eNewsletter

December 2007

Philips Lumileds has released its new cool-white Luxeon K2 with TFFC LED. Chip and packaging advancements by the company enable extended capabilities that deliver maximum performance in any environment. Luxeon K2 with TFFC is the only LED designed, binned and tested for standard operation at 1,000 mA and capable of being driven at 1,500 mA. Thin Film Flip Chip (TFFC) technology contributes to overall light output improvement, excellent optical performance and improved thermal capability. New packaging advancements improve what is already the industry’s most rugged and capable package and deliver the lowest thermal resistance, 5.5° C/W, of any power LED - lower thermal resistance allows the LED to be driven at higher currents and lowers thermal management engineering efforts and costs. Light output performance from a Luxeon K2 with TFFC part binned and tested for 160 lumens minimum and 1 A drive current can easily exceed 220 lumens at higher drive currents. Luxeon K2 with TFFC leads all LEDs in real-world applications and is designed and manufactured to operate reliably and effectively in the harshest environments.

At its rated drive current, Luxeon K2 with TFFC operates at 66 percent of its maximum power rating and delivers unprecedented performance for a single 1-mm² chip. More than two dozen LED drivers available from Future Lighting Solutions are already capable of providing 1,000 mA and even higher currents that will allow engineers to take advantage of Luxeon K2 with TFFC’s high drive capability.

Today, virtually every other power LED manufacturer has introduced products at 350 mA but none of these devices can be driven reliably at higher currents without sacrificing lumen maintenance or causing junction temperature to exceed published maximums. None of the other LEDs can be operated at 1 A for extended periods of time. In fact, even when datasheets indicate typical values at higher drive currents, they are not achievable in actual applications.

The advantages of Luxeon K2 with TFFC’s high drive current ratings to the lighting community are many. For applications like security lighting, roadway lighting, automotive lighting or spot lighting where maximum light and robustness are required while still delivering improved efficiency, Luxeon K2 with TFFC can be implemented to engineer the most cost effective solutions that consider all costs including the thermal management system, drive electronics, optics and LED count. The ability for designers to increase current without increasing thermal management size or cost to the same degree ultimately results in a lower cost of light.

“Customers are already making the move to 1,000 mA drive currents and higher to take advantage of higher light output and improved efficacies,” said Erik Milz, product manager at Philips Lumileds. “Incorporating TFFC technology and package improvements gives us the best LED for the most demanding applications and environments such as automotive, signaling, general lighting and architectural applications. Using a single chip allows for the smallest optical source size making it easier to design optics such as reflectors, diffusers and lenses that are essential for most applications.”

Luxeon K2 with TFFC offers industry leading lifetime and reliability. This information is detailed in Philips Lumileds graphical reliability and lumen maintenance tools available on the company’s web site and in Reliability Datasheets. Luxeon K2 with TFFC is also compatible with much of the complementary infrastructure for electronics, optics and thermal solutions already in place for Luxeon K2 LEDs.

Luxeon K2 with TFFC in cool-white is available from Future Lighting Solutions (FLS) (www.futurelightingsolutions.com). Contact FLS for pricing and availability of specific flux bins. Philips Lumileds is preparing for volume production of neutral-white and warm-white to be followed by royal blue, blue, cyan and green. Future Lighting Solutions can also advise on appropriate driver and thermal management systems to ensure the most effective operation of Luxeon K2 with TFFC in any application, any environment.

Vishay Releases New Little Star Family of Yellow, Amber, Warm White, and White 1 W LEDs in the SMD Power Package

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. has released a new family of yellow, amber, warm white and white 1 W power SMD LEDs. The Little Star VLMK71, VLMY71, VLMW71 and VLMW711 series offer a low thermal resistance and high luminous intensity for a wide range of applications.

Featuring a SMD power package with a compact 6.0 mm by 6.0 mm footprint and ultra-low profile of 1.5 mm, Vishay’s new Little Star LEDs are among the most robust and light-efficient products on the market. The devices are designed for high current drive and offer extremely high brightness and a high flux output.

The amber and yellow LEDs each offer two luminous flux options. The white Little Star is available in white VLMW711 and warm white VLMW71 versions, with three luminous flux options available for each.

