Japan

Toshiba, Matsushita plan to spend $140M on OLED output

sarafan — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:16:35 +0000

It's reported Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. said that they will mass produce next-generation organic displays, spending roughly $140 million to cash in on the growing market for the ultra-thin screens On July 22.

The announcement follows plans by South Korea's Samsung SDI Co. to expand output capacity six-fold, dwarfing Japanese firms' current production of active-matrix OLED displays. Display makers are jockeying for share in the fast growing market for organic displays, which are slimmer and consume less battery power than liquid crystal screens.

Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., 60-percent owned by Toshiba and 40-percent by Matsushita, plans to invest about $140 million by late 2009 to make the equivalent of 1 million 2.5-inch panels a month, a spokesman of the joint venture said. Toshiba Matsushita has no plans at the moment to mass produce larger displays for TVs. The panels would be used in mobile phones and car navigation systems.

Toshiba, Matsushita joint plant to invest in OLED

sarafan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:42:55 +0000

It's reported TOKYO (AP) -- Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. will start making next-generation displays at their joint plant by the second half of 2009.

Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., the Japanese electronics makers' joint venture set up in 2002, plans to invest about 15 billion yen to make small and medium-size organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, displays, said company spokesman Toshiyuki Yoshida. He said the investment was an estimate and details were not yet decided. The investment is in anticipation of a move to the new technology from the now more common liquid crystal displays.

OLEDs use light-emitting organic compounds similar to those found in fireflies. TVs using OLED panels don't require a backlight and can be made thinner than those based on liquid crystal or plasma displays. The technology is still young, but Japanese manufacturers are eager to get the jump on South Korean manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Display Co.

The panels being planned at Toshiba and Matsushita's joint venture are for cell phones and mobile devices and won't be used in TVs, Yoshida said. The joint venture is 60 percent owned by Toshiba and 40 percent by Matsushita.

Toshiba Releases LED-based midget Reflector and Beam Lamps

sarafan — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:22:28 +0000

Recently, Toshiba released new LED lights that are shaped like midget reflector and beam lamps.

LED-based midget Reflector and Beam Lamps can be used with the existing light bulb sockets without any special adjustment because they have the E26 base. The new lights use Nichia Corp's LED. The light source comes in two types, with one incandescent and the other white. They are expected to be used as the illumination lighting for signboards, facilities and shops.

The midget reflector lamp model is equipped with five LEDs, and its luminance is equivalent to that of a 60W incandescent bulb. The power consumption is 5.3W. The luminous efficiency of the incandescent color type of this model is approximately 50lm/W, and that of the white type is about 68lm/W. Although it has about the same dimensions as the 40W-class product released in 2007, its output has been increased by 50%. Because the amount of heat generated by the light is increased due to the higher output, the company reportedly improved the LED layout and the chip so that the heat can be released more efficiently.

The light radiation angle is set to 55° like a midget reflector lamp using an incandescent bulb. "The industry's first beam lamp-shaped LED light" has eight LEDs. The power consumption is 9W. Its luminance is equivalent to that of a 75-100W incandescent bulb. The luminous efficiency of the incandescent color type of this model is approximately 48lm/W, and that of the white type is about 66lm/W. The new light can easily replace the existing beam lamps using an incandescent bulb because it has the same dimensions.

According to the company, both models have a life of about 20,000 hours. This is about 13 times longer than that of an incandescent reflector lamp and about three times longer than that of an incandescent beam lamp,

Until now the company has released LED downlights under the product name of "E-Core," but after the release of the latest models, all LED lights will be developed under the same brand. "Starting from non-illuminating applications such as traffic signals and automotive instruments, LED light bulbs are now being increasingly used for partial illumination such as downlights and other lighting equipment," Toshiba said. "From now on, the adoption of LED lights will be further promoted as the general lighting in houses and offices," the company added, pinning hopes on the expansion of LED lighting market.

In particular, Toshiba said, "in the market for special lighting equipment such as reflector lamps, 16% of all products will be replaced with LED lights by 2010, with 30% being replaced by 2012." With respect to home-use lighting equipment, Toshiba said that "once their cost drops, LED lights, together with bulb-shaped fluorescent lamps, will be used in place of incandescent bulbs because LED lights have the advantage of being stably bright immediately after they are turned on, which isn't the case with fluorescent lamps."

Nichia files lawsuit against Acriche LED from Seoul Semiconductor in Germany

sarafan — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:04:57 +0000

Recently, Japanese LED maker Nichia Corporation has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in Germany against its Korean rival, Seoul Semiconductor Co. Ltd. The lawsuit claims that Seoul's Acriche series white LED product infringes the Nichia patent EP(DE)622858. Seoul's German subsidiary, Seoul Semiconductor Europe GmbH, and its German distributor, Conrad Electronic SE, are also listed in the lawsuit, which seeks injunctive relief and compensation for damages.

