SAN JOSE, USA: LUXEON Rebel LEDs made by Philips Lumileds in Silicon Valley are the light source in a solar-powered LED floodlight system designed by Philips that was unveiled late last year much to the joy of local children and adults with a passion for play.
For the first time, they can participate in sports even after the sun has gone down. The new lighting presents a fantastic opportunity to enrich their lives, their health and their well-being.
Philips new, fully portable solution enables people with little or no access to electricity to enjoy playing or watching a sport long into the night. Today, some 1.6 billion people in the world are unable to connect to a regular electricity supply.
The new Philips system with LUXEON LEDs enables communities in developing and developed markets alike to participate in social, educational, cultural and commercial activities after sunset - including the world’s most popular sport, football (soccer).
Using the very latest energy-efficient LUXEON Rebel LEDs, the system can illuminate areas up to 40x20m with bright white light. Advanced battery cells provide up to eight hours of floodlighting on a single solar charge – the equivalent of two or three full evening football matches or training sessions. The system is also highly sustainable, with a rugged design able to withstand the extreme rigors of life in some of the more challenging and remote terrains in the world.
The union of LED and solar technology has been long awaited. Both technologies are DC based systems and the high efficacy and minimal power requirements of the LUXEON LEDs are perfectly matched to solar powered solutions.
The LED chips used in all LUXEON LEDs are manufactured at the company’s San Jose California facility in the heart of Silicon Valley. The LUXEON Rebel LEDs used in the new solar LED floodlighting system can also be found in street lights, recessed downlights, retrofit bulbs, and many other illumination applications installed around the world.
The new solar LED floodlighting system is available now from Philips Lighting on a project basis. Philips provides a complete solution including the LED floodlights, portable poles, solar panels and batteries, or just a set of floodlights.
The system can also be used for non-sporting applications in locations without access to an electricity grid, such as evening classes in remote villages, safety and security, shops or outdoor markets, or emergency lighting for disaster situations.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
LED to surpass CCFL in large-area TFT LCD backlights in 2011
AUSTIN, USA: The LED backlight unit market has rapidly emerged in the TFT LCD industry, and momentum for this segment is expected to continue over the next five years.
In the latest DisplaySearch Quarterly LED Backlight Report, the company reports that LED backlight units will surpass CCFL/EEFL backlights in large-area TFT LCD panels in 2011, and achieve 74percent penetration in 2013. Large-area LED backlight demand for all applications will grow from 114 million units in 2009 to 770 million units in 2015.
“Without a doubt, LED backlights will be the dominant light source in all applications in 2011—representing a significant business and technology evolution for the entire backlight and panel supply chain,” noted Kevin Kwak, DisplaySearch Director of LED Backlight Unit Research.
Fig. 1 shows the LED backlight unit penetration including notebook PCs, LCD monitors and LCD TV applications.
Fig. 1: LED Backlight Unit Penetration Rate in 10”+ TFT LCDs
Source: Quarterly LED Backlight Report
DisplaySearch forecasts the shipment of LED backlight units for LCD TVs to grow from 36.5 million units (a 20 percent penetration rate) in 2010 to 184.9 million units (a 72 percent penetration rate) in 2015.
“In order for LCD TVs with LED backlight units to gain market share, they must provide attractive performance and cost competitiveness simultaneously,” Kwak added. “Three main components will play a role in reducing costs: LED chips, light guide plates and dual brightness enhancement films.”
Cost and performance remain bottlenecks for panel manufacturers for LED backlight units for monitor panels. Despite this, the Energy Star 5.0 specification will drive growth for this segment. In particular, LCD manufacturers are mass-producing 18.5”W-24”W LCD monitor panels with LED backlight units. DisplaySearch predicts that <26” LCD TVs with LED backlights, mainly using monitor panels, will grow rapidly also, as the cost premium is acceptable.
The notebook PC segment has the highest LED backlight unit penetration rate, as the power-saving benefit justifies the cost premium compared to CCFL BLU. Meanwhile, the prices for side-view, high-intensity (1,900-2,200 mcd) white LEDs continues to fall. As a result, LED backlights will have an 84 percent share of notebook PC shipments in 2010 and will be close to 95 percent in 2011.
