LED Backlight Module Application Going Up Fast in NB Market

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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