Korea

Dongbu HiTek Announces Joint Development of LED Driver IC

sarafan — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:02:55 +0000

Recently, Dongbu HiTek announced the joint development of an LED driver chip for Back Light Unit (BLU) applications in laptop computers. Developed in collaboration with ADDtek, a Taiwanese fabless company specializing in analog and mixed-signal chip solutions, the new LED driver designed by Taiwan-Based ADDtek uses Dongbu HiTek’s specialized BCDMOS (Bipolar CMOS DMOS) process at the 0.35-Micron Node.

Now, the announcement further highlights Dongbu HiTek’s commitment to BCDMOS leadership as it closely follows the Korean company’s launch of the world’s first 0.18 micron-level BCDMOS process in June. In addition to supporting a wide range of high-voltages from 12V to 60V, Dongbu HiTek’s BCDMOS technology enables a diversity of highly compact mixed-signal chip solutions.

Jae Song, EVP of marketing for Dongbu HiTek, asserted they are committed to becoming the preferred source for BCDMOS chip solutions. He disclosed that future support could extend the operating range of 0.35 micron-level chips up to 85V. Dr. Song expects Dongbu HiTek to steadily increase LED chip driver production volume for ADDtek next year to meet customer demand. He noted that his company will begin manufacturing LED light sources that are used not only in BLU applications for laptops, desktops, mobile handsets and flat panel TVs, but in other growth markets as well. According to related analysis, an independent market research firm, the worldwide market for LED driver ICs will grow from approximately $650 million this year to more than $800 million in 2011.

About Dongbu HiTek

Headquartered in Seoul, Korea, Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd. offers advanced products and services across two major business areas: Agriculture and Semiconductor. The Semiconductor Business provides specialized chip foundry services that add high value to display, mobile and various analog applications. The company’s two world-class fabs currently process 200mm wafers at nodes ranging from 0.35 microns to 110 nanometers. This wafer processing is supported by comprehensive design support (IP and design libraries), prototype development/verification, and packaging/module development.

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.

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.