SMD, MIP, and COB: The Three Main LED Packaging Technologies You Should Know

In the LED display industry, packaging technology determines display performance, durability, and application range. Today, SMD (Surface Mounted Device), MIP (Mini LED in Package), and COB (Chip-on-Board) are the three most common technologies. Each has its strengths and ideal application scenarios. This article will help you understand their differences and choose the best option for your project.

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1. SMD (Surface Mounted Device)

Technology
SMD LEDs are made by packaging red, green, and blue chips into a single LED unit, which is then mounted directly onto the PCB surface.

Advantages

• Mature technology with lower manufacturing costs

• Wide pixel pitch range, from P1.25 for indoor to P10 for outdoor

• Easy maintenance—individual LED modules can be replaced

Limitations

• Exposed surface makes it more vulnerable to impact or damage

• Higher precision required for small pixel pitch

Best Applications
Outdoor billboards, rental stage screens, indoor conference displays, and other medium-to-large pixel pitch projects.

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2. MIP (Mini LED in Package)

Technology
MIP bridges the gap between SMD and COB. Mini LED chips are packaged individually before being mounted onto the PCB, offering improved performance without fully integrating into the board like COB.

Advantages

• Supports smaller pixel pitches (P0.x level)

• Higher production yield compared to COB

• Stable brightness and color uniformity

• Easy to replace individual LEDs

Limitations

• Higher cost than SMD

• Technology still evolving

Best Applications
Premium indoor displays, broadcast studios, control rooms, and fine-pitch commercial screens.

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3. COB (Chip-on-Board)

Technology
COB involves mounting bare LED chips directly onto the PCB and covering them with a protective layer, eliminating the traditional LED lamp package.

Advantages

• Flat, seamless surface for better protection against dust, moisture, and impact

• Ultra-high density, supporting pixel pitches as small as P0.4

• Superior heat dissipation and extended lifespan

• Higher durability for public environments

Limitations

• More expensive to produce

• Repair requires replacing the entire module

Best Applications
High-end control rooms, security monitoring centers, banking institutions, and flagship retail displays.

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4. Quick Comparison Table

Feature	SMD	MIP	COB
Cost	Low	Medium	High
Protection	Medium	Medium-High	High
Maintenance	Easy	Easy	Difficult
Pixel Pitch Range	≥P1.25	≥P0.7	≥P0.4
Brightness	High	High	Medium-High
Applications	Indoor + Outdoor	Indoor High-End	Indoor Ultra High-End

 

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5. Market Trends

• SMD will remain dominant in outdoor and large pixel pitch markets.

• MIP is likely to become the preferred choice for small pixel pitch commercial displays.

• COB will grow rapidly in ultra-fine pitch and high-protection displays.

As Mini LED and Micro LED technology continues to advance, we can expect higher resolution, lower power consumption, and improved durability across all display types. Choosing the right packaging technology will help balance cost, performance, and maintenance needs for your project.

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Why Choose CNLC?

As a professional LED display manufacturer, CNLC offers SMD, MIP, and COB solutions for indoor and outdoor applications, from commercial advertising to control room installations. Whether you provide your own LED screen or require a complete turnkey solution, we can deliver custom manufacturing, integration, and after-sales support to ensure your project stands out in the market.

Challenge
Brazil’s largest beverage distributor faced crippling bottlenecks:

• Manual pallet scanning delayed inbound processing by 4+ hours daily

• Order errors caused 18% shipment returns from retailers

• Port congestion fines exceeding $220k/month

Solution
Deployed SeeMore’s end-to-end RFID acceleration kit:

1. T5030LA RFID Labels

   • Applied during receiving in <5 seconds/pallet

   • Withstood humid warehouse conditions (38°C/85%RH)

2. Smart Dock Doors

   • 4-channel readers + high-speed tunnel antennas

   • Automated ASN reconciliation via EPC-GS1 mapping

3. Mobile Workflow

   • Rugged tablets with multi-tag verification

Operational Workflow

Results
✓ 600 pallets/hour processed (vs. 100 manual)
✓ 99.2% order accuracy achieved
✓ Port fines reduced by 100%

“The RFID tunnels cut our receiving time from 4 hours to 40 minutes. Game changer!”

