2008 LCD BACKLIGHT REPORT

1. Introduction

• 1.1. Goals
• 1.2. Scope
• 1.3. Methodology
• 1.4. Executive Summary

2. Market Summary

• 2.1. Market Opportunity

3. Backlight Technical Review

• 3.1. General Requirements
• 3.2. BLU Classification
• 3.3. Direct-view BLU
• 3.4. Edge-light BLU
• 3.5. Overview of Backlight Technical Issues
• 3.6. BLU Design Requirements
• 3.7. LCD-TV BL Design Considerations
• 3.8. Monitor BL Design Considerations
• 3.9. Notebook Display BL Design Considerations

4. Backlight Materials and Performance Impacts

• 4.1. LCD Panel Industry Structure
  • 4.1.1. LCD Panel Manufacturers
• 4.2. Adaptive or Controllable Backlights
  • 4.2.1. General Considerations
  • 4.2.2. Adaptive Dimming
  • 4.2.3. High Dynamic Range Displays
  • 4.2.4. Color Sequential Systems
  • 4.2.5. Blinking Backlight for Contrast Improvement
  • 4.2.6. Scanning Backlights for Motion Artifact Reduction
• 4.3. Light Sources
  • 4.3.1. Overview/Technical Issues
  • 4.3.2. Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL)
  • 4.3.3. External Electrode Fluorescent Lamp (EEFL)
  • 4.3.4. Hot cathode fluorescent lamps (HCFL)
  • 4.3.5. Flat fluorescent lamps
  • 4.3.6. Light Emitting Diodes (LED)
  • 4.3.7. Carbon Nanotube Lamps
  • 4.3.8. Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) Backlights
• 4.4. Optical Films
  • 4.4.1. Diffuser Films and Plates
  • 4.4.2. Brightness Enhancement Films
  • 4.4.3. Pre-polarizing Films
  • 4.4.4. Optical Film Manufacturers
  • 4.4.5. Reflective Films
  • 4.4.6. Optical Film Technology Roadmaps
• 4.5. Light Guide Plate (Edge-lit BLs)
  • 4.5.1. Design Considerations & Alternatives
  • 4.5.2. Light Guide Configurations
  • 4.5.3. Light Guide Technology Roadmaps
• 4.6. Backlight Electronics
  • 4.6.1. CCFL Inverters
  • 4.6.2. LED Drivers
• 4.7. BLU Manufacturers

5. BOM & Thru-Put Analysis

• 5.1. Analysis Assumptions Including: Key Technical & Supply Chain Issues
• 5.2. BLU Cost Models
  • 5.2.1. Cost Model Overview
  • 5.2.2. LCD-TV BLU Cost Model & Throughput Model
  • 5.2.3. LCD Monitor BLU Cost Model & Throughput Model
  • 5.2.4. Notebook LCD BLU Cost Model & Throughput Model

6. BLU Technology Penetration Analyses

• 6.1. Baseline Demand Forecast
• 6.2. Economic Factors
  • 6.2.1. Why Adjust the Baseline Demand Forecast?
  • 6.2.2. Negative Economic Indicators
  • 6.2.3. Positive Economic Indicators
  • 6.2.4. Is the US in a Recession?
  • 6.2.5. When Will the Economy Recover?
• 6.3. Rating and Ranking of BLU Alternatives
• 6.4. Notebooks
  • 6.4.1. Baseline Notebook Demand Forecast Size
  • 6.4.2. Adjusted Notebook Demand Forecast
  • 6.4.3. Notebook BLU Technology Penetration Forecasts
• 6.5. Monitors
  • 6.5.1. Baseline Monitor Forecast
  • 6.5.2. Adjusted Monitor Demand Forecast
  • 6.5.3. Monitor BLU Technology Penetration Forecasts
• 6.6. LCD-TVs
  • 6.6.1. Baseline LCD-TV Forecast
  • 6.6.2. Adjusted LCD-TV Forecast
  • 6.6.3. TV BLU Technology Penetration Forecasts

