LED Driver Supplier Guide
The November/December issue of LED Journal will include the first ever LED Driver Supplier Guide, which will include new product releases and company profiles. Please submit new LED driver press releases for consideration, or for more information on how to get your company listed in the LED Driver Supplier Guide contact Heather Krier at heatherk@infowebcom.com.
Advertising in this special issue is a great way to get your drivers and components in front of the entire LED market! Company/Product profiles are available for $750, or you can make a bigger splash with a display ad (ask about special discounts for the LED Driver Supplier Guide)! Contact Jessi Carter at jessic@infowebcom.com or 720-528-3770 x124.
LED Journal’s Knowledge Center Launches September 1, 2007
The LED Journal Knowledge Center will include white papers, webinars, archived articles, market reports, training courses, standards/regulations and industry links. It will be continually updated to include the most recent information and resources in the LED industry.
Do you have white papers, training courses and webinars?
Send them to Heather Krier at heatherk@infowebcom.com for inclusion in the LED Journal Knowledge Center.
High-Brightness LED Market Slowing But Still Growing
The HB LED market continued its slow growth phase in 2006. The market grew by 6 percent to $4.2 billion, primarily due to the continuing decline in the mobile appliance market. Mobile appliance applications once accounted for nearly 60 percent of the market but is now down to under 50 percent despite an increase in handset shipments. Other applications have taken up some of the slack including solid state lighting and automotive. On the production side, high-power (0.5 W+) LEDs were the fastest growing product line in 2006 with a growth rate of 43 percent. In fact, the market without mobile appliances grew at an impressive 22 percent growth rate for 2006 showing the willingness of the industry to seek out new applications.
To understand this dynamic market and its driving forces, Strategies Unlimited has completed a comprehensive report that looks at the demand side of the high-brightness LED market. The report includes an applications review, worldwide market review, five-year market forecast (units, revenues and by package and material type) and a supplier market share analysis. Now in its 8th edition, High-Brightness LED Market Review and Forecast – 2007 is the most recent edition in a series of reports published on the LED industry by Strategies Unlimited.
High-Brightness LED Market Review and Forecast - 2007 will be available in mid-August from Strategies Unlimited. This report is priced at $5,450.
Avago Technologies Releases Moonstone Warm White Power LED 
Avago Technologies, a supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications, has released the addition of a 1-watt warm white LED to its family of Moonstone power LEDs.
Available in one of the industry’s thinnest packages, Avago’s ASMT-MY00 LED provides designers of solid-state lighting applications with a competitively robust and reliable package that provides high brightness illumination and easy installation. Avago’s ASMT-MY00 is well suited for use in applications that require ultra-high-brightness LEDs, such as decorative lights, garden lights, task and reading lights, architectural, accent and marker lights.
Avago’s ASMT-MY00 high brightness LED package, which feature a smooth radiation pattern and 110° viewing angle, is a high performance energy efficient device that has been developed to withstand high operating temperatures and driving currents. With an exposed pad design, this 1-watt warm white power LED provides excellent heat transfer from the package to the motherboard to enable the ASMT-MY00 to be driven at a current of 350 mA. Moreover, this LED delivers up to 56 lumens to provide superior lumens to watt efficiency.
With its low profile design, which is suitable for use in those applications where height is a constraint, Avago’s ASMT-MY00 LED provides manufacturers with two significant advantages. First, it can be easily soldered using conventional surface mount (SMT) techniques to minimize production costs and the package is qualified to a JEDEC moisture sensitivity level (MSL) rating of 2A. For manufacturers, this rating means that the ASMT-MY00 LED warm white LEDs can be kept in the open air (30°C, 60 percent relative humidity) for up to four weeks after being removed from their sealed package without the need to remove absorbed moisture.
With the addition of the ASMT-MY00 warm white LED to its Moonstone LED series, Avago can now provide customers with a wider selection of 1-watt Power LEDs. In addition to warm white, Avago also offers these 1-watt Moonstone LEDs in blue, green and cool white.
Avago’s ASMT-MY00 Moonstone LEDs are priced in the $2.50 range in 10,000 piece quantities. Samples and production quantities are available now through Avago’s direct sales channel and worldwide distribution partners.
