In this interview, we talk to Khaled, author of the book MicroLEDs Devices and Systems .We discuss the motivation behind writing the book, the target audience, the most useful aspects of the book, the challenges of writing the book, and advice for other engineers who are considering writing a book.
Khaled Ahmed is a Principal Engineer and Chief Technology Officer of the Systems Supply Chain group for Intel Corp. Dr. Ahmed received a B.S. degree and an M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Ain Shams University, Egypt in 1991 and 1994, respectively, and a PhD degree in electrical engineering in 1998 from North Carolina State University. Dr. Ahmed architected the MicroLED Display program at Intel.
- What was your main motivation behind writing your book?
I have been working for nine years on multiple aspects of MicroLED technology, including MicroLED device design, integrated optics, micro-assembly, driving circuits, and color conversion. I have published multiple papers, both externally and internally at Intel Corporation. As part of the Systems Supply Chain organization, my objective is to enable disruptive technologies and suppliers to create system components that support Intel platforms. I realized that writing a book on this technology could inspire and influence readers across the developing MicroLED ecosystem. I wanted to advocate for change, promote new ideas, and influence industry trends. Additionally, writing this book allowed me to reach a wider audience than other forms of communication, such as journal articles or conference presentations.
2. Who is the main target audience for your book and what will they appreciate the most about the book?
I aimed to influence suppliers involved in various aspects of MicroLED technology. Therefore, my primary audience consisted of research and development engineers and managers who make investment decisions in this field. However, as I was writing the book, I decided to expand the scope to include new audiences, such as graduate students who will be part of the future ecosystem. Finally, I made another adjustment to include university professors, recognizing the need for long-term research in several areas to extend the applications and performance of MicroLED devices and systems for 20 years or more.
3. What do you see your book being most useful for?
One theme of this book is the use of physics-based analytical expressions to define device performance metrics in terms of device geometrical and material properties. This approach provides the intuition needed for innovators to create new device concepts that significantly enhance performance. Another theme is the use of a simple yet accurate set of analytical expressions to form a “numerical prototype” of MicroLED systems, such as MicroLED displays and data communication systems. These numerical prototypes enable engineers and technology innovation managers to estimate system performance based on input component metrics. They also help define key performance targets for individual system components to achieve specific system performance goals.
One chapter is dedicated to the techno-economics of MicroLED systems, focusing on MicroLED displays. This chapter is particularly useful for investment managers evaluating start-ups, providing insights into the feasibility and viability of specific technological solutions.
4. How did you find the writing of the book? Do you have a specific process or are you quite methodical in your writing approach?
I love technical writing because it helps me organize my thoughts and discover gaps in a “technical” story. These gaps often lead to inventive solutions. Writing the book for the diverse audience mentioned earlier helped me uncover new solutions, which I included in the book. Indeed, crafting a story for a technical audience was key to how the book turned out.
Writing this book was also time-consuming due to my commitment to using data instead of opinions, ensuring that I avoided being dogmatic.
5. What challenges did you face when writing the book and how did you overcome them?
The main challenge is balancing the time spent writing the book with the time I wanted to spend with my family and on my day job. For about a year, I woke up at 4 a.m. to work on the book from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. every day, including weekends and holidays. The support from my wife cannot be overstated.
6. What advice would you give to other engineers who are considering writing a book?
The first piece of advice is to pick a topic that you are passionate about and have hands-on experience with. The second is to secure the agreement of your family to support you throughout this process. The third piece of advice is to avoid seeking help from ChatGPT or any other AI tool. For technical topics, you need to cite specific references to avoid falling into the “pseudo-science trap”.
7. What are you working on next?
I have been fascinated by novel light sources such as MicroLEDs. In this book, I shared with the audience some of the innovations needed to transition this technology from the lab to commercial fabrication through engineering efforts and financial investment. Detecting light from these novel sources presents new challenges for systems that require both advanced light sources and novel photodetectors. Consequently, I have begun creating a script for a new book focused on novel photodetectors, particularly for the visible spectrum.
Learn more about the book on our websites
ARTECH HOUSE USA : MicroLEDs Devices and Systems
ARTECH HOUSE U.K.: MicroLEDs Devices and Systems
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