LG-Cree alliance fuels LED notebook push
The world s highest-volume LCD panel manufacturer, LG Display, has formed an alliance with LED maker Cree to help it replace lower-efficiency fluorescent backlighting.
A spokesperson from the Korean thin-film transistor LCD producer told compoundsemiconductor.net that it intends to deploy LED backlighting in half of the notebook displays it will manufacture in 2009.
Under the strategic agreement, completed in early January, Cree will share its expertise in LED die packaging as LG Display brings backlight manufacturing in-house.
The US chipmaker will also provide a stable supply of LEDs, although LG Display says that it will still source chips from Japanese producer Nichia and other rival companies.
“Cree is pleased to be working with LG, an industry leader in display technology,” said a spokesperson for Cree in response to the announcement. “This agreement is further validation of LED technology for this market.”
LG Display produced 37 percent of the notebook TFT-LCD displays shipped globally in December 2008, according to figures released by industry analyst Displaybank on January 22. At 8.3 million, the month's total notebook display volume was down by 21 percent over the same time in 2007.
In terms of overall volumes of TFT-LCD displays LG Display is also the leader, claiming 27 percent of the 27 million units shipped in December.
Earlier in the month LG unveiled a series of LED-backlit televisions at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
It was given a “CES Innovation” prize for its 55-inch screen, 24 mm-thick wireless LHX TV and also unveiled its LH90 series. Both ranges exploit full backlighting rather than edge-lighting being used elsewhere at CES to deliver even thinner displays.