7. Backlight Unit Opportunity Analyses

• 7.1. LCD-TV Backlights
  • Electronics
  • Optical Films
  • Light Sources
  • Mechanical
  • Supply Chain
• 7.2. LCD Desktop Monitor Backlights
• 7.3. Notebook PC Backlights
• 7.4. Conclusions

8. Appendix A - LCD BLU Cost Breakdown Summary

9. Appendix B - BLU Throughput Analysis

• 9.1. Throughput Model Analysis - Overview

10. Appendix C - Color Gamut Metrics for LCD Displays

11. Appendix D - Acronyms Used in Report

• Figure 2-1: World Wide LCD Panel Shipments and Forecast (Source: Displaybank)
• Figure 2-2: LCD Worldwide Shipments, Forecast and Growth (Source: Displaybank)
• Figure 2-3: LCD Monitor Price Trends for 12 Months Preceding March 2008 (Source: Displaybank)
• Figure 2-4: LCD-TV Price Trends for 12 Months Preceding March 2008 (Source: Displaybank)
• Figure 2-5: Notebook LCD Panel Price Trends for 12 Months Preceding April 2008 (Source: Displaybank)
• Figure 2-6: Monitor LCD Panel Price Trends for 12 Months Preceding April 2008 (Source: Displaybank)
• Figure 2-7: LCD TV Panel Price Trends for 12 Months Preceding April 2008 (Source: Displaybank)
• Figure 3-1: Typical LCD Module Construction
• Figure 3-2: Comparison of Direct-View (L) and Edge-Light (R) BLU (Mechanical Housings Omitted for Clarity)
• Figure 3-3: Typical Lamp/Reflector Assembly for Edge-Lit BLU
• Figure 3-4: Edge-Light BL with Wedge-Type Light Guide
• Figure 3-5: Example of Dynamic Contrast Expansion Using BL Area Dimming
• Figure 3-6: Example of Motion Blur Reduction Using BL Flashing
• Figure 3-7: CIE Diagram Showing Typical and Expanded Color Gamuts
• Figure 3-8: Active Matrix OLED Display
• Figure 3-9: Relative Importance of Various Performance Factors for LCD-TV, Monitor & Notebook Displays
• Figure 3-10: LCD-TV BLU Assembly and Exploded View (R) Showing Typical Film Stack
• Figure 3-11: Color Gamut Plot of Multi-Primary LCD With and Without WCG CCFL; Spectral Comparison of Normal and WCG (Custom for MPC LCD)9
• Figure 3-12 Comparison of Motion Blur Reduction Methods (Courtesy of Samsung Corning)
• Figure 3-13 Lamp Reduction Uniformity Explanation: Original Lamps and Film Stack (L), Reduced Lamp Count and Original Film Stack (R), Reduced Lamp Count and Improved Film Stack (C) Showing Higher Luminance with Original Uniformity
• Figure 3-14: Monitor BLU Assembly (L) and Light Guide Insertion (R)
• Figure 3-15: Monitor BLU View of Lamp Holder (L) Showing Dual-Lamp Configuration, and Exploded View (R) Showing Typical Film Stack
• Figure 4-1: LCD Module and Product Industry Structure
• Figure 4-2: CEYX Technology BLU Logical Design
• Figure 4-3: High Dynamic Range Display from Dolby: LED Array with LCD Panel (L) and High Dynamic Range LCD Monitor (R)
• Figure 4-4: Color Sequential LCD
• Figure 4-5: Contrast Improvement with a Blinking Backlight
• Figure 4-6: Motion Artifact Reduction with a Scanning Backlight: HCFL Illumination (L) and Ideal Timing Diagram for a Scanning Backlight (R)
