Strategies Unlimited has released a report, LED Driver ICs—2011, which states that the sales of LED driver IC will reach approximately $3.5 billion in 2015 with a compound annual growth rate of 12% from nearly $2 billion in 2010.
LCD backlights sales, from edge-lit TVs and monitors, will drive the market growth. Lighting systems using LED will be the next step for LED drivers and driver ICs, including the use of replacement bulbs, owing to improvements in technology and the gradual elimination of incandescent bulbs.
However, revenues from LED driver IC are threatened due to continuous integration into fewer ICs and tough competition from compact fluorescent lamps, OLEDs and other technologies. New expensive ICs are released that lowers the overall cost of materials and maintains the ICs average price. Some AC-LED products lower the use of driver and some do need the driver IC and can even help to adopt LED lighting in an increasing way.
The manufacture of drivers for lighting will witness a compound annual growth of 40% throughout the period. Innovative designs in drivers will help revolutionize LED lighting, but the market will dim out quickly if it cannot meet the strict objectives for efficiency, dimming, price and power factor. Companies are introducing innovations including original high-voltage designs and digital control to meet the above objectives. Government and industry are following standard specifications to lower manufacturing costs and to increase adoption.
The top 10 companies that supply LED driver IC suppliers generate more than 55% of revenues. About 30 IC suppliers and captive producers hold the remaining 44%. TI is the leading supplier of LED driver ICs. Companies that maintain a balance between delivering innovative products and competitive prices will emerge winner. Production using 8-inch wafers and high-voltage BCD processes will play a major role.
The report LED Driver ICs—2011 was revised from an earlier report. It shares perspectives on the driver technology, LED applications, needs on the driver ICs and drivers, and findings on market shares and suppliers. It also offers price, revenue and unit predictions to 2015 for various LED driver IC segments.