In the latest DisplaySearch Quarterly LED Backlight Report, the company reports that LED backlight units will surpass CCFL/EEFL backlights in large-area TFT LCD panels in 2011, and achieve 74percent penetration in 2013. Large-area LED backlight demand for all applications will grow from 114 million units in 2009 to 770 million units in 2015.
“Without a doubt, LED backlights will be the dominant light source in all applications in 2011—representing a significant business and technology evolution for the entire backlight and panel supply chain,” noted Kevin Kwak, DisplaySearch Director of LED Backlight Unit Research.
Fig. 1 shows the LED backlight unit penetration including notebook PCs, LCD monitors and LCD TV applications.
Fig. 1: LED Backlight Unit Penetration Rate in 10”+ TFT LCDs
Source: Quarterly LED Backlight ReportDisplaySearch forecasts the shipment of LED backlight units for LCD TVs to grow from 36.5 million units (a 20 percent penetration rate) in 2010 to 184.9 million units (a 72 percent penetration rate) in 2015.
“In order for LCD TVs with LED backlight units to gain market share, they must provide attractive performance and cost competitiveness simultaneously,” Kwak added. “Three main components will play a role in reducing costs: LED chips, light guide plates and dual brightness enhancement films.”
Cost and performance remain bottlenecks for panel manufacturers for LED backlight units for monitor panels. Despite this, the Energy Star 5.0 specification will drive growth for this segment. In particular, LCD manufacturers are mass-producing 18.5”W-24”W LCD monitor panels with LED backlight units. DisplaySearch predicts that <26” LCD TVs with LED backlights, mainly using monitor panels, will grow rapidly also, as the cost premium is acceptable.
The notebook PC segment has the highest LED backlight unit penetration rate, as the power-saving benefit justifies the cost premium compared to CCFL BLU. Meanwhile, the prices for side-view, high-intensity (1,900-2,200 mcd) white LEDs continues to fall. As a result, LED backlights will have an 84 percent share of notebook PC shipments in 2010 and will be close to 95 percent in 2011.
Global e-waste recovery/reclamation revenues to reach $14.7 billion by 2015
NEW YORK, USA: Depending on how they are handled, discarded electronic products and components – or e-waste, as they are collectively known – can represent either a major environmental dilemma or a massive potential economic windfall.
If treated properly, much e-waste may be reclaimed or recycled for future use and converted into a significant new revenue stream. Improperly treated e-waste, on the other hand, poses a massive threat to the world's ecosystem and can result in contamination to the soil, air, and water, while also exposing workers, nearby residents, and wildlife to a multitude of health hazards.
A new market study by ABI Research, “e-Waste Recovery and Recycling,” forecasts that the worldwide market for e-waste recovery will grow from $5.7 billion in 2009 to nearly $14.7 billion by the end of 2014, representing a CAGR of 20.8 percent over the forecast period. This figure represents money generated through reclamation of valuable materials from e-scrap.
Spurs to growth include rising e-waste collection and recycling rates; the increasingly greater availability of innovative and cost-effective recycling technologies; the strengthening recycling infrastructure and legal framework worldwide; global electronics markets and their significant growth in developing economies, and the integration of formal and informal recycling markets in key Asia-Pacific locations.
Practice director Larry Fisher says: “The economic downturn of recent years shook the global waste management industry to its core. Plummeting commodity prices shriveled demand for recycled materials and transformed recycling from an honorable, profitable venture to a cash-hemorrhaging dilemma for a multitude of municipalities and companies.”
However, he believes that, “The combined impact of the ongoing global economic recovery and strengthening e-waste recycling legislation worldwide will drive improved recycling/recovery rates in each of the next five years.”
Although the legal framework for e-waste recycling remains strongest in Europe under the region's stringent WEEE directive, efforts made on behalf of non-profit groups such as the Basel Action Network (BAN) and e-Stewards Initiative are driving improvements in many other regions of the world, especially the US.