The new LEDs are optimized for backlighting and illumination in automotive and transport, consumer and general applications. Typical end products include handheld mobile devices, such as mobile phones and PDAs; traffic lights; advertising displays; household appliances, such as ovens and microwaves; and exterior automotive lighting, such as turn and brake lights. Additionally, the white LEDs are well suited for general illumination purposes as an alternative to incandescent lamps.

All devices in the new family offer a 60° half-intensity angle and 120° viewing angle and are compatible with IR-reflow solder processes. The LEDs are automotive qualified to AEC-Q101 and comply with RoHS 2002/95/EC and WEEE 2002/96/EC. Preconditioned according to JEDEC moisture sensitivity Level 2 standards, the Little Star package is lead (Pb)-free and RoHS-compliant.

Samples of the 1 W power SMD LEDs are available now. Production quantities are available, with lead times of six weeks for larger orders. Pricing for US delivery is $0.70/piece for the amber and yellow LEDs, and ranges from $1.00/piece to $1.50/piece for the warm white and white LEDs.

New High-Power LED Driver from Catalyst Semiconductor Optimized for Rapidly Growing, Mid-Size LCD Panel Market

Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc., a supplier of analog, mixed-signal and non-volatile memory semiconductors has expanded its line of high-power LED drivers with a new device optimized for the rapidly growing mid-size LCD panel market. The new CAT4139 boost converter provides a switch current up to 750 mA and drives LED strings up to 22 V, making it an suitable choice for digital photo frames and other backlighting applications where high LED counts (up to 40 LEDs) are emerging.

Many high-voltage boost converters typically use a simple variable-frequency switching scheme. This approach results in a wide range of unwanted harmonics, which are not easy to filter or eliminate. The CAT4139 uses a fixed frequency (1 MHz) switching architecture making it well suited for low noise applications. A high voltage CMOS output stage in the device allows 5 LED strings (up to 22 V) to be accurately biased and regulated from a low voltage input supply while still delivering efficiency levels of up to 87 percent. The CAT4139 follows Catalyst’s CAT4240 high-power boost converter introduced earlier this year, which drives 10 LED strings up to 38 V each.

To eliminate excessive “in-rush” currents, which can occur during initial power-up, the CAT4139 offers an integrated soft-start control. In the event of an open-LED fault condition, an internal over-voltage protection circuit will place the device into a low-power operating mode restricting the output voltage to safe levels without the need for external circuitry. Both of these features are fully integrated, eliminating the need for external components and the associated cost and board space overhead. Designers have a choice of controlling LED dimming in the CAT4139 using a DC voltage, logic signal, or pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.

The CAT4139 LED driver is priced at $0.64 each in 10,000 piece quantities. Samples are available now. Projected lead-time for production quantities is currently 6 to 8 weeks ARO.

Baja Designs, Grote Industries Team Introduce New Off-Road Racing Light

Baja Designs, Inc., a company in high performance off-road racing and adventure lighting has teamed up with Grote Industries, the producers of LED WhiteLight technology to introduce a revolutionary innovation in forward lighting solutions.

Together, the parties unveiled the Soltek LED light. After successfully testing prototypes of the light in last November's Baja 1000 race, Baja Designs and Grote were able to collaboratively refine and package the new light in less than 9 months.

"When you are driving 80 miles per hour, off-road, at night, on one of the most brutal race tracks in the world, you need a light that won't quit; one that maximizes your performance, " said Deanne Moore, CEO of Baja Designs. "Soltek LED lights are durable and reliable, providing the brightest, whitest LED light, optimizing near-field vision."

With 2,880 lumens of raw lighting horsepower, the Soltek LED's proprietary, off-road specific beam pattern provides unrivaled smoothness and evenness. In addition, Grote's LED WhiteLight technology provides a color temperature that produces a natural contrast most like sunlight. The pattern and color temperature combine to reduce eye fatigue and optimize a driver's ability to push their machines and themselves to higher limits.

The new Soltek LED light is revolutionizing off-road racing. In fact, the LED forward lighting prototype doubled the number of lumens from any previous LED offering in the market. The refined product available today provides focused light for more than 35,000 hours of operation compared to 2,000 hours for HID and 500 with halogen lights.

"Designed, engineered and manufactured for maximum output, the Soltek LED light easily rivals HID and blows away halogen competitors,” said Scott Robertson, special lighting sales manager for Grote Industries. “Solid-state construction and encapsulant potting provide shock and vibration resistance. Everything about this light says high performance. From the die cast aluminum housing and solid-state electronics, to the tough polycarbonate lenses, the Soltek LED light is quite literally designed to outlast the vehicle."

