Jun 12 2008
Apple's new MacAir notebook is so slim it has created a new sub-category of laptops. And one of the key enabling technologies behind this innovation is the LED backlight unit. Not only do LED backlights offer increased battery life for notebooks, they can enable much thinner displays - and innovative new thinking about product design.
Product planners need to be looking at the possibilities these LCD backlight innovations are creating. Such technology may indeed be the way companies can differentiate their products and offer users additional benefits.
To help in understanding the various LCD backlight technologies, their strengths and weaknesses and their prospects for success, Insight Media has just published its new 2008 LCD Backlight Unit (BLU) report. “There are about a dozen different backlight technologies that can be combined with another dozen film-management stacks in either a direct-type or edge-lit type architecture,” noted Chris Chinnock, president of Insight Media. “Which combinations offer the best price-performance? Which ones have clear paths to high volume production? Which combination is best for a particular product? These are the type of questions the LCD BLU Report seeks to answer.”
The Opportunity Analysis in the report reveals that will LEDs take significant share from CCFLs in the years to come. The forecast expects large area LED backlights to reach 150 million units per year in 2012. Special emphasis is placed on the throughput analysis of various technologies, their costs - now and through 2012 - and penetration rates by application.
The 193-page report was developed through extensive research including interviews and meetings with over 30 companies throughout the US and Asia, as well as validation of our models and assumptions with other industry manufacturers.
Highlights of the report include:
- Market factors influencing BLU requirements
- Detailed review of BLU requirements for LCD TVs, Monitors and Notebooks
- Analysis of BLU materials and their impact on performance
- Analysis and forecast of BLU bill-of-material costs
- Rating and ranking of various BLU approaches
- Analysis and forecast of alternative technology penetration
- Specific opportunities for suppliers in the BLU value chain.
The 2008 LCD BACKLIGHT REPORT is available now for $5,000. In addition, a BLU Cost/Throughput model is available for $2,000, or $6,000 for both.
For more information about the report including more sample charts and details on the cost and throughput models, go to http://insightmedia.info/reports/2008lcdbludetails.php