If treated properly, much e-waste may be reclaimed or recycled for future use and converted into a significant new revenue stream. Improperly treated e-waste, on the other hand, poses a massive threat to the world's ecosystem and can result in contamination to the soil, air, and water, while also exposing workers, nearby residents, and wildlife to a multitude of health hazards.
A new market study by ABI Research, “e-Waste Recovery and Recycling,” forecasts that the worldwide market for e-waste recovery will grow from $5.7 billion in 2009 to nearly $14.7 billion by the end of 2014, representing a CAGR of 20.8 percent over the forecast period. This figure represents money generated through reclamation of valuable materials from e-scrap.
Spurs to growth include rising e-waste collection and recycling rates; the increasingly greater availability of innovative and cost-effective recycling technologies; the strengthening recycling infrastructure and legal framework worldwide; global electronics markets and their significant growth in developing economies, and the integration of formal and informal recycling markets in key Asia-Pacific locations.
Practice director Larry Fisher says: “The economic downturn of recent years shook the global waste management industry to its core. Plummeting commodity prices shriveled demand for recycled materials and transformed recycling from an honorable, profitable venture to a cash-hemorrhaging dilemma for a multitude of municipalities and companies.”
However, he believes that, “The combined impact of the ongoing global economic recovery and strengthening e-waste recycling legislation worldwide will drive improved recycling/recovery rates in each of the next five years.”
Although the legal framework for e-waste recycling remains strongest in Europe under the region's stringent WEEE directive, efforts made on behalf of non-profit groups such as the Basel Action Network (BAN) and e-Stewards Initiative are driving improvements in many other regions of the world, especially the US.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tektronix intros fully automated test support for SAS conformance
BANGALORE, INDIA: Tektronix Inc. has announced an automated compliance and test automation solution that now spans both SATA and SAS (Serial Attached SCSI).
It encompasses the breadth of SAS conformance tests defined by UNH-IOL and the SCSI Trade Association (STA). Using the latest TekExpress software, storage system designers can complete these tests by simply pressing a single button which ensures accurate and consistent results — saving set-up time and eliminating time-consuming and repetitive manual testing.
SAS has emerged as the dominant storage interface for enterprise server environments offering scalability, improved speed and higher reliability compared to SATA or previous generation parallel interfaces. Transmitter validation and debug for 6Gb/s SAS designs requires accurate jitter and eye analysis and differential S-Parameter characterization. With the addition of 6Gb/s SAS support, the TekExpress automated test software meets the varied test demands facing everyone from silicon providers to drive manufacturers to OEM systems houses.
“High-speed serial tests have become very complex and require the use of multiple instruments that have to be properly set up and coordinated. This complexity, together with the need for speed and efficiency, is driving a strong demand for test automation software,” said Dave Slack, Marketing Manager, Technology Solutions Group, Tektronix. “In 2008, we delivered the industry’s first fully automated compliance test suite for SATA Gen-2, and now we are following that up with the industry’s first solution that automates the greatest combined breadth of SAS and SATA characterization tests.”
It encompasses the breadth of SAS conformance tests defined by UNH-IOL and the SCSI Trade Association (STA). Using the latest TekExpress software, storage system designers can complete these tests by simply pressing a single button which ensures accurate and consistent results — saving set-up time and eliminating time-consuming and repetitive manual testing.
SAS has emerged as the dominant storage interface for enterprise server environments offering scalability, improved speed and higher reliability compared to SATA or previous generation parallel interfaces. Transmitter validation and debug for 6Gb/s SAS designs requires accurate jitter and eye analysis and differential S-Parameter characterization. With the addition of 6Gb/s SAS support, the TekExpress automated test software meets the varied test demands facing everyone from silicon providers to drive manufacturers to OEM systems houses.
“High-speed serial tests have become very complex and require the use of multiple instruments that have to be properly set up and coordinated. This complexity, together with the need for speed and efficiency, is driving a strong demand for test automation software,” said Dave Slack, Marketing Manager, Technology Solutions Group, Tektronix. “In 2008, we delivered the industry’s first fully automated compliance test suite for SATA Gen-2, and now we are following that up with the industry’s first solution that automates the greatest combined breadth of SAS and SATA characterization tests.”
