Suppliers target LCD TVs for LED backlights

With the worldwide penetration rate of LED backlights reaching 100 and 80 percent in netbooks and laptops, Taiwan suppliers are now boosting output share in larger displays, specifically LCD TVs. This is mainly driven by the rising popularity of LED-backlit LCD TVs, shipments of which are expected to hit 21 million units globally this year according to Digitimes Research.
The positive outlook benefits not only manufacturers of LED backlights but also makers of LEDs. A 40in LED backlight, for instance, utilizes 575 diodes, about 13 times more than a notebook PC.

Backed by a comprehensive supply chain for LED components and related services, companies are confident Taiwan can become a primary production center for LED backlight unit modules. Coretronic and Kenmos are among the key makers. The island plays host to a number of upstream LED chip manufacturers. For packaging design, it has more than a hundred providers.
Direct and edge types are currently the major categories. The latter utilizes fewer LEDs, rendering it more popular because of lower costs. The main adopters are notebook PCs and LCD monitors. Direct versions can deliver better color performance and are mostly used in high-end TVs.

The LED chips for backlighting include RGB units, and blue LEDs in combination with yellow or R/G phosphors. But in order to achieve better brightness uniformity, most suppliers prefer white diodes.

LED TVs are two to four times higher priced than CCFL units, rendering the latter as still the mainstream. The acceptance rate of the former, however, is expected to rise with makers’ continued efforts to reduce costs. Also attracting buyers’ attention are the first’s slimmer profile, lighter weight, lower power consumption and better color resolution.