Right Angle Surface Mount White LEDs
JKL Components Corp. has introduced a new SMD LED with crisp, clear, bright white output, well suited for LCD backlight arrays as well as for general illumination and portable electronics. The LEDs use a standard 1005 SMD footprint and are available in reels of 1,800 pieces. This facilitates optimum use of automated assembly and placement equipment.
The LED chips are side view and have a low profile of 0.625 mm, suitable for slim portable electronics lighting. They are reliable and dependable in extreme environments, paving the way for affordable, uniform LED backlighting in small to medium size displays. The new LED, ZSM-S2808-W has a 120° viewing angle, an average luminous intensity of 1250 mcd at 20 mA and operates in temperature ranges from –30°C to 85°C. The side-view LEDs are shipped in ESD protective sleeves. Production pricing at $0.22 provides affordability for many applications not now using LED technology.
Negative Charge Pump Achieves Industry's Highest Efficiency for Driving Up to Six  White/RGB LEDs for Light Management
Maxim Integrated Products has introduced the MAX8647, a negative charge pump that provides the industry's highest efficiency in powering LCD display backlights. An innovative, negative charge-pump architecture eliminates in-line resistance from battery to LEDs. This design delays mode switching from 1x to 1.5x during battery discharge. A proprietary, adaptive-mode switching technology controls each of the six white or RGB LEDs independently. As a result, the MAX8647 achieves a significant 12 percent boost in efficiency, even with large LED forward-voltage (Vf) mismatch. This superior power management is suitable for complex handheld devices that need long battery life and benefit from total light management. Typical applications are cell phones, smartphones and portable media players where every milliamp-hour (mAh) of battery life is paramount.
Ideally, designers want to directly drive (i.e., 1x mode with no voltage drop) white and RGB LEDs for all battery voltages without losing any efficiency. However straightforward this objective, it has not been possible to achieve with "positive" charge pumps, which are located between the battery and LED. This configuration forms an undesirable dropout along the power line, causing a lower driving voltage to the LEDs. The charge pump turns on whenever the driving voltage is inadequate. As a result, the positive charge pump starts operating at higher battery voltages, leading to very poor efficiency.
Staying in 1x mode longer extends battery life. But to achieve zero dropout, typical competitive approaches need to remove the positive charge pump, an impossible task with such an architecture.
Competing solutions do not supply voltage to LEDs individually. Rather the circuit monitors all LED outputs and switches on the positive charge pump as soon as any one LED current falls below predetermined level. If the system exhibits large LED forward-voltage mismatch, the highest LED V triggers the charge pump to boost up from the battery voltage. Simultaneously, for those LEDs with lower Vf, the corresponding current regulators dissipate the excessive voltage and power. Consequently, the more the Vf mismatch and the larger the number of LEDs, the more power is wasted. TV-phone, smartphones and multimedia players use five or more LEDs, so the mismatch problem exacerbates the efficiency loss.
The MAX8647's negative charge-pump architecture eliminates in-line resistance from battery to LEDs. As a result, mode switching from 1x to 1.5x is delayed during battery discharge. The adaptive-mode switching technology supplies, dims, and regulates each LED individually. The net result of this innovative technology is a 12 percent increase in LED efficiency.
The MAX8647 negative charge pump with adaptive-mode switching delivers several important benefits. The additional 12 percent efficiency extends battery life. This extra efficiency is especially important for cell phones, where backlight is a major power-consuming function. Greater system efficiency leads to proportionally longer talk-time. Moreover, a smaller battery can achieve the same talk-time, so the manufacturer will reduce costs. The MAX8647 can also replace the inductor-boost LED drivers, which consume a large piece of PCB estate in conventional designs.
The MAX8647's applications extend beyond the complex handheld devices noted above to any display backlights and general light management. An I2C interface controls each LED that enables multizone, "fun" light management for up to 32 brightness levels, or 32,768 colors with RGB LEDs. The low 70 microamp quiescent current and the 100 microamp (min) dimming current facilitate "always-on" TFT displays that require minimal power. Highly accurate, ±1 percent current accuracy draws minimum battery current for each LED's required brightness. The MAX8647 also features temperature derating and overvoltage protection to extend the life of the LEDs.
A sister product to the MAX8647, the MAX8648 negative charge pump also has adaptive-mode switching to each LED. Uniquely, the MAX8648 groups the control of the LEDs into three zones with serial-pulse dimming.