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Nichia dominates $5.2 billion HB LED market
USA: In a groundbreaking effort, IMS Research has released the first market research report characterizing the supply side of white and RGB LED production used for high brightness (HB) LEDs.
HB LEDs, including GaN and InGaN, have been experiencing record breaking growth from early 2009 as a result of the rapid shift to LEDs in notebook displays. While this growth continues to accelerate, other markets are also increasingly migrating to LEDs such as signaling, very large outdoor displays, digital billboards, personal lighting, automotive and industrial.
Table 1 – 2009 Top 5 LED Manufacturers by In-Spec Die Revenue and Share
Source: IMS Research
In addition, LEDs are enabling the solid state lighting to penetrate the general lighting market. Furthermore, the LCD TV market is now rapidly shifting to LEDs due to their improved performance, superior form factor and lower power. As a result, TVs should become the #1 market for HB LEDs in 2010 creating a supply shortage.
Table 2 - 2009 Top 5 LED Manufacturers by In-Spec Die and Share
Source: IMS Research
The report forecasts the extraordinary growth in large area display backlights by application and shows the capacity, yielded production and in-spec (binned) LED dies on a quarterly basis by LED supplier. By the end of 2009, there were 1,413 reactors at 75 manufacturers with a capacity of 188 billion die/year.
Barry Young, IMS Research Senior Consultant and Managing Director of OLED Association, the author of this report, said: “Demand for HB LEDs is forecast to grow by 61% in 2010 and supply is unlikely to keep up, creating an opportunity for new manufacturers and new tool makers.”
Additional findings of the report include:
* A projected 2010 shortage of 12-14 billion in-spec (binned) die, with the shortage projected to continue well into 2013.
* 2010 MOCVD reactor forecast of 348 units with an additional 195 to 240 reactors necessary to meet demand, resulting in a total potential market of 588 reactors.
* This potential shortfall in supply is putting pressure on both the tool suppliers and the LED manufacturers to improve yields (or reduce the binning specs), increase capacity and speed up tool production.
* Nichia has a dominant position with a 42 percent share and over $2 billion in in-spec (binned) die revenues as shown in Table 1 due to their technical and IP leadership in the white LED market. Cree’s share has surged to 11 percent due to its strong focus on the rapidly growing solid state lighting market.
* 34 billion in-spec (binned) die were produced with Nichia again in a leadership position as shown in Table 2. Epistar was #2 followed by Samsung LED Company, which vaulted to #3 as a result of strong demand from Samsung’s TV business, Cree and Show Denko.
* By region, as shown in Table 3, Taiwan leads in HB LED production with a 37 percent share followed by Japan and Korea.
Table 3 – 2009 Regional LED Production (In-Spec Die) and Share
Source: IMS Research
HB LEDs, including GaN and InGaN, have been experiencing record breaking growth from early 2009 as a result of the rapid shift to LEDs in notebook displays. While this growth continues to accelerate, other markets are also increasingly migrating to LEDs such as signaling, very large outdoor displays, digital billboards, personal lighting, automotive and industrial.
Table 1 – 2009 Top 5 LED Manufacturers by In-Spec Die Revenue and Share
Source: IMS ResearchIn addition, LEDs are enabling the solid state lighting to penetrate the general lighting market. Furthermore, the LCD TV market is now rapidly shifting to LEDs due to their improved performance, superior form factor and lower power. As a result, TVs should become the #1 market for HB LEDs in 2010 creating a supply shortage.
Table 2 - 2009 Top 5 LED Manufacturers by In-Spec Die and Share
Source: IMS ResearchThe report forecasts the extraordinary growth in large area display backlights by application and shows the capacity, yielded production and in-spec (binned) LED dies on a quarterly basis by LED supplier. By the end of 2009, there were 1,413 reactors at 75 manufacturers with a capacity of 188 billion die/year.
