Taipei, Oct, 09 2008 -- Environmental-friendly and green energy products have grabbed the global market, mercury-free green labeled products are also taking the main stream. LED backlight technology therefore drives next generation light-weight, slim and mobile laptop products market with its advantages of low power consumption, energy saving, compact and long operation life. It also generates new market demands for large LED backlight module. Major brands such as Sony, Toshiba, Fujitsu, HP, Dell and Asus all launched new LED NBs in the market. In March early this year, Apple even took its first shot in consumer NB products range with LED backlight support. LED NB suddenly becomes the norm of luxury modern essential merchandise. In COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2008, NB has also divided into highly expensive and extremely cheap price segments to target its own market individually. LED backlight, moreover, turns to the basic requirement for high-end NB products. The market has also forecasted larger screen panel size laptops with LED backlight embedded will further boost the future sales as well as shed light of COMPUTEX TAIPEI next year on June 2-6, 2009.

Source: Topology Research Institute, 2008/9

Considering the cost analysis of giant LED NB brands, the average sales price in 2008 for 12.1” LED NB is US$2,300, which is 1.7 times more than traditional NB with an average price range at US$1,300. Obviously, LED NB sales price strategy is fairly depending on traditional NB products price range plus so-called reasonable profit return. The numbers of LED are increasing while 12.1” NB usually needs 40 pieces and 15” NB may add up to 60 piece of LED. The larger size of NB, the more LED needed. With the improvement of light guide panel and optical film technology, the total luminous efficiency rate is going to enhance from 80lm/W to 100lm/W by 2008 as well. The adoption rate of LED is also expected to reduce 15% every year. Comparing to the current white light LED cost of 16 Japanese yen, the market estimates a further reducing rate of 15% to 20% every year so the gap of LED NB and traditional NB will come even closer eventually. However, the global economic recession and CCFL cost advantage remain a major issue to restrain LED NB current sales. Overall, LED backlight supported NB is expected to enjoy a rapid growth by 2009.

Traditional CCFL currently still marks the development of LED NB backlight module. The thickness of light guide panel has to be even and slim. Previous dominant V-Cut light guide panel has switched to dot structure in order to reduce faulty rate in the production line. The thickness of the panel normally falls on 0.4mm while ROHM and Seoul Semiconductor both introduced 0.23mm and 0.17mm sample models in the market. The thickness of display monitor is expected to be slimmer in the long run. Considering the overall cost of thin display panel, less deployment of prism films from two sheets to one sheet is also crucial. As to the color rendering, Blue LED combines with yellow light fluorescent powder is still in the main stream. However, multi chip or Blue LED combines with red and green light fluorescent powder will soon become popular in order to provide better color rendering result along with the features requirement needs; such as for computer games or animation production purposes. The drive IC of LED NB also moves toward high-efficiency and compact design.

While Japan, U.S., China and other Taiwan brands all launched LED NBs in the market. Sony alone has presented nine models with screen range from 11.1” to full size which also shown Japan’s ambitious to the global market. Others such as Apple to introduce six models, Toshiba’s and Fujitsu’s four new models also revealed the future potential of LED NB market. In the competition of LED NB products development, Japan obviously takes the lead while Taiwan and Korea LCD panel suppliers are chasing up to provide competitive quality products. Taiwan not only has complete production supply chain to support high-standard and cost-effective manufacturing services, but also has sustainable backup from domestic LED panel providers such as Chimei and AUO to supply the whole industrial development. Chimei and AUO had also invested significant effort to source raw material from overseas as well as local related components developments to secure full supply chain for future demands. Even the specifications of LED panels are moving along to more compact, high brightness, high contrast ratio, low power consumption as well as integration capability between systems and components. Main screen sizes are from 10” to 17” while 13.3” is the main trend in 2008. Moreover, next generation LED panel also claims for higher brightness and definition. It is only a matter of time to see LED becoming the key driver in NB products. Environmental-friendly, energy saving, wide color gamut and lower price are also essential for future LED backlight module development.

Publicity Manager: Ruby Chen

Exhibition Department

Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)

Tel: (02) 2725-5200 Ext 2639

Fax: (02) 2725-3501

Email: rubychen@taitra.org.tw