Large-sized TFT-LCD Backlight Module Report, 2007

Backlight Module, hereafter abbreviated for BL, is an important component of TFT-LCD panel. It takes up about 19% to 26% of the panel' s total cost according to its various applications. Its key function is to provide sufficient light for the panel. BL itself comprise a lot of parts and components, which decides the performance and cost of BL.

Revenues in 2007 are the estimated values. It is obvious that BL manufacturers are polarized with giants dominating the market and small ones unable to change the situation. The revenues of the top six producers in the table all surpass NT$ 20 billion and Wooyoung is the only one with revenues between NT$ 10 to 20 billion. Shipment of sharp, the global biggest LCD television manufacturer, was around 6 million sets in 2006, which is expected to be 10 million in 2007. Sharp Hiroshige Mie Corp. is a subsidiary of Sharp. Downstream companies in Korea are mostly LCD television manufacturers; while in contrast, display takes up the majority of products by Taiwan downstream companies.

LED BL is the hot topic in BL field. Shipment of Radiant notebook LED BL is about 20,000 pieces per month, mainly to Chi Mei. AU Optronics Corp. and Korean panel factory have passed authentication. Shipment in Aug. is expected to challenge 100,000 pieces. Kenmos disclosed that, the single month shipment of LED BL in notebook before the end of the year is expected to surpass 50,000 pieces, including 13.3-inch and 15.4-inch. To date, the single month shipment of Coretronic notebook LED BL has reached 70,000 to 80,000 pieces. It is predicted that its single month shipment in 2008 will challenge 150,000 to 200,000 pieces.

Dominant LED BL producers in the world are Radiant, Coretronic and Kenos. According to today' s technique and production cost, LED BL in the forthcoming five years will still be mainly used in notebooks. Taiwan is the global biggest manufacturing base of notebook BL, LED and notebook. Today there are only three LED BL manufacturers in the world, i.e. Radiant, Coretronic and Kenos. Price of high - power LED is declining and LED patent of Nichia Chemical is gradually to go into effect. LCD television BL is expected to be mass-produced and widely used after 2010. Also in 2010, LED BL adopted in notebook computer may possibly take 36% of the total.