Japan

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.

2008 Q1 LED NB Price and Product Analysis

ivan — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:37:17 +0000

LED and CCFL NB have a price gap of 50%, but such gap is expected to narrow soon.

LEDinside recently has gathered further information about NB with LED backlight on the market. Until February 2008, prices of LED NB range from US$2,100 to US$3,100, while CCFL NB equipped with similar hardware cost $1,280 to $2,000. CCFL NB and LED NB have a price gap of at least 50% (indicated in Figure 1), says LEDinside. Although with advantages in weights, sizes and energy consumption, it is still quite costly to have an environmental, energy-saving and light LED NB.

Figure 1: Street Price of LED NB and CCFL NB, Feb-08

Since there is no 11.1-inch CCFL NB available on the market, no meaningful comparison can be made at this time; however, from 12.1-inch to 17-inch models, prices of LED NB are $1,000 higher on average than those of CCFL NB, according to LEDinside's data. Sizes do not directly correlate with differences in pricing. Evidence implies that pricing of LED NB is based on CCFL NB prices plus fixed margins.

Figure 2: LED NB & CCFL NB Street Price Comparison, Feb-08

As to NB sizes, the survey reveals that ten kinds of 12.1-inch LED NB are currently on the market, followed by 13.3, 11.1, 14.1, 15.4, and 17. 13.3-inch LED NB are still rather popular, while more and more products launched with 14.1, 15.4, and 17 inches LCD screens. This trend suggests that producers feel positive about utilizing LED NB applications in all sizes in the future.

Figure 3: Comparison of LED NB Model Number by Size, Jan-Feb 08

Except acer, LED NB has become one of major developments to almost all NB producers, including HP, DELL, Toshiba, Apple, Asus, SONY and Fujitsu. SONY has the most LED NB models (nine), followed by Apple (six), Toshiba (four) and Fujitsu (four).

SONY and Apple are both renowned for their product design. LED backlight panel can effectively reduce product weights. Because of Japanese consumers' obsession with smaller and lighter products, Toshiba and Fujitsu, two Japanese brands, launch LED NB prior to other companies.

Figure 4 : Comparison of LED NB Model Number by Brand, Jan-Feb 08

With a closer look of LED NB, LEDinside finds out that all other companies, except SONY and Apple offering three sizes, have different strategies. For example, Toshiba focuses on 12.1-inch NB, while Fujitsu on 14.1, HP on 12.1, and DELL on 13.3. This proves that these brands have distinct ideas towards major LED NB market in the future. No consensus is reached yet.

As the market becomes more concerned about environment, energy consumption and weights, the percentage of LED NB will be on the rise. AUO recently declares LED backlight will be adopted in all NB products in 2012, which clearly signals the coming of a LED NB era. Technical obstacle on light guiding plate (LGP) will be eventually overcome. When designing LED backlight panel, lower cost has become a common concern, which influences the thickness of LGP. Yield rate improvement will cut down LED backlight costs and reduce LED NB prices further. LEDinside predicts LED NB will grow prominently in models and penetration rates in 2008.

Figure 5: Comparison of LED NB Model Number by Brand and Size, Jan-Feb 08

2007 LED Market Review: Auto Lights, Backlights and Special Lighting

ivan — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:45:47 +0000

With industry restructuring and energy-saving awareness, LED applications have extended to handset backlights, auto lighting, notebooks, LCD TV and even indoor lighting. However, several challenges remain. LED for notebooks are still waiting for technical breakthroughs, and only first-rate manufacturers have the capability to produce LCD TV with LED backlights. Affected by budget cell phone program inventory, LED market in 2006 was mediocre, and the legacy has lasted to 2007.

Auto LED market is expanding fast. LED for car lights are projected to increase from US$400 million in 2003 to US$800 million in 2008. As the industry focuses on white LED, it has become a powerful force behind the market. In fact, LED can replace everything that shines. It has long been used on decoration lighting, and it has been tested as traffic lights since 1992. Some are included in public procurements, some are seasonal products sold at the end of each year, and some are handicrafts, such as those produced in Tokushima, Japan. This is a huge and diversified market with rising demand in the future.

Cell phone buttons and screens all need high-brightness blue and white LED. This amounts to almost 50% of the LED market. Although decreasing, this is still one of the major components in the industry. As LED market for handsets matures, manufacturers are looking for new territories.