Additionally, Baja Designs has found a way to provide a more robust product to the off-road racing teams with their patented 3-point mounting system. The only tool-less mounting system in the industry, Aim-n-Go allows for quick adjustment and prevents the Soltek LED lights from vibrating out of adjustment while racing through punishing landscapes.

"We are thrilled to continue the relationship with Grote and look forward to delivering the best LED forward lighting solutions, now and for years to come," added Moore.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd is mass-producing a 16M-color display driver IC (DDI) for active matrix-based organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays used in mobile phones and other handheld devices. With improved image quality, AMOLEDs are attracting attention from device designers as the next generation display technology of choice.

“The AMOLED market is expanding steadily,” said Jin Tae Kim, vice president of Samsung Electronics’ System LSI division. “In the future, we expect AMOLEDs will be applied to a wide range of mobile devices to deliver the high resolution they require.”

The global mobile communications market is transitioning rapidly from 2.5G products to 3G technology platforms that support a wider range of multimedia functions and services, including digital media broadcasting (DMB) and video telephony. Samsung’s new mobile DDI for AMOLED displays support qVGA (quarter Video Graphics Array) resolutions (240 RGB by 320 dots) and is capable of producing a range of over sixteen million colors. It is well in step with the recent expansion of multimedia functions and services offered in mobile devices.

Samsung’s new 16M-color DDI self-adjusts the screen brightness, illuminating only those areas that need light. As a result, power consumption is minimized and battery life extended. The read-only memory (ROM) is built in separately, enabling red, blue and green (RBG) gamma compensation to reproduce more lifelike images.

The new 16M-color AMOLED DDI is currently in mass production and has been introduced in Samsung SDI’s AMOLED panels. Samsung’s broad line up of DDIs for LCDs, PDPs and AMOLED displays addresses the diverse needs of its customer base.

According to market research firm Display Search, the global AMOLED market is expected to reach 7.82 million units in 2007 and increase to 127.71 million units by 2011, for a compound annual growth of 101 percent.

TI LED Drivers Boost Video Quality in Large-Panel Signage Applications

8-Channel LED Drivers

TI has also introduced the TLC5916 and TLC5917, 8-channel LED drivers that support general-purpose LED display systems such as LED signage, automotive LED lighting, white goods, gaming machines and entertainment and other general LED lighting applications. The devices provide constant-current control and open-load, shorted-load and over-temperature detection. Both also contain an 8-bit shift register and data latches, which convert serial input data into individual channel on/off control and group brightness.

The TLC59xx family is shipping in volume today from TI and its worldwide network of distributors. Available in a 32-pin QFN or 28-pin HTSSOP package, suggested resale price for the TLC5942 and TLC5945 is $1.75 each in 1,000-unit quantities. The TLC5916 and TLC5917 comes in a 16-pin SOIC or 16-pin TSSOP package. Suggested resale price for those devices is $0.80 each in 1,000-unit quantities.

Key Challenges and Issues facing the US Lamps Industry – Incandescent, Halogen and Fluorescent Lamps

Reportlinker.com has released a new market research report related to the American home goods industry is available in its catalogue. Lamps Market in the US can be ordered at www.reportlinker.com/p063217/PRBW-US-Lamps-Market.html.

Introduction

US Demand to Grow 5 Percent Annually Through 2011

US demand for lamps is projected to advance 5 percent per year through 2011 to $6.8 billion. Growth will be driven by a shift in product mix away from inexpensive incandescent lamps toward more expensive, energy efficient lamps such as compact fluorescents (CFLs). Strong new and improvement and repair nonresidential building construction activity through 2011 will bolster demand for lamps. Advances will also benefit from a modest recovery in motor vehicle production and greater lamp use per vehicle, which includes the use of higher-priced high intensity discharge lamps and halogens instead of conventional incandescent lamps. However, the switch to longer-lived lamps such as CFLs will dampen replacement demand in the longer term. Unit price increases for lamps will be constrained by alternative lighting products, such as LEDs and fiber optics, and by import competition. For example, LEDs pose a particularly strong competitive threat to lamps in smaller markets such as motor vehicles and indicator lighting. This competition will continue to place pricing pressures on lamp manufacturers, particularly as the prices of LEDs and other competitive technologies fall themselves. Low cost lamp imports, particularly in the incandescent, fluorescent and halogen segments will continue to penetrate the US market, gaining share from domestic production of those products.