• Figure 4-7 Structure of Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp
• Figure 4-8 Operation Principle of Fluorescent Lamp
• Figure 4-9: CCFL Electrode Material Performance (Data Courtesy of Kumho Electric)
• Figure 4-10 Harison Toshiba Life Test Data for Over-Coated Phosphor CCFL
• Figure 4-11 Comparison of UV Emission in CCFLs with (L) and Without (R) UV Treatment
• Figure 4-12 External Electrode Fluorescent Lamp Structures
• Figure 4-13 Comparison of Lumen Maintenance (L) and Chromaticity Shift (R) for HCFL and CCFL Lamps (from Wellypower)
• Figure 4-14: FFL BLU Structure Compared to CCFL BLU
• Figure 4-15: Luminance Output Over Operating Temperature for Hg-CCFL and Hg-Free FFL
• Figure 4-16 Flat Fluorescent Lamp with Tubular Structure (Note Photo at Left is Contrast Enhanced to Show Tubular Structure)
• Figure 4-17 Schematic of Two FFL Structures: Basic Structure (L) and Osram Planon (R) Showing Coplanar Electrode Configuration
• Figure 4-18 FFL Electrode Patterns and Discharge Characteristics of Several Manufacturers
• Figure 4-19 Efficiency Projections for Hg Free FFL (from Samsung Corning)
• Figure 4-20 Example of Contrast Extension with Local Area Dimming (A) and Overdrive (B) Using Samsung Corning "Active Brightness Control"
• Figure 4-21 Cost Projections for Hg Free FFL (from Samsung Corning)
• Figure 4-22 Comparison of LED Efficiency with Junction Temperature (From Lumileds)
• Figure 4-23 Alternate Configurations of White LEDs: BLUE + YEL Phosphor (L), BLUE + RED Enhanced Phosphor (C), RGB Die (R)
• Figure 4-24 Comparison of Manufacturers Color Bins for White LEDs
• Figure 4-25 TV BLU Using Early Lumileds High-Flux LED Design
• Figure 4-26 Alternate LED Configurations for Direct View LED BLUs
• Figure 4-27 Luminus Devices BLU Using PhlatLight LED Module
• Figure 4-28 High-Power White LEDs - Lumileds Rebel (L) [70L @ 350mA], Osram Golden Dragon (R) [45L @ 350mA] in RGGB Quad Layout and Nichia NS6W083T [60L @ 30mA]
• Figure 4-29 Mid-Power White LEDs (PLCC-6) - Osram LWG6SP (L) [18L @ 140mA] and Avago ASMT-QWB2-Nxxxx [17L @ 150mA].
• Figure 4-30 Edge-Lit LED Monitor BLU (L) and ERG LED Rail (R)
• Figure 4-31 RGB SMD LEDs: Kingbright (L) and Osram Opto (R)
• Figure 4-32 Notebook LCD LED BLU Implementation and Inlet Optic (L) from GLT
• Figure 4-33 Example of Prism Light Guide Implementation (from Enplas)
• Figure 4-34 Depiction of LED Color and Luminance Variation Impact on Notebook Display Uniformity
• Figure 4-35 Toyoda Gosei Co. (White: E1S63-YW1T7-06) SEOUL Semiconductor (White: KWTS907) and Nichia (RGB: NSSM038AT)
• Figure 4-36 CNT Technology from Iljin Nanotech (L) and Samsung SDI (R)
• Figure 4-37 Typical Film Configurations for TV, Monitor and Notebook BLUs
• Figure 4-38 Optical Film Trends for TV BLUs
• Figure 4-39 Diffuser Products (top) - Sejin T.S. Co.; Haze and Transmission Characteristics (bottom) - SKC, Inc. both of Korea