– Logistics Director, São Paulo Distribution Center

 

The regulatory environment for connected devices in Europe is evolving rapidly. Two key pieces of legislation—the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) and cybersecurity requirements under the Radio Equipment Directive (RED)—are set to change how RAIN RFID readers and other IoT products are designed, manufactured, and supported. For system integrators and end-users, understanding these changes is crucial for future-proofing your deployments.

What Are the CRA and RED Cybersecurity Requirements?

• RED Cybersecurity (EU 2022/30): This legislation specifically targets radio equipment. If your UHF RFID reader has networking capabilities (like Ethernet or Wi-Fi), it likely falls under this regulation. It focuses on protecting networks from harm and safeguarding user privacy and data. Enforcement begins August 1, 2025.

• Cyber Resilience Act (CRA): This is a broader, horizontal law that applies to all products with digital elements. It mandates security throughout the entire lifecycle of a product, from design and development to post-market support. It requires manufacturers to have processes for handling vulnerabilities and providing security updates. Key obligations start in 2026, with full application in 2027.

Key Implications for the RAIN RFID Industry

For manufacturers of RAIN RFID readers, handheld data collectors, and RFID modules, this means a renewed focus on:

1. Secure Development: Implementing a Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL) to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities early in the design process.

2. Transparency: Providing clear documentation on security features, update policies, and a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM).

3. Long-Term Vigilance: Establishing a Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) and committing to providing security updates for many years.

4. Robust Technical Documentation: Preparing extensive documentation to prove compliance for the EU market.

What This Means for Integrators and Users

For businesses that integrate and use this technology, these regulations are ultimately positive. They promise:

• More Secure Hardware: Devices will be designed with stronger security fundamentals, reducing the risk of being a weak link in your network.

• Clearer Support Expectations: Manufacturers will be obligated to be transparent about how long they will support a device with security patches, aiding long-term planning.

• Increased Trust: Compliance with these strict regulations can serve as a mark of quality and reliability for hardware providers.

The Path Forward

The new EU regulations mark a significant step towards a more secure and trustworthy IoT ecosystem. While the path to compliance requires effort, it pushes the entire industry towards higher standards of quality and security. Manufacturers are now diligently working to understand the requirements and adapt their processes to meet these new challenges and opportunities.

Staying informed about these regulations is the first step for any professional working with IoT and RAIN RFID technology.

Impinj Gen2X: Revolutionizing RFID Performance, Security, and Scalability

Introduction
RAIN RFID technology is evolving beyond basic inventory tracking, and Impinj’s Gen2X stands at the forefront of this transformation. As an enhancement to the EPC Gen2v2 standard (ISO 18000-63), Gen2X tackles critical pain points in enterprise deployments: unreliable reads in noisy environments, data vulnerability, and rising solution costs.

Core Innovations

1. Performance Boost

   • Extended Range & Sensitivity: Increases reader sensitivity by up to 6dB, enabling reliable reads of small/metallic tags (e.g., embedded in pharmaceuticals or retail items).

   • Faster Inventory Speeds: Reduces tag backscatter errors, accelerating inventory by 30%+ in high-density environments like warehouses.

   • Tag De-cluttering: Silences inventoried tags dynamically, minimizing cross-reads in multi-reader zones (e.g., dock doors).

2. Enterprise-Grade Security

   • Anti-Counterfeiting: Uses challenge-response protocols (Impinj Authenticity) to verify product authenticity, critical for luxury goods and pharmaceuticals.

   • Privacy Protection: Impinj Protect Mode hides tags from unauthorized readers, addressing consumer privacy concerns in retail.

3. Cost Efficiency

   • Enables cheaper, smaller tags by compensating for signal weaknesses.

   • Reduces labor costs via automated, error-free logistics (e.g., optimized truck loading).

Real-World Impact

• Retail: Self-checkout accuracy improves by 90%, reducing false alarms and loss.

• Logistics: Achieves 99.9% read rates at conveyor belts, cutting mis-shipments.

• Smart Manufacturing: Tracks micro-components on high-speed assembly lines.