Barry Young, IMS Research Senior Consultant and Managing Director of OLED Association, the author of this report, said: “Demand for HB LEDs is forecast to grow by 61% in 2010 and supply is unlikely to keep up, creating an opportunity for new manufacturers and new tool makers.”
Additional findings of the report include:
* A projected 2010 shortage of 12-14 billion in-spec (binned) die, with the shortage projected to continue well into 2013.
* 2010 MOCVD reactor forecast of 348 units with an additional 195 to 240 reactors necessary to meet demand, resulting in a total potential market of 588 reactors.
* This potential shortfall in supply is putting pressure on both the tool suppliers and the LED manufacturers to improve yields (or reduce the binning specs), increase capacity and speed up tool production.
* Nichia has a dominant position with a 42 percent share and over $2 billion in in-spec (binned) die revenues as shown in Table 1 due to their technical and IP leadership in the white LED market. Cree’s share has surged to 11 percent due to its strong focus on the rapidly growing solid state lighting market.
* 34 billion in-spec (binned) die were produced with Nichia again in a leadership position as shown in Table 2. Epistar was #2 followed by Samsung LED Company, which vaulted to #3 as a result of strong demand from Samsung’s TV business, Cree and Show Denko.
* By region, as shown in Table 3, Taiwan leads in HB LED production with a 37 percent share followed by Japan and Korea.
Table 3 – 2009 Regional LED Production (In-Spec Die) and Share
Source: IMS Research
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Consumer acceptance determines supply and demand of LEDs in 2H10
TAIPEI, TAIWAN: TV brand vendors are highly optimistic about the shipments of LED TVs in 2010, indicated research institute LEDinside. The optimism boosts demand for LEDs and rapidly increases LED supply.
Therefore, under the substantial expansion of LED manufacturing capacity, end-market sales of LED TV will be the determining factor in whether the LED industry will be able to sustain its growth momentum in the second half of the year.
Since the fourth quarter of 2009, individual TV brand vendors have been aggressively promoting ultra-slim and energy-saving LED TVs. An optimistic forecast shows that LED TV shipments will reach over 30 million sets in 2010, a tenfold increase compared to that of 2009.
According to LEDinside’s statistics, each LED TV requires an average of 300 ~ 400 LEDs, and each MOCVD system can supply approximately 200,000 LED TVs per year. Therefore, it takes the capacity of around 150 MOCVDs to supply LEDs required for 30 million LED TVs.
The global MOCVD shipments in 2009 were about 260 sets; and in 2010, it could increase to 500 sets or more, especially from the strong expansion in China. Even though not all expansion of the production capacity is allocated for LED TVs, the significant expansion of the production capacity is a major variable for the supply and demand of LED industry in second half of the year.
Based on surveys from Witsview, a TFT-LCD industry research institute, retail prices of LED TVs declined in January 2010. The average retail price of LED TV fell by 5.7 percent, which is more substantial compared to the 1.6 percent drop in that of LCD TV. Despite the price decline in LED TVs, they still cost 1.5 times that of the traditional LCD TV.
As a result, the retail price of LED TV is the key influencing factor in the overall penetration rate of LED TV, noted LEDinside. TV brand venders need to reduce the retail price substantially in order to reach the target of 30 million sets.
Therefore, under the substantial expansion of LED manufacturing capacity, end-market sales of LED TV will be the determining factor in whether the LED industry will be able to sustain its growth momentum in the second half of the year.
Since the fourth quarter of 2009, individual TV brand vendors have been aggressively promoting ultra-slim and energy-saving LED TVs. An optimistic forecast shows that LED TV shipments will reach over 30 million sets in 2010, a tenfold increase compared to that of 2009.
According to LEDinside’s statistics, each LED TV requires an average of 300 ~ 400 LEDs, and each MOCVD system can supply approximately 200,000 LED TVs per year. Therefore, it takes the capacity of around 150 MOCVDs to supply LEDs required for 30 million LED TVs.
The global MOCVD shipments in 2009 were about 260 sets; and in 2010, it could increase to 500 sets or more, especially from the strong expansion in China. Even though not all expansion of the production capacity is allocated for LED TVs, the significant expansion of the production capacity is a major variable for the supply and demand of LED industry in second half of the year.