• Figure 4-40 Coated Diffuser Film Depiction (L) and Photomicrograph of Coated Diffuser (C) and Micro-Structured Surface Diffuser - GE Illuminex (R)
• Figure 4-41 Volumetric Diffuser (GE Illuminex)
• Figure 4-42 Directional Diffuser Intensity Distribution
• Figure 4-43 BEF Operational Principal
• Figure 4-44 Examples of Prism Film Luminance Gains: Vertical & Horizontal vs. Viewing Angle for Single Prism Film (L), and On-Axis Gain for Single- and Crossed-BEF-III (R)
• Figure 4-45: Photomicrographs of Surface Relief Diffusers: Circular (L) from Reflexite, Elliptical (C) from Luminit, and Standard Products Table from Wavefront (R)
• Figure 4-46: Structure of Kodak "Brightness Enhancement Article" from US 7,160,017
• Figure 4-47: Operational Principle of Reflective Pre-Polarizer (DBEF)
• Figure 4-48: Performance Example for Notebook LCD Module with DBEF (L) and Without
• Figure 4-49 Structure of Gore DRP (from US 5,892,621)
• Figure 4-50 Furukawa MC-PET Structure and Performance
• Figure 4-51 DuPont Optilon Performance Characteristics
• Figure 4-52 Optical Film Technology Roadmap - MNTech (Korea)
• Figure 4-53 New Version Prism Films: Efun (L), Gamma Optical (C), Shinwha (R)
• Figure 4-54: Micro-Lens Patterned Multi-Functional Film (Shinwha)
• Figure 4-55: Shinwha Intertek Multi-Functional Prism Film (L), MNTech (R)
• Figure 4-56 Edge-Light BL with Wedge-Type Light Guide
• Figure 4-57 Typical Flat-LGP BLU Structure and Prism Sheet Geometry
• Figure 4-58: LGP Texture Development Roadmap (from LITS, Inc., Korea)
• Figure 4-59: LGP Gradient Texture Example from US 5,093,765 (L) and Product Examples (R)
• Figure 4-60 LGP Texture Pattern Examples (from Radiant Opto-Electronics Corp., Taiwan)
• Figure 4-61 Prism-Type LGP BLU Structure and Reverse Prism Sheet Geometry
• Figure 4-62 Comparison of Conventional to Prism-Type LGP BLUs
• Figure 4-63 Light Guide Plate with Inlet Features for Broadly Spaced LEDs (from US 6,797,095 - Samsung)
• Figure 4-64 Single Lamp (L) and Multi-Lamp CCFL Inverter/Controllers (from US 6,459,216)
• Figure 4-65 Multi-Lamp CCFL Inverter/Controllers from US 7,042,171 (L)
• Figure 4-66 Standard 16 Output CCFL Inverter (L) and "Auto-Balance Inverter (R) Showing Four-Fold Reduction in Transformers (courtesy of Kumho Electric)
• Figure 4-67 Color Sensing and Control Circuits: Lumileds Block Diagram and Avago Controller
• Figure 6-1: Displaybank' s Worldwide LCD Panel Demand Forecast by Category
• Figure 6-2: Baseline Notebook LCD Panel Demand Forecast by Size
• Figure 6-3: Comparison of LED Penetration Forecasts
• Figure 6-4: LCD Monitor Panel Demand Forecast by Size
• Figure 6-5: LED BLU Forecast by Monitor Size and Year
• Figure 6-6: LCD-TV Panel Demand Forecast by Size
• Figure 6-7: Historical Look at LED BLU Product Offerings
• Figure 6-8: TV BLU Edge-Light Size Market Penetration
• Figure 10-1: Chromaticity Diagram, 1931 CIE
• Figure 10-2: Video Display Color Gamut Standards on CIE 1931 Diagram
• Figure 10-3: Pointer Color Gamut Compared to NTSC on the CIE 1931 Diagram

