2008 LED Projection Systems Report

Abstract

The Need:

Most microdisplay-based projection systems built to date have used an HID lamp such as the UHP as a light source. LEDs have begun to penetrate the projection market and currently LED-based rear projection TV, companion pico-projectors and ultra-portable projectors are commercially available. This penetration of LEDs into the projection market is expected to continue and LED-based home theater projectors have already been announced while development of LED illumination for several other projector categories is ongoing. As a result, there is a need for an evaluation of LEDs in terms of technology, price and performance, and comparison of these parameters to the existing and forecast markets for projection systems across a range of potential applications.

Report Objective:

The objective of this report is to provide technologists, managers, product planners, engineers and researchers with the information needed to evaluate LED technology in proposed projection displays. The required information needed to make these decisions include performance data, cost information and availability, all forecasted from 2008-2012. Since the projection market includes segments that range from very low end to very high end, this report evaluates LEDs suitable for projectors ranging from a few lumens up to about 2000 lumens.

This report focuses on the roadmaps for LED devices and supporting thermal management and driving systems. This data is then applied to the analysis of specific LED projection markets and applications in six separate and stand alone Market Segment Analyses.

Highlights:

• Coverage of the use of high-brightness LEDs (HB-LEDs) in projection displays, including both benefits and problems
• Optimized wavelengths and colorimetry of HB-LEDs to be used for projection displays
• A description of current LED technology for visible-light HB-LEDs, including both single color and white light LEDs
• Due to the negative effect of temperature on virtually all properties of a HB-LED, there is an extensive discussion of thermal packaging to maintain the lowest possible temperature.
• A discussion, including examples, of the optical and mechanical design of HB-LEDs
• Evaluation of the optics of projection systems that can use LED illumination
• Discussion of the drive circuit requirements for HB-LEDs in projection applications
• A technology forecast for HB-LEDs including changes in the technology that can be expected through 2012.
• Price forecasts for HB-LEDs, as a function of die area, color and quantity per year. All price forecasts go through 2012.
• A table containing information on 242 companies involved in LEDs or LED projection
• Profiles of 6 key LED manufacturers