The MAX8647/8648 are available in a tiny 16-pin TQFN (3mm x 3mm footprint, 0.8mm height, max). They are screened for the -40 degrees Celsius to +85 degrees Celsius extended temperature range. An evaluation kit (MAX8648 EV Kit) is available to speed design. Prices start at $1.95 for the MAX8647 and $1.70 for the MAX8648 (2500-up FOB, USA).
LED-850: Temperature Control of High Power LEDs
The TEC test adapter LED-850 enables the influence of electrical and thermal operating conditions on the optical parameters of high-power LEDs to be assessed quickly and easily (up to 10 W). A Peltier element with cooler fan is used to cool or heat the test LED within a range between 5°C and 85°C to an accuracy of 0.1°C. What‘s more, the integral PT100 sensor and the Peltier element can be connected to a TEC controller that controls and displays the temperature.
Instrument Systems recommends and has developed software control for the Keithley TEC 2510 Sourcemeter for setting the temperature and the Keithley 2400/2600 series sourcemeter as the current source and voltage measurement. Robust test probes also ensure reliable electrical contacting to the LED. The modular design principle makes it possible to test various types of LED using just a single base unit and interchangeable sockets. The range of LED sockets (with matching centering cap) covers all commonly available high-power LEDs from the world‘s leading LED manufacturers, as well as Level 2 printed circuit boards (e.g. Luxeon Star). Customer-specific adapters can also be supplied on request.
Molecular Imprints Releases the Imprio 1100 Precision Imprint Lithography System
The Imprio 1100 Precision Imprint Lithography System is a high throughput, whole wafer imprinter designed to enable next generation devices in a broad array of applications, including LEDs, high density disk substrates for hard disk drives (HDD) and optical components requiring fine resolution patterning and three dimensional features.
The high-brightness LED market, one of several applications for Molecular Imprints, Inc.’s (MII) new Imprio 1100, is predicted to double over the next 5 years driven by continued advances in the creation, extraction and collection of light. Many of the most promising new technologies include quantum dots for light generation, substrate patterning for light extraction and photonic crystals for light collection, require the ability to pattern nanometer-scale features. The Imprio 1100 delivers cost effective patterning of sub-50 nm features on the fragile, non-flat substrates commonly encountered in the compound semiconductor industry. The same high-resolution processes can also be used to pattern larger features like laser diode ridges and diffractive optical elements with unprecedented pattern fidelity and CD control.
The Imprio 1100 Precision Imprint Lithography System represents the next generation in fully automated nano-imprint lithography combining the resolution and CD control of e-beam lithography with the throughput, overlay and operating simplicity of a mask aligner. The system can be configured to accept the most commonly used substrate types and is suited for advanced development, pilot production or full production depending on the options selected. MII’s proven, step and flash imprint lithography (S-FIL) processes, template fabrication support, template replication capablity, and application expertise combine to produce a cost effective imprint lithography solution with best in class cost of ownership.
“MII has made tremendous progress over the last 18 months adapting the S-FIL process, originally developed for step and repeat imprint lithography on CMOS wafers, to the specific needs of the compound semiconductor industry. MII can no provide turnkey lithographic processes capable of high throughput and long process life on the fragile, non-flat surfaces of compound semiconductor wafers,” said Mark Melliar-Smith, CEO, Molecular Imprints. “In applications like the patterning of discrete track and bit patterned media for hard disk drive development and precision grating structures for optical components.”
Barco Introduces True Black Indoor LED Display 
Barco has introduced the NX-4, its new 4 mm indoor LED display. The NX-4, with its revolutionary black LED, delivers the deepest back levels of any product on the market and is set to become the new visual standard in indoor LED displays.
With the NX-4, Barco has developed a trueblack LED, not just a black package but a radically new design, from the interior resin to the exterior shaders. With this LED, the NX-4 delivers the deepest black levels of any product on the market. When combined with a light output of 2,000 Nit, a phenomenal contrast level of 4000:1 is achieved.
However, the black LED is only one element that makes the NX-4 unique. Key advances in base materials, mechanical design and color processing have raised the bar of LED displays to new heights of image quality.
The structure of NX-4 is made of carbon fiber and is designed in a framework, rather than a box. The result is a support system far stronger, far lighter, and 10 times less sensitive to deformation ensuring extremely tight tolerances along all three structural axes (x, y and z). This ensures a seamless image every time a LED display is built.