• Table 1-1 Companies Interviewed for 2008 BLU Report
• Table 1-2 Relative BLU Performance for Various Light Source Technologies
• Table 1-3 Projected LED BLU Penetration into Notebook and TV Products
• Table 1-4 Key Analysis Positions for BLU Light Source Technologies
• Table 3-1 Technical Issues of Interest to LCD-TV, Monitor and Notebook Panel Manufacturers
• Table 3-2: Summary of Key requirements for TV, Notebook and Monitor Products and BLU
• Table 4-1: Worldwide LCD Panel Manufacturers
• Table 4-2: Top CCFL Lamp Manufacturers (90% of Worldwide Shipments)
• Table 4-3: Sanken Electric Typical Lamp Product Data
• Table 4-4 Mechanisms of Hg Consumption in CCFL and Proposed Improvement Actions (from Wellypower, Inc.)
• Table 4-5 Manufacturers of EEFL for Large Screen Applications
• Table 4-6 NuLight FFL Product Availability
• Table 4-7 Recent LED Backlight Penetration Forecast
• Table 4-8 Current LED Backlit Commercial Products
• Table 4-9 LED Technical Benefits and Challenges Summary
• Table 4-10 Comparison of LED Benefits, Issues and BL Options by Product Category
• Table 4-11 Monitor LED Backlight Performance Estimate
• Table 4-12 NB LED Quantities by Size
• Table 4-13 Leading LED Suppliers for LCD BLU Applications
• Table 4-14 Optical Film Manufacturers Worldwide
• Table 4-15: Reflector Film Manufacturers
• Table 4-16 LCD BLU Manufacturers with Notebook, Monitor and/or TV Capability
• Table 5-1 Key Analysis Positions for BLU Light Source Technologies
• Table 5-2 Key Analysis Positions for BLU Components
• Table 5-3: CCFL BLU Cost Model by Application, Size and Resolution
• Table 5-4: LCD TV BLU Cost Comparison for Selected Module Configuration (High-Flux RGB-LED is Edge-Lit)
• Table 5-5: LCD TV BLU Throughput Analysis - CCFL, Enhanced W-LED and High Flux RGB LED (Please see Appendix B for a detailed explanation of Throughput)
• Table 5-6: LCD Monitor BLU Cost Comparison for Selected Module Configurations
• Table 5-7 LCD Monitor LED BLU Throughput Analysis - CCFL and White LED (Please see Appendix B for a detailed explanation of Throughput)
• Table 5-8 Notebook BLU Cost Comparison for Selected Module Configurations
• Table 5-9 Notebook LED BLU Throughput Analysis - CCFL and White LED (Please see Appendix B for a detailed explanation of Throughput)
• Table 6-1: Explanation of BLU Performance Criteria
• Table 6-2:: Summary of Relative BLU Performance
• Table 6-3: Performance Weighting by Application
• Table 6-4: Notebook Weighted Relative BLU Performance
• Table 6-5: Monitor Weighted Relative BLU Performance
• Table 6-6: LCD TV Weighted Relative BLU Performance
• Table 6-7: Baseline Notebook LCD Panel Demand History and Forecast by Size Range
• Table 6-8: Notebook Panel Demand Adjustment Matrix
• Table 6-9: Notebook Panel Adjusted Demand Forecast
• Table 6-10: Forecast LED BLU Product Penetration in Notebook LCD Panels
• Table 6-11: LCD Monitor Panel Demand History and Forecast by Size Range
• Table 6-12: Adjustment Matrix for Monitor Demand Forecast
• Table 6-13: Adjusted Monitor Demand Forecast
• Table 6-14: Forecast LED BLU Product Penetration in Desktop Monitor LCD Panels
• Table 6-15: Baseline LCD-TV Panel Demand
• Table 6-16: Baseline LCD TV Demand Forecast by % Screen Size
• Table 6-17: LCD TV Demand Adjustment Matrix
• Table 6-18: Adjusted LCD TV Demand Forecast
• Table 6-19: Key Technical Assumptions in TV BLU Analysis
• Table 6-20: TV CCFL BLU Market Penetration Forecasts (includes HCFL & EEFL)
• Table 6-21: TV LED BLU Market Penetration Forecasts
• Table 6-22: 2006 BLU Penetration Results
• Table 6-23: 2007 BLU Penetration Results
• Table 6-24: 2008 BLU Penetration Forecast
• Table 6-25: 2009 BLU Penetration Forecast
• Table 6-26: 2010 BLU Penetration Forecast
• Table 6-27: 2011 BLU Penetration Forecast
• Table 6-28: 2012 BLU Penetration Forecast
• Table 8-1 Notebook BLU Cost Breakdown for Selected Configurations
• Table 8-2 BLU Configurations for Notebook
• Table 8-3 Monitor BLU Cost Breakdown for Selected Configurations
• Table 8-4 BLU Configurations for Monitor
• Table 8-5 LCD TV BLU Cost Breakdown for Selected Configurations
• Table 8-6 BLU Configurations for LCD TV
• Table 8-7 Example Cost Analysis and Forward-looking Projections for LED Notebook BLU
• Table 9-1 Units and Measures
• Table 9-2 Example of BLU Calculations for 42" 1080p LCD TV Module
• Table 10-1 Color Coordinates (CIE 1931) for Key Video Color Gamut Standards