In 2007, large-size TV and LCD monitors are emerging markets for high-brightness blue and white LED. The LED market share of RGB backlights and white backlights are steadily increasing. Unit price of 1W white LED for large-size LCD monitors is expected to drop to less than US$1 at the end of this year, which will increase the application rate. It still takes time to see CCFL backlights to be widely replaced by LED backlights due to several obstacles, such as this technology is under development, yield rate and productivity require improvement, and not all manufacturers are able to meet quantity requirements for LCD TV and monitors. LED backlight application on NB panels is estimated to reach 30% in 2008.

As to other LED applications, high-brightness LED with different colors is adopted in automobiles, decorations, traffic lights, street lights, etc. With rising productivity, falling prices, and technical standards lower than LED backlights, these products will expand their market shares at a faster pace in 2008.

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

LED Backlight Module Application Going Up Fast in NB Market

ivan — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:43:31 +0000

Since the second half of 2007, NB panels with white LED backlight has been increasingly popular because it’s thinner, lighter and more energy-saving and more portable. Environment protection is another concern among customers, which encourages many NB manufacturers to adopt LED without mercury as backlight. Especially since Apple announced to produce all NB with LED backlight in May 2007, many others follow suit. This trend shall continue for a period of time at least.

Manufactures Developing NB Panels with LED Backlight Module

TMD is the most active manufacturer in adopting white LED as NB backlights, which has acquired most market share before the first half of 2007. Samsung Electronics and LG.Philips LCD from Korea have launched their own products in the second half of this year, while AUO and CMO from Taiwan are also quickly catching up.

Challenges in NB with LED Backlight Technology

There are still various challenges to overcome, however, on NB with LED backlights. So far Toyoda Gosei and Nichia are major suppliers for white LED in NB. Lifespan and patent are major barriers to mass supply, which leads to underproduction and high prices without much cost flexibility.

Another obstacle in LED backlight modules is light guide plate, which in CCFL modules are mostly between 1.6mm and 2.2mm, while those in LED will be further downsized between 0.6mm and 0.8mm. How to maintain its function and uniformity in such a small size is the technical barrier to be crossed.

Moreover, NB panels with LED backlight are often asked to be equipped with thinner glass substrates to reduce their weights. Thinning processing equals to cost increases. Due to difference optical spectrums in LED and CCFL, it is needed to adjust color filters for better color performance. These technical difficulties aforementioned all raise the cost burdens of NB panels with LED backlight.

Quantity of LED backlight modules in NB

Size	LED Quantity
12.1W	36
13.3W	42
14.1W	48
15.4W	60

Source: WitsView, 2007/12

The bigger the panels are, the more LED crystals are needed. With the improvement of brightness and technology, however, it would helpful in cost reduction. Fewer crystals may be installed in the future.

Source: WitsView, 2007/12

Market Forecast

As to price, because Toyoda Gosei and Nichia are still main suppliers of white LED for NB without many competitors, it maintains 0.2 dollars per crystal. Current production will not be able to meet the rising demand, and prices will remain high in the future

Sizes and Prices of White LED in Mainstream Market

Type	Package type	Forward Current IF (mA)	Forward Voltage VF (Typical)	Luminous Intensity (mcd)	Avg Price (USD)	Application
Standard	Side view	20	3.2	1,700	$0.2	Backlight for Notebook
Standard	Side View	20	3.2	1,400	$0.1	Backlight for Handset
High Power	Top View	350	3.6	--	$2.4	Illumination

Source: LEDinside, 2007/12

LED Backlight Module Application Growing Fast

ivan — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:36:05 +0000

Currently, LCD panel’s market is facing fluctuating on its pricing. After those dominate manufacturers are competing each other to promote themselves to next generation product line, the trend is increasing their ratio on using LED backlight module.

Incrementally, there are more LCD products using LED backlight module for power efficiency issue.

Among them, the LED backlight’s application on Notebook is taking the lead. Japanese manufacturers take the first run on using LED backlight module on 14.1” and 15.4” wide screen LCD instead of original 12”, and 13.3” LCD. They are already using LED backlight module on their laptop or LCD panel for laptop, including Sony, Sharp, Toshiba, Fujitsu, TMDisplay, Samsung Electronics, and Taiwanese LCD manufacturers, CMO, AUO, and ASUS…etc.

Samsung are going to increase their ratio to approximately 50% using LED back light module, this action is definitely a positive stimulant of LED backlight module’s market.