This follows a similar lawsuit against Acriche filed on May 13, 2008 in the UK against Seoul Semiconductor and its UK distributor, Avnet EMG Ltd. In this action, Nichia said it believes that Acriche infringes two patents EP(UK)599224 and EP(UK)622858. Nichia has also filed lawsuits in the U.S., Japan and Korea against Seoul Semiconductor and its Japanese and U.S. subsidiaries, which are all currently pending.

More Details can be found on Nichia's website.

New Industrial LCD Panels With Long-Life LED Backlighting Systems From Toshiba America Electronic Components

Emma — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:17:57 +0000

TFT LCD Modules Feature Replaceable LED Backlights, High Brightness and Low Power Consumption

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., a committed industry leader that collaborates with customers to create breakthrough designs, today announced a new color active-matrix thin-film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) module product lineup for industrial applications that incorporates long-life light-emitting diode (LED) backlighting systems. Developed by Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd. (TMD)**, the modules are designed to satisfy the requirements of a broad range of industrial applications, such as test and measuring equipment, medical equipment, portable handheld computing devices, and more, utilizing the latest LED backlighting technology.

The series includes five new LCD products: 5.7-inch QVGA 320 x 240, 6.5-inch VGA 640 x 480, 8.4-inch SVGA 800 x 600, 8.4-inch 1024 x 768, and 10.4-inch XGA 1024 x 768. All the products have replaceable, long-life, LED-based backlighting systems, and are designed such that a resistive touch panel can be added as an option.

"These new, leading-edge LED-backlit modules are an important addition to our line-up and address a growing demand in a wide variety of industrial LCD applications," said Sean Collins, vice president business development, Display Devices and Components Group, for TAEC. "TMD continues to demonstrate a long history and commitment to the industrial market by providing displays that feature high brightness, wide viewing angles, wide operating temperature ranges, and replaceable backlighting structures. The addition of these new LED long-life product will bring clear and further benefits to industrial system designers."

The LED-based backlighting systems provide an average backlight lifetime of 70,000 hours, or approximately 8 years continuous operation, (to half-brightness of the initial luminance specification), which exceeds that of today's common TFT LCDs for industrial applications utilizing long-life cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlighting systems. TMD has achieved this by applying long-life LEDs, and by optimizing the thermal design of the industrial-type LED-based backlighting system based on TMD's extensive experience in utilizing LED backlighting for mobile notebook PC TFT displays. The modules have been designed with a replaceable backlight structure to accommodate the product longevity requirements, and the harsh-usage environments, of industrial applications. In addition, TMD has added the LED driver circuitry into the electrical interface for the displays, an added benefit for customers to simplify their design-in time and costs.

Compared to CCFL backlit displays, LED-backlit displays feature superior characteristics such as lighter weight, lower electrical noise, lower power consumption, and offer a wider adjustable luminance range. LED-backlit displays also reduce the environmental impact, in consideration of both material and energy consumption, since they are mercury-free(1) and lower in power consumption. Also, the new LED-backlit displays do not require the high-voltage and high-frequency circuits required to control luminance in CCFL-backlit displays, thus enabling a higher level of flexibility in system design in terms of safety, electro-magnetic interference (EMI) compensation, and system architecture.

These newly developed products will be exhibited by TMD at the 11th Embedded Systems Technology Expo & Conference (ESEC), booth #EAST35-15, to be held at Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan, May 14-16, 2008, and by Toshiba America Electronic Components at the 2008 Society for Information Display International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition, booth #135, to be held at Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA, USA, May 20- 22, 2008.

TFT LCD modules feature replaceable LED backlights

Emma — Mon, 12 May 2008 03:21:46 +0000

It's reported that Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc. (TAEC) has rolled a new color active-matrix TFT-LCD module product lineup for industrial applications that incorporates long-life LED backlighting systems.

Developed by Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co. Ltd, the modules are designed to meet the requirements of a broad range of industrial applications, such as test and measurement equipment, medical equipment and portable handheld computing devices utilizing the latest LED backlighting technology.

The series includes five new LCD products: 5.7-inch QVGA 320 x 240, 6.5-inch VGA 640 x 480, 8.4-inch SVGA 800 x 600, 8.4-inch 1,024 x 768, and 10.4-inch XGA 1,024 x 768. All the products have replaceable, long-life, LED-based backlighting systems, and are designed such that a resistive touch panel can be added as an option.

