LED industry overview and vendor trends

Battle for LED market has entered a new stage. In addition to always red, blue, white LED technology continues to progress, application field expands to car headlights and general lighting etc.. Because the market potential is good, electronic information, chemical companies have invested, trying to erode the market, the scope of the dispute over the interests of the form of intense. According to the analysis of the current situation of the development of LED, the following is the following. A, LED Industry Overview

Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industry Association predicts that in 2008 the global output of white LED will reach 580 billion yen, compared with growth of 2.7 times in 2004. Because the luminous efficiency of white LED has reached the level of fluorescent lamp, therefore its application is from the original mobile phone LCD display, and the background light, over the car headlights, general lighting purposes.

Among them, the use of lighting is regarded as the most important market for white LED, while the industry believes that around 2010, the lighting market will officially take off. In terms of products, including Nichia, Matsushita and other manufacturers have developed a white LED luminous efficiency comparable to fluorescent lamp, but due to the current price is still too high, so it is not immediately available in the general family. As Matsushita launched in September will be inserted into a type of lighting appliances, or about 100 thousand yen. However, the cost of white light LED is higher than fluorescent lamps or light bulbs, but it has a long life, can save the time to replace the advantages. From the overall cost of environmental protection and maintenance considerations, it is expected that white LED lighting applications will start from the enterprise and public use.

In addition, based on electricity, durability and other considerations, automotive lighting manufacturers have begun to use LED as a light tube. For example, the city of light industry has begun production subsidies tube installed in the vehicle body in front of the power consumption of the new products in the following half of the traditional products, light weight, durability of the same, the company plans to 2005 annual sales of 500 groups. Stanley electric plans in 2007, to produce 5000 units of the scale production is regarded as a commercial high difficulty of LED headlamp, at the same time in 2010 will boost the output of LED headlamp for the company's total output of 10% headlights.

In addition to white LED as a car, home lighting, red, blue LED is also used to grow vegetables. Allegedly, the use of LED lighting cultivation of vegetables, the tariff will be reduced to 1/3 ~ 1/4 of the total, and the number of days required for the growth of vegetables can be reduced by about 5%. LED lamp prices are expected to further decline, the use of LED lighting vegetables will be 2 or 3 years after the practical.

In addition, due to the small, less power consumption, only issued a specific wavelength and other characteristics, so LED has become an indispensable tool to enhance the added value of household appliances. MITSUBISHI motors, which recently launched a commercially available refrigerator equipped with orange and ultraviolet light LED, to increase vegetable vitamin C and poliphenole. Although the idea of adding vegetables by light has been around for a long time, it has been to LED's appearance to achieve this idea. This is because the idea needs to promote the light of photosynthesis, but do not need to cause the germination of light. In other words, the need for brightness, but not the heat, and only LED can meet this demand. In addition, equipped with sterilization, odor removal effect of UV LED air conditioners, air purifiers and other products have come out.

Two, vendor trends

1 Nichia

In view of the LED market application is broad, leading manufacturers Nichia LED's recent moves frequently, and change the strategic direction. First of all, the company changed the former Shen Shen County in Tokushima quietly develop a unique LED technology policy, while in the capital city of Yokohama to build a new R & D center. At present, Yokohama's technical staff, although only about 20 people, but the completion of the new R & D building, will be able to accommodate up to 200 people. The company is expanding the scale of R & D department in Yokohama, because there is a need for car and home appliance manufacturers to strengthen the relationship between the carrying.

In addition, given the use to expand LED, then the introduction of cooling technology has no technology is also very important, the company has changed the previous closed route, adopts the open policy, including the conclusion of cross licensing contract and has always been the confrontation between the United States and Europe enterprises, in order to obtain European companies in the lighting and vehicle components other related patent rights.

The company in the application of intellectual property strategy is a closed policy in the past, to cooperate with the United States and Europe, but in Taiwan, South Korea and other Asian countries manufacturers are tough defense line, trying to prevent patent Taiwan, Korea manufacturers further in the field of LED. The company in addition to lock LED manufacturers in Taiwan, in addition to actively exercise against various strategies, and prevent from the path, including an agreement with a number of U.S. electronic components company, the company does not request sales agent problem LED products etc..

2.Citizen Electronics

The company xiangriya chemical procurement LED, is expected to start mass production of white LED module of the world's highest efficiency next year, to attack the vehicle headlamp for market.

3.Rohm

Rohm is actively starting from the component material, trying to reduce the manufacturing cost of LED up to 1/10. The company is currently working with Northeastern University to develop the use of Zinc Oxide LED, is expected around 2010 product.