How are chips

In 2026, "strengthening the chain, complementing the chain, and coordinating the entire chain" will consolidate the cornerstone of the industry. The second issue of "Vision Tips" focuses on the upstream chip manufacturing of the LED direct display industry chain and decodes the source of display quality.

In the last issue, we talked about "Why the three primary colors go their own way" - red light and blue-green light come from completely different material systems. Today, we advance the lens to the core link of chip manufacturing: look at how a non-luminous substrate goes through precise processes to become micron-level chips that emit light independently.

The whole process is like building a super-miniature, luminous "street light house" that requires precise assembly.

1

Substrate - a flat and solid "foundation"

Crystal substrates such as sapphire and gallium arsenide are the physical support for the entire chip.

Popular understanding: To build a house, you must first have a flat, hard stone foundation. If the foundation is uneven, the house will be crooked; if the foundation is not clean, the lights will break easily. The quality of the substrate determines the success or failure of all subsequent processes.

AET Altai full industry chain · Sapphire substrate

2

Epitaxial growth - "planting a luminescent layer" on the foundation

In MOCVD equipment, structures such as N-type layers, multi-quantum well light-emitting layers, and P-type layers are grown.

Popular understanding: It is like accurately "growing" the structure of a house layer by layer on the foundation. The special material in the middle is the "luminous floor" - it lights up when electricity is turned on. Without epitaxy, the LED is just an ordinary stone and will never emit light.

AET Altai Whole Industry Chain · MOCVD Workshop

3

Photolithography - "Drawing Drawings" for the House

Apply photoresist, expose, develop, and draw the micron-level patterns required for subsequent processing.

Popular understanding: It is equivalent to drawing a construction drawing for this miniature house. Where to open windows, where to wire, and where to install lights, all processes must be according to this "drawing".

Photolithography determines the fineness of the circuit and must be completed in a yellow light dust-free workshop - ordinary light will destroy the "drawings", just like photographic films cannot be developed in sunlight.

AET Altai Whole Industry Chain·Huangguang Workshop

4

Etching - "carving out the shape of a house" according to the drawings

Through dry or wet etching, remove excess material and create steps and isolation areas.

Popular understanding: "cut off" the excess material according to the drawing, and carve out the outline of the house, circuit channels, and light-emitting areas.

5

Electrode production - connect the "wire interface"

Vacuum evaporate the metal electrode.

Popular understanding: Installing small metal contacts at designated locations is like connecting positive and negative wires to a small street light. Only when current enters here can the light turn on.

AET Altai's entire industry chain·Electrode production

6

Formal vs. flip-two "wiring methods"

After passivation, thinning, and cutting, the LED chip is formed. According to the position of the electrodes, two structures are adopted:

Popular understanding: Formal installation is like hanging a light bulb under the roof, with the wires hanging down to block the light; reverse installation is like burying the wires in the wall, with the lamp facing downwards for direct illumination - all the light comes out, and it is safer.

7

AET Altai: Full chain autonomy, vertical closed loop

Behind a small chip are dozens of precise processes layered on top of each other. From substrate to epitaxy, from photolithography to etching, from electrode to cutting - any deviation will affect the brightness, uniformity and lifespan of the final display.

Customers often ask: "There are so many screen manufacturers on the market, what are your advantages compared with others?"

AET answers: "We are one of the few companies in the industry that can truly achieve independent control from the substrate and epitaxy, define quality from the source, and form a vertical closed loop."

What does this mean?

→We are not an "assembly factory", but a full supply chain support enterprise that defines quality from the origin of light.

→Every chip, every module, and every screen comes from the same set of technical systems and the same set of quality control standards.

→We can reversely optimize chip performance according to terminal needs to better meet customer needs.

Make good use of the "Vision Tips" to make every communication more weighty and every trust more solid. See you next time!

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