With the introduction of the NX-4, color processing advances to a new industry pinnacle, 16-bit processing and new “tri-color” calibration on all three colors simultaneously. Tiles can be calibrated to a larger color triangle, one that is actually widerthan the HDTV standard, delivering vibrant images with deep, uniform colors across the entire display surface.
Barco’s new DX-700 is a 16-bit multi-window LED processor that supports all current Barco LED products and next generation platforms such as NX-4.
The DX-700 provides the power of 16-bit processing, modularity, and multi-bank control. When used in combination with the DX-700, the NX-4 delivers more colors, more detail and a higher degree of uniformity than ever before — without sacrificing color depth.
With DX-700, not only does a NX-4 LED wall shine with the full spectrum of color depth and uniformity, but current tiles will also appear more brilliant than ever before.
NX-4 also employs the same small modular concept as Barco’s renowned OLite series, allowing the tiles to be used either as a standard integral display, or split apart for creative designs.
Specifically built for the demanding rental and staging market, the NX-4 requires no tools or cables to set up, or for service. The inter-tile locking system has also been re-designed for ease of setup, with simplified electrical connections, accurate “click” pre-locks, robust horizontal and vertical locking mechanisms.
FC Lighting Debuts New Headquarters and Learning Center
FC Lighting, Inc. is celebrating its 25th year of sustained growth by “moving on up” to larger and more efficient new facilities in St. Charles, IL, just west of Chicago.
The company’s move from Addison, Ill. is now complete and although some settling-in and IT installations are still being wrapped up, the new headquarters and operations center for FC Lighting is up and running. The new complex features cutting edge design, an efficient and productive environment,and a decidedly “green” orientation – from the décor to the environmentally-friendly operations.
A key feature of the new facility is “The Edge” – a 4,000-square-foot educational center billed as “the world’s largest forum for LED technology.” The interactive center, which features moving walls and panels to accommodate various multi-media presentations and mock-ups of lighting configurations, offers an unparalleled resource for lighting designers, engineers and building professionals. Visitors can learn about solid state lighting operation and application, as well as experiment with components and measuring devices to develop unique lighting plans for their projects and compare heat build-up profiles for different fixtures. The Edge center will also serve as a training base for FC’s professional lighting application agents.
The company’s new address is 3609 Swenson Avenue, St. Charles, IL 60174. Phone contact numbers remain the same: 800.900.1730; fax: 630.889.8106.
EcoLEDs Releases Brightest LED Light Bulb Yet Available to Consumers
Eco-friendly lighting company EcoLEDs.com has launched the brightest LED light bulb ever made available to consumers in the United States. Using 10 watts and a single LED component made in the US, the LED light uses 1/10th the electricity of an incandescent light bulb and reduces CO2 emissions by 9,070 pounds over its life.
Incandescent light bulbs are now being globally recognized as extremely inefficient and outdated. Australia has already banned the energy-hungry light bulbs, and California is considering a statewide ban. In time, all modern nations will ban incandescent lights due to their extreme inefficiency: they waste 95 percent of the electricity they consume as excess heat.
The mainstream push is towards compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), but consumers are not being told that CFLs contain toxic mercury. There's enough mercury in a single CFL to contaminate 7,000 gallons of fresh water and if Americans continue to purchase CFLs , then throw them away in local landfills, the US will soon be facing an unprecedented burden of toxic mercury in rivers, streams, croplands and oceans.
The solution is LED light bulbs, which contain no mercury. EcoLEDs products are also RoHS certified (Reduction of Hazardous Substances), meaning they adhere to strict European requirements for safety of materials. They last 50,000 hours before needing to be replaced, greatly reducing landfill. In combination with their ability to greatly reduce CO2 emissions, EcoLEDs lights are the obvious choice for eco-conscious consumers wishing to light their homes and businesses without contributing to global warming or contaminating their local environment with mercury.
Although the LED lights seem expensive up front, they pay for themselves in 1 to 2 years in electricity savings (varies by region). Consumers running on solar (or considering installing solar) will see enormous cost savings almost immediately, since LED lights are 300 percent more energy efficient than even compact fluorescent lights. And because they produce no UV radiation or IR rays, they're perfect for use in museums, offices and homes. "The United States could eliminate the need to build dozens of coal-fired power plants if every household in the country simply replaced a single incandescent light bulb with an EcoLEDs light," said EcoLEDs founder Mike Adams.
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