for athletes, vision systems for medical equipment and professional cameras.

John Robinson, VP of Microoled Inc., commented, “Our displays are designed to meet the rigorous demands of multiple applications. This strategic partnership reinforces our dedication to military technological advancements and continues to push the boundaries of what AMOLED displays can achieve.”

Microoled’s new office in Dallas, TX, is intended to strengthen the company’s US presence, reinforce its commitment to partnerships, and to meet the needs of the optical sighting systems market. Robinson added, “This milestone positions us to better serve our clients and drive forward groundbreaking advancements in micro-display technology.”

Polar Light develops pyramidal microLED display

Polar Light Technologies, Linköping, Sweden, has announced the successful fabrication of its first micro-display prototype built on the company’s proprietary pyramidal microLED. The company, a spinout from Linköping University, says that the achievement confirms this technology’s ability to integrate the pyramidal microLED frontplane onto a CMOS backplane.

The prototype pairs a bottom-up-grown monochrome microLED front-plane with a high-performance Sapien Semiconductors (Korea) CMOS back-plane. Precision flip-chip bonding was carried out by Finetech, Berlin, Germany, achieving pixel-accurate alignment across the panel.

“This proof of concept shows that our pyramidal microLEDs can be hybridized to mainstream CMOS drivers creating a micro-display,” said Ivan Martinovic, co-founder of Polar Light. “This achievement showcases our team’s incredible strength, and we thank our partners Sapien and Finetech for helping us validate the manufacturability of our platform.”

This latest achievement offers a route to monolithic RGB displays, based on the red, green, and blue microLEDs previously demonstrated using same material system. Polar Light lists four reasons why its latest developments matter to the related market sectors:

• Monolithic RGB: MicroLEDs, based on same material system, are paving the way for monolithic RGB displays.
• Integration: This demonstrator display is a stepping stone for [our] microLEDs to be integrated with CMOS backplane for novel opto products.
• Pyramidal microLEDs manufactured bottom-up without etching are suitable for integration in VR/AR applications.
• Sub-Lambertian emission: A naturally focused light lobe couples efficiently into waveguide, boosting brightness.