Why Gen2X Now?
With supply chains demanding end-to-end visibility, Gen2X’s blend of performance and security makes it the backbone of IoT-scale deployments. Industry leaders like Urovo already integrate Gen2X into their latest RFID terminals

Challenge
A Munich convenience store struggled with:

• 30% shrinkage in high-value frozen foods

• $65k/year staffing costs for 24/7 operation

• Frequent checkout queues during rush hours

Solution
Implemented SeeMore’s frictionless frozen ecosystem:

1. RL8647-i4116 Cryo-Tags

   • -25°C readable on frozen pizza/ice cream packaging

   • Anti-metal design for freezer compliance

2. AI Checkout System

   • UHF reader arrays embedded in shelves & checkout counter

   • Multi-tag discrimination for stacked items

3. Mobile Governance

   • Realestock alerts sent to owner’s phone

   • Technical Triumph
     ► Tags readable through frost buildup & aluminum packaging
     ► 99.9% detection rate for items buried in shopping bags
     ► Zero false positives from adjacent freezers

     Results
     ✓ Shrinkage reduced to 2%
     ✓ 24/7 operational cost cut by 80%
     ✓ Checkout speed: 12 seconds/customer

     *“Customers love grabbing ice cream at 2 AM without human interaction. Our RL8647 tags survive constant freeze-thaw cycles flawlessly.”*
     – Owner, Munich Some RetailStore

Imagine walking through a warehouse and instantly locating every missing item. Or scanning your entire grocery cart in one second at checkout. This isn’t sci-fi – it’s the future RAIN RFID technology is building inside your smartphone.

Why This Matters Right Now
Tech giants like Qualcomm and the RAIN Alliance are embedding UHF RFID readers directly into phones. No bulky scanners. No extra hardware. Just your everyday device becoming a powerhouse for:

• ? Lightning-fast inventory checks (200+ items/second)

• ✅ Instant product authentication (fight counterfeits!)

• ? Effortless asset tracking (find tools/equipment in seconds)

For supply chain managers, retailers, and field technicians, this means:

*"A 60% reduction in stock-check time and 99.9% inventory accuracy – using devices teams already carry."*

How It Works (Without the Tech Jargon)
Your phone’s new RAIN RFID superpower comes from two breakthroughs:

1. Tiny Antenna Magic
   Engineers redesigned UHF antennas to fit behind phone screens – letting you scan items up to 2 meters away.

2. Smart Power Management
   Special chips (like STMicro’s ST25RU3993) use micro-bursts of energy to read passive RFID tags without draining your battery.

Real-World Impact

• Retail: Scan 50-item carts in 1 second (Decathlon pilot in Paris)

• Warehouses: Staff audit shelves using just phones (DHL testing)

• Healthcare: Nurses verify medications with a tap (Mayo Clinic trials)

Your Next Step
While enterprise phones (like Zebra’s) will lead, consumer devices follow by 2027. Prepare now:

1. Tag critical assets with Gen2 UHF RFID tags

2. Ask vendors about RAIN-ready devices

3. Join RAIN Alliance pilots for early SDK access

In high-intensity environments such as warehousing, sorting, and last-mile delivery, continuous charging of handheld devices (handheld terminals, barcode scanners, tablets, etc.) is a key driver of operational efficiency. A single charging setup often cannot meet the concurrent charging, heat management, and on-site administration needs of the same workspace, leading to queues, throttled devices, or increased maintenance costs. LVSUN’s 10-USB-C Centralized Charging Station is designed to address these challenges with high-density port outputs, intelligent thermal management, and centralized control, enabling wholesalers to deploy a one-stop charging solution and boost device turnover within a given time, while keeping the workspace tidy.

       ·High density and scalable output: Centralized charging for multiple handheld devices and peripherals, significantly reducing on-site cabling and outlet requirements, and increasing desktop utilization.

       ·USB-C PD fast charging: Supports mainstream fast-charging protocols to quickly restore device readiness during peak periods, improving turnover efficiency for wholesale teams.

       ·Intelligent thermal management and safety: Integrated cooling channels and temperature-control strategies maintain low temperature rise, mitigating heat-related performance degradation; built-in protections such as overcurrent and short-circuit protection enable unified monitoring by operations teams.

       ·Deployment-friendly and operational convenience: Standardized installation guidelines, centralized monitoring, and logging reduce upfront installation costs and future expansion challenges.