The LED-based backlighting systems provide an average backlight lifetime of 70,000hrs, or 8 years of continuous operation, (to half-brightness of the initial luminance specification), which exceeds that of today's common TFT LCDs for industrial applications using long-life CCFL backlighting systems. TMD has achieved this by applying long-life LEDs, and by optimizing the thermal design of the industrial-type LED-based backlighting system based on TMD's extensive experience in using LED backlighting for mobile notebook PC TFT displays. The modules have been designed with a replaceable backlight structure to accommodate the product longevity requirements, and the harsh-usage environments, of industrial applications. In addition, TMD has added the LED driver circuitry into the electrical interface for the displays, an added benefit for customers to simplify their design-in time and costs.

Compared to CCFL backlit displays, LED-backlit displays feature superior characteristics such as lighter weight, lower electrical noise, lower power consumption, and offer a wider adjustable luminance range.LED-backlit displays also reduce the environmental impact, in consideration of both material and energy consumption, since they are mercury-free and lower in power consumption. Also, the new LED-backlit displays do not require the high-voltage and high-frequency circuits required to control luminance in CCFL-backlit displays, thus enabling a higher level of flexibility in system design in terms of safety, EMI compensation and system architecture.

Samples are now available. Information on pricing and scheduled mass production is available from TAEC.

Future Lighting Solutions and NEC Electronics America Introduce Intelligent Constant High-Current Driver with Microcontroller

Emma — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:46:14 +0000

Future Lighting Solutions, a division of Future Electronics, Inc., with NEC Electronics America, Inc., today introduced the world’s first intelligent constant High-Current Driver (HCD) with microcontroller (MCU). The new HCD/LED MCU can be used in lighting applications that employ multiple LEDs, in addition to industrial control applications such as stepping motors, solenoid drives, and switch-mode power supplies.

“Future Lighting Solutions and NEC Electronics America have developed a ‘smart’ design approach to support the growing performance demands of LED lighting and other applications,” said Bart Ladd, General Manager, Account Development and Applications, NEC Electronics America. “We have combined NEC Electronics’ extensive experience in MCUs with Future Lighting Solutions’ power LED applications knowledge, to produce this new HCD/LED MCU. The solution offers higher integration and greater intelligence, and is supported with a robust design environment that helps designers bring products to market faster and more cost effectively.”

The new device combines an NEC Electronics’ 8-bit All Flash™ microcontroller with a four-channel HCD that helps reduce device size and system costs. This solution delivers efficient power management capability in street illumination, architecture, entertainment, emergency vehicle and display lighting systems.

“Customers will value the flexibility that the µPD78F8024 solution provides, such as providing output current support to drive the full range of our LUXEON® high-power LEDs,” said Patrick Durand, Worldwide Applications Manager for Future Lighting Solutions. “Engineers who want to maximize control, reliability and power savings for their solid-state lighting applications can also leverage this new MCU’s ability to dynamically change the average current for an LED by communicating with a temperature or ambient light sensor.”

The product’s high level of integration allows for a smaller number of external components to open up board space for other components. In addition to supporting a wide input voltage range from 9 to 38-volts, the flexible four-channel architecture also enables designs using both buck and boost regulator topologies.

The µPD78F8024 HCD/LED MCU is available in a 64-pin LQFP. Samples are available now, starting at US$3.50 per 1000 unit quantities1. Evaluation boards will be available in early May. For additional information, visit www.FutureLightingSolutions.com/NEC.

About Future Lighting Solutions

Future Lighting Solutions is a division of Future Electronics Inc., the 3rd largest electronic distributor in the world. We are focused on delivering world-class LUXEON® LEDs, technical solutions and commercial support that facilitate developing and manufacturing “never before possible” LUXEON LED based applications. Future Lighting Solutions brings customers unparalleled LED lighting knowledge, access to expert resources, full system solutions and global logistics support.

About NEC Electronics America, Inc.

NEC Electronics America, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723), a leading provider of semiconductor products encompassing advanced technology solutions for the broadband and communications markets; system solutions for the mobile, PC, automotive and digital consumer markets; and multi-market solutions for a wide range of consumer applications. NEC Electronics America offers local manufacturing in Roseville, California, and the global manufacturing capabilities of its parent company. In the Americas, NEC Electronics America markets and sells industrial-type active-matrix LCD modules from NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd., a global leader in innovative display technologies.

Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. All Flash is a trademark or registered trademark of NEC Electronics Corporation.