Based on surveys from Witsview, a TFT-LCD industry research institute, retail prices of LED TVs declined in January 2010. The average retail price of LED TV fell by 5.7 percent, which is more substantial compared to the 1.6 percent drop in that of LCD TV. Despite the price decline in LED TVs, they still cost 1.5 times that of the traditional LCD TV.As a result, the retail price of LED TV is the key influencing factor in the overall penetration rate of LED TV, noted LEDinside. TV brand venders need to reduce the retail price substantially in order to reach the target of 30 million sets.
Sony Australia selects high-performance Tektronix waveform monitors for superior picture quality
BANGALORE, INDIA: Tektronix Inc. announced that Sony Australia Ltd has adopted Tektronix WFM8300 advanced waveform monitors, the latest addition to the popular Tektronix waveform monitor lineup, to support after-sales service for Sony’s professional and broadcast video equipment.
The Tektronix waveform monitors will also be used in the installation, diagnostic and acceptance testing of Sony equipment at customers’ premises.
Sony has been the world leader in the broadcast industry for decades offering a complete range of professional equipment for broadcast and content creation. With the advent of 3Gb/s digital video, Sony Australia is facing increasing demand from customers to provide technical support for 3G-capable Sony equipment.
The new Tektronix WFM8300 waveform monitors provide industry leading real-time, automated SD/HD/3Gb/s SDI eye pattern display and jitter measurements to effectively diagnose signal problems and ensure the proper operation of analog and digital video devices. The WFM8300 models selected by Sony Australia have been configured to support analog video, SD, HD, 3G-SDI formats, analog and Dolby audio capabilities, physical layer measurement and advanced Gamut monitoring.
“Sony Australia has been a long-time user of Tektronix equipment,” said Stuart Clark, National Technical Services Manager, Sony Australia Limited. “The WFM8300 provides flexible options and field-installable upgrade kits for us to monitor diverse video and audio types including 3Gb/s SDI and Dolby audio. These capabilities combine with Tektronix’s proven track record for reliability and accuracy makes us confident of providing better service to our customers.”
“We are very pleased that the first adoption of the new Tektronix WFM8300 waveform monitors in the Asia Pacific region is by Sony Australia,” said James Alderton, Marketing Director, Tektronix Asia Pacific Region. “The WFM8300 is an advanced, high-performance tool that will allow Sony to meet the ever-increasing picture quality demands of their customers, while also breaking new ground with automated 3Gb/s SDI testing.”
The Tektronix waveform monitors will also be used in the installation, diagnostic and acceptance testing of Sony equipment at customers’ premises.Sony has been the world leader in the broadcast industry for decades offering a complete range of professional equipment for broadcast and content creation. With the advent of 3Gb/s digital video, Sony Australia is facing increasing demand from customers to provide technical support for 3G-capable Sony equipment.
The new Tektronix WFM8300 waveform monitors provide industry leading real-time, automated SD/HD/3Gb/s SDI eye pattern display and jitter measurements to effectively diagnose signal problems and ensure the proper operation of analog and digital video devices. The WFM8300 models selected by Sony Australia have been configured to support analog video, SD, HD, 3G-SDI formats, analog and Dolby audio capabilities, physical layer measurement and advanced Gamut monitoring.
“Sony Australia has been a long-time user of Tektronix equipment,” said Stuart Clark, National Technical Services Manager, Sony Australia Limited. “The WFM8300 provides flexible options and field-installable upgrade kits for us to monitor diverse video and audio types including 3Gb/s SDI and Dolby audio. These capabilities combine with Tektronix’s proven track record for reliability and accuracy makes us confident of providing better service to our customers.”
“We are very pleased that the first adoption of the new Tektronix WFM8300 waveform monitors in the Asia Pacific region is by Sony Australia,” said James Alderton, Marketing Director, Tektronix Asia Pacific Region. “The WFM8300 is an advanced, high-performance tool that will allow Sony to meet the ever-increasing picture quality demands of their customers, while also breaking new ground with automated 3Gb/s SDI testing.”
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