OSRAM raises bar on LED performance for projection applications

SUNNYVALE, USA: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors has expanded its LED portfolio for the projection market with two new LEDs, OSTAR Compact and OSTAR Power Projection. OSTAR Compact is designed for small, efficient systems in cell phones, PDAs and MP4 players.

OSTAR Power Projection is targeted at high-performance projection applications such as home cinema systems with displays of 70 inches and more. OSRAM’s LED portfolio now provides full coverage of the projection system range from 1W all the way up to 300W.

OSTAR Compact expands the OSRAM family of LEDs for small applications at the lower end of the performance range. It measures only 3.9 mm x 3.6 mm and is available in red, blue, green and white. These new small LEDs are cost-effective components, particularly for pico projectors for small mobile devices.

Manufacturers wanting very compact units can use a double-chip version that contains a red chip and a blue chip in one LED. This saves space compared with the usual configuration of three individual LEDs (red, blue, green). As an SMT component, the LED can be easily integrated into standard manufacturing processes. Integrated ESD protection diodes guard against electrostatic effects.

The OSTAR Power Projection LED brings a new dimension to projection applications delivering high performance and low thermal resistance. It can be operated at a maximum of 36A and produces light of impressive brightness. Typical values are 2700 lm in red, 3500 lm in green and an optical output of 13 W in blue.

While the dimensions of 45 mm x 25 mm seem large for a standard LED, the thermal resistance is only 0.77 K/W. This LED is suitable for all types of cooling, including water cooling. A uniform cooling system can therefore be used for all colors because the junction temperature is the same for all colors (125°C).

“LEDs will one day become the standard for all projection applications, including high-end applications,” said Wolfgang Schnabel, Marketing Manager LED Projection at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors. “We are well positioned for this swift migration of LEDs into projection applications and offer several OSTAR LED versions, namely Compact (up to 25 W), SMT (10 to 40 W), Projection (25 to 70 W) and Power Projection (90 to 150 W), to cover numerous applications -– from cost-effective pico projectors to home cinema equipment as well as mobile projection systems for mid-range applications.”