In warehouses, sorting centers, and logistics dispatch, large volumes of handheld devices must be charged and cycled quickly within constrained spaces and with high personnel turnover. The 500W 10-USB-C Centralized Charging Station, with its high-density charging, unified thermal control, and simplified cabling, helps wholesale scenarios achieve: reduced charging wait times, improved on-site management efficiency, scalable expansion for growing operations, and a significantly lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

For many universities, national labs, and research institutes in regions such as Africa and the Middle East, access to advanced scientific instrumentation is often limited by budget, infrastructure, and maintenance challenges. Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEMs) are essential tools for materials science, life sciences, and education, but traditional models can be prohibitively expensive and difficult to maintain.

This is why affordable SEM solutions have become critical for resource-limited environments. But "affordable" should not mean compromising on performance or usability. Below, we explore the key factors to consider when selecting a cost-effective SEM and how CIQTEK is helping research communities worldwide overcome these challenges.

 

Why Resource-Limited Labs Need Affordable SEMs

In developing regions, researchers often face unique barriers:

• Budget Constraints – High upfront costs and ongoing maintenance make many SEMs inaccessible. 

• Infrastructure Limitations – Power supply stability, room conditions, and service availability can restrict choices.

• Educational Demands – Universities need SEMs that are easy to learn, operate, and maintain for student training.

• Service and Support Gaps – Remote locations often lack local technical support, making reliability and remote assistance crucial.

For example, a university in East Africa wanted to give engineering students access to SEM imaging. A million-dollar instrument was out of reach, but a cost-effective, compact SEM made it possible to expand their curriculum and attract new research collaborations; A national lab in the Middle East struggled with power fluctuations that frequently disrupted their older high-end SEM. Switching to a robust, lower-maintenance system ensured consistent imaging and reduced downtime.

 

What to Look for in an Affordable SEM

When evaluating SEM options for resource-limited labs, consider the following:

• Total Cost of Ownership
  Not just the purchase price, factor in maintenance, consumables, and energy use.

• Ease of Use
  A user-friendly interface helps reduce training costs and allows students and new researchers to get hands-on quickly.

• Durability & Reliability
  Instruments should perform consistently even in less-than-ideal lab conditions.

• Remote Support & Training
  For institutions far from service centers, remote diagnostics, online training, and virtual demonstrations are essential.

• Scalability
  SEMs should be versatile enough to support both teaching and research, making them a long-term investment.

 

CIQTEK SEM: Affordable Without Compromise

At CIQTEK, we’ve worked with institutions worldwide to deliver SEMs that combine affordability with reliability. Our systems are designed for teaching labs, national facilities, and emerging research groups that need dependable performance without excessive cost.

• Budget-Friendly Pricing – Enables universities and labs to invest in advanced imaging while leaving room for consumables, training, or lab expansions.

• Low Maintenance Design – Reduced service needs mean fewer interruptions and lower long-term costs.

• User-Friendly Interface – Ideal for classrooms, making SEM operation accessible to undergraduates and postgraduates alike.

• High-Quality Imaging – Clear results suitable for materials science, biology, and applied engineering research.

 

Whether for a teaching university in Africa or a national lab in the Middle East, CIQTEK SEMs provide a reliable and affordable choice that empowers scientific discovery.

 

>> If you’re looking for a cost-effective SEM, contact CIQTEK today to learn how our SEM instruments can support your research and teaching needs.

Recently, a team led by Wang Haomin from the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences made significant progress in studying the magnetism of zigzag graphene nanoribbons (zGNRs) using a CIQTEK Scanning Nitrogen-vacancy Microscope (SNVM).

 

Building on previous research, the team pre-etched hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) with metal particles to create oriented atomic trenches and used a vapor-phase catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method to controllably prepare chiral graphene nanoribbons in the trenches, obtaining ~9 nm wide zGNRs samples embedded in the hBN lattice. By combining SNVM and magnetic transport measurements, the team directly confirmed its intrinsic magnetism in experiments. This groundbreaking discovery lays a solid foundation for the development of graphene-based spin electronic devices. The related research findings, titled "Signatures of magnetism in zigzag graphene nanoribbons embedded in a hexagonal boron nitride lattice," have been published in the prestigious academic journal "Nature Materials".

