Technical Insight
Matsushita enters the LED lighting business (News from Japan)
Matsushita Electric Works is planning to begin selling lighting products based around white LEDs. The company will begin retail sales this year of lamps that use the energy-efficient and long-lasting light sources, and will supply component modules to other lighting manufacturers. It plans to offer 40 products by the summer, and to launch a similar number of new products next year. White LEDs now produce 15 lm/W, have a lifetime of 10 000 hours and cost about 65 each. If current technological trends continue then by 2003 white LEDs are expected to emit 40 lm/W, last 20 000 hours and cost less than 20 each. This product will therefore offer a very attractive alternative for users of incandescent and halogen lighting.
