Work

Dual-function floating-gate memory driver for energy-efficient integrated display–illumination system

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The increasing demand for multifunctional micro-displays capable of both high-brightness illumination and low-power image display highlights a critical bottleneck in existing display technologies, which struggle to efficiently switching between large-area uniform light output and fine-grained pixel-level control. Here, we introduce the Integrated Nonvolatile Display-Illumination System (INDIS)-a monolithically integrated Micro-LED architecture based on transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) floating-gate memory (FGM) devices, achieving dual-mode operation. Pixel-level addressing is realized with only a single FGM per pixel and an independent gate controller, enabling the programmed image pattern to be retained without continuous refresh. To support lighting functionality, INDIS adopts a matrix circuit with shared drain electrodes acting as a common anode port, allowing the entire Micro-LED array to be simultaneously activated for large-area illumination. By unifying memory and emission functions within a compact architecture, INDIS achieves display-illumination fusion, offering a scalable and energy-efficient solution for next-generation multifunctional micro-display applications.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76263-3