Among the major product types, fluorescent lamps will enjoy the largest gains in lamp demand through 2011, overtaking incandescent lamps in terms of value. Most of this growth will be fueled by CFLs, which are being tapped as an alternative to the less energy-efficient incandescents in the large residential market. Furthermore, a phase-out of incandescents has been proposed at the federal level, signaling the eventual elimination of certain incandescent lamps in the US market by 2014. This legislation favors CFLs, but will allow any lamp that is similar in efficiency to be used. As a result, CFLs will face competition from LEDs, as well as next-generation incandescents designed to be more energy efficient.

Despite the negative outlook for incandescent lamps, these products will remain a key component of lamp demand for the foreseeable future. The large size of this segment derives from their widespread use in residential applications, which is in turn attributable to their low prices and good light quality. While the incandescent segment will no longer be the largest in the lamp market by 2011 in terms of value, these lamps will still account for the largest share in unit terms. There are many lighting fixtures that can not accommodate CFLs and many consumers who still prefer incandescents. To address the challenge from CFLs, manufacturers of incandescent lamps are developing new types that are more energy efficient. These products, which are expected to be available by 2010, will appeal to consumers’ familiarity with the traditional incandescent lamps, but will be more expensive.

This report presents historical demand data plus forecasts for 2011 and 2016 by type and market. This study also considers market environment factors, evaluates company market share data and profiles 34 US industry competitors.

Research and Markets has announced the addition of LED Manufacturing Technologies 08 to their offering. The 10 key on-going technologies to make the LEDs to generate more light than heat and finally take the competitive lead in lighting markets.

LED component volumes have been driven mainly by mobile phone sales recently, showing an incredible annual compound growth rate of more than +45 percent per year. Due to the strong pressure on component prices, revenue growth has been moderate: only +8 percent over the last 2 years.

Today high power LED are generating on the average 75 percent heat versus only 25 percent light. Several parameters have to be dramatically improved like:

• Internal Quantum Efficiency
• Electrical losses
• Extraction efficiency
• Phosphor conversion and optics quality

LEDs have a natural advantage in automotive outdoor and backlighting, but a new business model is needed to penetrate the general lighting sector where fluorescent light remains a strong competitor.

Today the incandescent lighting business generates revenues because 30 percent of the installed base is replaced every year and the manufacturing infrastructure has been amortized for many years. Industry needs to solve the challenge of building a growing market of lighting products with a quasi-infinite lifetime while developing mass production methods for the next-generation of UHB-LED

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c75324

Seoul Semiconductor Co, Ltd. filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that Nichia Corp. engaged in unfair trade practices through the importation and sales of Gallium Nitride (GaN) based laser diode products that infringe Seoul Semiconductor's US Patent No. 5,321,713 ('713 patent).

Seoul Semiconductor has invested more than $10 million in research and development of laser diode and LED related technologies by US based universities and companies. Due to its investments, Seoul Semiconductor has obtained rights to numerous laser diode and LED related patents. These patents, including the '713 patent, complement Seoul's already robust patent portfolio, which includes over 1,000 patents.

Seoul Semiconductor's US Patent No. 5,075,742 ('742) is also asserted in another pending lawsuit against Nichia Corp. for patent infringement through its sale of LEDs. That case is pending in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and was filed on November 6, 2007. The '742 patent covers technologies related to white, blue, green and UV LEDs and laser diodes.

Seoul Semiconductor anticipates that the ITC's investigation of Nichia Corp. will commence in January 2008 and be tried in the fall of 2008.

Carmanah Technologies Corp. has supplied an order through Goldwings Supply Service, Inc., its authorized distributor in Hawaii, to provide solar-powered LED airfield lights for a US Department of Defense installation in Hawaii. The order, valued at approximately $427,000 will enable the airfield to replace its retro-reflective taxiway markers with bright, wireless LED lights for a considerable improvement in safety and usability. As an alternative to battery or generator-powered airfield lights, Carmanah's solar-powered solution will be one of the world's largest wireless solar-powered LED taxiway lighting systems.