Mitsubishi Electric Supplies 11 More Diamond Vision(TM) LED Scoreboards to PGA TOUR

Emma — Wed, 07 May 2008 05:08:40 +0000

Mitsubishi Electric, the Official High-Definition Television and the Official Large Outdoor Video Display Provider of the PGA TOUR, is supplying 11 additional state-of-the-art Diamond Vision(TM: 105.66, +0.54, +0.51%) LED high-definition scoreboards for PGA TOUR events. This completes the TOUR's initiative to upgrade the scoreboard technology to provide a better on-site experience for fans.

The Diamond Vision(TM: 105.66, +0.54, +0.51%) LED boards debuted at THE PLAYERS Championship in May 2007, providing an array of new player and course information tied to the TOUR's ShotLink real-time scoring system as well as a variety of videos. The 22 boards at THE PLAYERS were then divided into two traveling sets of 11 and were phased in at subsequent tournaments.

"The feedback we've received about the first set of scoreboards was tremendous," said Tom Wade, chief marketing officer for the PGA TOUR, referring to the original Diamond Vision(TM: 105.66, +0.54, +0.51%) scoreboards. "We originally planned to have 11 boards on the course, but they have been so popular that we're putting one at almost every hole."

The Diamond Vision(TM: 105.66, +0.54, +0.51%) scoreboards bring a new level of interaction and excitement to PGA TOUR tournaments. Thanks to the full-color capabilities of the Mitsubishi Electric scoreboards, fans are treated to animations, personal player profiles including images and action shots, and broadcast-quality graphics just as crisp and brilliant as those seen on Diamond Vision(TM: 105.66, +0.54, +0.51%) stadium and arena displays.

"We are always looking for ways to enhance the spectator experience at our tournaments, and the Mitsubishi Electric scoreboards have become a very important element of this initiative," Wade said. "Not only are we extremely pleased with what we already have been able to provide the fans through the scoreboards, we are excited about developing compelling new elements that we can include. The addition of these 11 scoreboards will further our efforts to inform fans about our players and the competition."

About Mitsubishi Electric

Mitsubishi Electric's US operations include nearly a dozen companies that manufacture and market an extensive line of commercial, industrial and consumer electronics products. These include elevators and escalators; heating and air conditioning systems; semiconductor devices; high-definition televisions, home theater and display devices; large-scale data walls and stadium displays; automotive components, electronics and entertainment systems; factory automation equipment, power products, solar panels and other items.

CES: LCD Monitor with LED Backlight will be new star this year

ivan — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:47:41 +0000

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) show, a lot of product launched withLED backlight technology, which is energy saving and better color capacity.

LED backlight technology-based LCD screen will be will be new focus product this year, the future desktop computer screen will be lighter, thinner and more energy-efficient.

ViewSonic introduce 22-inch LCD screen VLED221wm at the CES, it offers consumers high-quality color reproduction to display 118 percent of the color gamut based on the National Television System Committee (NTSC) guidelines. In comparison, most CRT and LCD monitors on the market today only display 70 to 80 percent of the NTSC’s range of colors.

This allows graphic designers to more accurately match colors to printed materials, and gives photographers and video editors access to a broader color spectrum. The VLED221wm is ideal for high-end design applications such as CAD/CAM, desktop publishing and moving production, which must achieve the highest level of color performance.

The stylish, glossy black display supports a native 1680x1050 resolution, boasts a 5ms response time and features an industry-leading dynamic contrast ratio of 12000:1 (typ), making it the ultimate monitor for life-like high-definition content. The display is equipped with dual analog and digital inputs and integrated stereo speakers to connect seamlessly with other professional systems such as sound boards.

ViewSonic's VLED221wm listed in the United States, with the price will be slightly higher than Size 22-inch products.

Chi Mei also plans offer 22-inch or 24-inch widescreen LCD Panel with LED Backlight technology in 2008 Q3 ~ 2008 Q4.

Samsung has been using LED backlight technology on new LCD Monotir FL20.

LED backlight technology is mercury-free, and the LCD screen than the average lamp to 40% lower power environmental protection, Gamut performance than ordinary lamp technology to better screen performance, but also because of screen contrast used by the LED light source single operator control can be bright, black-and-white gray-scale performance capabilities than the existing lamp excellent screen technology.

However, the LED backlight panel prices are still higher than the traditional lamp backlight panel.

The future of environmental protection in the EU RoHS norms issued for 2010 after prohibiting the importation of mercury-containing electronic products to the EU market trend, the future is bound to lead LED LCD panel production, the panel prices will be lower.

On the other hand, LED screen in the application of computers still mainly laptops, including Asus, Fujitsu, Sony, Apple , Dell, and Hewlett-Packard have also launched Notebook with LED panel.

The chance for OLED technology in the lighting market

Emma — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 06:01:11 +0000