Cree chips suit large-format LCD backlights
Cree has added two new high-brightness LEDs (HB-LEDs) to its product portfolio.
The XT-24 and XT-27, which emit 24 mW and 27 mW of white light respectively, have been released with LCD backlighting applications in mind.
As well as finding traditional uses in backlighting LCD screens in mobile appliances, Cree believes that the devices could be incorporated into large-area LCDs.
In August, Sony launched a range of high-specification LCD televisions featuring white LED backlighting from Cree s US-based rival Lumileds (see related story).
The Lumileds LED technology is based on three-color (RGB) illumination and improves the color rendering of the displayed image compared with traditional cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlights, particularly in the red portion of the visible spectrum.
"We are releasing one of the brightest LEDs in the industry today," said Cree s VP of optoelectronics Mike Dunn. "This...opens up new market opportunities for our customers and gives them a competitive alternative to today s CCFL technology for large-format LCDs."
Both members of the "XThin" product family, Cree s new chips feature a low-profile design suitable for surface-mount LED packages.
The chips emit blue light with a dominant wavelength of 460 nm, and this is converted into white light using a phosphor.
The XT-24 is ready for mass production and volume shipments, while the XT-27 is currently available in sample quantities only.