With visibility at the remote airfield limited by extremely dark nighttime conditions and frequent stormy weather, personnel needed a system of visual navigational aids that could help pilots identify operating surfaces under any condition. The primary goal was the enhanced safety of airfield operations at the facility. As a versatile and economical upgrade, the airfield chose a system of wireless A704-5 taxiway lights from Carmanah Technologies.

While providing an environmentally friendly lighting solution, the solar-powered airfield lights offered a cost-effective alternative to the trenching, cabling and ongoing electricity bills associated with a hard-wired lighting system. In fact, the hard bedrock in this location would make drilling and laying electrical cable along the length of the taxiway a prohibitively expensive and time-consuming task.

Also, as the salty sea air and ocean spray in this seaside location is very challenging for outdoor electrical equipment, Carmanah's wireless lights offered an additional advantage. Self-contained, watertight and rustproof, the marine-grade solar lights enclose all components - photovoltaic cells, high-intensity LEDs, rechargeable batteries, and electronics - within a durable housing machined from solid aluminum.

For maximum versatility and reliability, a built-in energy management system automatically aligns light levels with available energy resources to ensure the lights always have the power they need to operate. A programmable interface allows the user to set on/off times, brightness levels, flash patterns and more. For remote operation, a secure remote control allows aircrews to control the lights from the tower, the tarmac or the aircraft.

A revolutionary new optical lens, combined with dual-mode LEDs that can be switched from visible to infrared mode (for night vision goggles), provide exceptionally bright, high-intensity lighting suitable for all types of applications, including overt or covert operations. Because they're portable, the lights can also be relocated wherever they're needed most, making them a valuable asset for temporary illumination during natural disasters or other emergency situations. With the A704-5 aviation lights in place, the illuminated taxiway can also provide a safe landing spot for helicopters around the clock.

Offering a quick and easy installation, versatile operation, no electricity bills and no scheduled maintenance for up to five years, the solar-powered lighting system offers an affordable and effective way to improve airfield safety for many years to come.

Carmanah's solar-powered LED aviation lights are installed at some of the world's busiest airports, including Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Dubai International Airport, Gatwick International Airport, Milan International Airport, Singapore Changi International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport.

1/22 - 1/24
Photonics West 2008
San Diego, CA

Positioning OLED Lighting for Success - Click Here

NanoMarkets believes that Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) will play a major role in lighting applications in the future, but how soon this future arrives and how deeply the devices penetrate will depend on a number of factors. In a recent report titled, Emerging Markets for OLED and Printed Lighting, we predicted that in the long term, the economies of roll-to-roll manufacturing will establish OLED and other printable technologies as major players in mainstream lighting applications. In the short term, innovative designers will have find ways to put their unique characteristics to clever use in niche and specialty applications. NanoMarkets

December 2007

12/3-4/07
Quantum Dots
Fort Lauderdale, FL

12/4-5/07
PowerSigns 2007
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Phosphor Global Summit 2008
March 3 - 5, 2007
Hilton San Diego Resort, San Diego, CA, US

IntertechPira’s 6th annual Phosphor Global Summit will provide a forum for leading producers and users to discuss and plan the advancement of phosphor technology and applications.  The conference will be devoted to providing a comprehensive overview of market characteristics, rare earth phosphor supply, effects of new environmental standards on lamp supply and demand, phosphor recycling, novel materials developments, patent law and intellectual property rights, as well as updates on phosphors for general lighting, advances in phosphors for LEDs and displays, and emerging medical and biochemical applications.

With over 20 presentations, two intensive pre-conference workshops, and numerous networking events, this important technical conference will continue to be a must attend event for anyone with a stake in the phosphor industry!

Display Week 2008: The SID International Symposium, Seminar, and Exhibition
May 18-23, 2008
Los Angeles, California, USA

Now in its 46th year, Display Week is the premier international gathering of scientists, engineers,manufacturers and users in the electronic-display industry. Its 550-plus booths and 500-plus technical presentations attract approximately 8,000 attendees.
The event provides access to a wide range of technology and applications, including: high-definition flat-panel displays using both emissive and liquid-crystal technology; the latest in OLED displays and large-area projection-display systems; image processing, systems software and display processor hardware; human factors and applied vision; and exciting new applications such as multimedia and the electronic cinema.
www.sid2008.org