 

Graphene, as a unique two-dimensional material, exhibits magnetic properties of p-orbital electrons that are fundamentally different from the localized magnetic properties of d/f orbital electrons in traditional magnetic materials, opening up new research directions for exploring pure carbon-based magnetism. Zigzag graphene nanoribbons (zGNRs), potentially possessing unique magnetic electronic states near the Fermi level, are believed to hold great potential in the field of spin electronics devices. However, detecting the magnetism of zGNRs through electrical transport methods faces multiple challenges. For instance, nanoribbons assembled from the bottom up are often too short in length to reliably fabricate devices. Additionally, the high chemical reactivity of zGNR edges can lead to instability or uneven doping. Furthermore, in narrower zGNRs, the strong antiferromagnetic coupling of edge states can make it difficult to detect their magnetic signals electrically. These factors hinder direct detection of the magnetism in zGNRs.

 

ZGNRs embedded in the hBN lattice exhibit higher edge stability and feature an inherent electric field, creating ideal conditions for detecting the magnetism of zGNRs. In the study, the team used CIQTEK's Room-Temperature SNVM to observe the magnetic signals of zGNRs directly at room temperature.

 

Figure 1: Magnetic measurement of zGNR embedded in a hexagonal boron nitride lattice using Scanning Nitrogen-vacancy Microscope

 

In electrical transport measurements, the fabricated approximately 9-nanometer-wide zGNR transistors demonstrated high conductivity and ballistic transport characteristics. Under the influence of a magnetic field, the device exhibited significant anisotropic magnetoresistance, with a magnetoresistance change of approximately 175 Ω at 4 K, a magnetoresistance ratio of about 1.3%, and this signal persisted even at temperatures as high as 350 K. Hysteresis was only observed under a magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of the zGNRs, confirming its magnetic anisotropy. Through analysis of the variation of magnetoresistance with tilting angle, the researchers found that the magnetic moment is perpendicular to the sample surface. Furthermore, the decrease in magnetoresistance with increasing source-drain bias and temperature revealed the interaction between magnetic response and charge transport and thermal vibrations.

 

Figure 2: Magnetic transport characteristics of 9-nanometer-wide zGNR devices embedded in hBN

 

This research, by combining Scanning Nitrogen-vacancy Microscope technology and transport measurements, directly confirmed the existence of intrinsic magnetism in hBN-embedded zGNRs for the first time, providing a possibility for controlling magnetism through an electric field. This work not only deepens the understanding of graphene's magnetic properties but also opens up new pathways for the development of spin electronic devices based on graphene.

 

Experience the Nano-scale Magnetic Imaging System

 

CIQTEK invites you to experience the Scanning Nitrogen-vacancy Microscope (SNVM) – a globally leading nano-scale magnetic field imaging system, operating at temperatures of 1.8~300 K with a vector magnetic field of 9/1/1 T, achieving a magnetic spatial resolution of 10 nm, and magnetic sensitivity of 2 μT/Hz1/2.

 

SNVM is a precision measurement instrument that combines Diamond Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance (ODMR) technology with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) scanning imaging technology. It features high spatial resolution, high-sensitivity magnetic imaging, versatile detection capabilities, and non-invasive detection advantages, making it important in areas such as magnetic domain characterization, antiferromagnetic imaging, superconductor characterization, and research on two-dimensional magnetic materials.

Room temperature version of SNVM

Cryogenic version of SNVM

 

 

 

Beyong Nano, a leading innovator in nanotechnology, is set to unveil its groundbreaking model CIQTEK SEM3200 at the prestigious 33rd International Materials Research Congress taking place in Cancun, Mexico.

 

The Congress, known for bringing together pioneers and visionaries in the field of materials science, provides Beyong Nano with the perfect platform to showcase CIQTEK’s latest technological marvel.

 

The Scanning Electron Microscope is poised to revolutionize the industry with its advanced features, unparalleled performance, and potential applications across various sectors. 

 

Visitors to the Beyong Nano booth at the congress can experience firsthand the transformative potential of the model 3200 and engage with the company's team of experts to learn more about its features, applications, and future developments.