Toshiba announces second-generation silicon-based LEDs

Toshiba Electronics Europe has announced a second-generation of the company’s high-power gallium-nitride-on-gallium-nitride (GaN-on-GaN) LEDs that for the first time include 2700K warm-white emitters. Moreover, the new Leteras family of products are specified at efficacy above 100 lm/W...

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New 1W GaN-on-Si LEDs break the 100 lm/W level in warm white with Toshiba stating that volume production will begin in November 2013.

Toshiba Electronics Europe has announced a second-generation of the company’s high-power gallium-nitride-on-gallium-nitride (GaN-on-GaN) LEDs that for the first time include 2700K warm-white emitters. Moreover, the new Leteras family of products are specified at efficacy above 100 lm/W even for the warm-white 1W LEDs.

Of course, the big question will be if Toshiba is really ready to ship the products in volume production. Otherwise, the specs matter little. Back in December 2012, Toshiba said the silicon-based TL1F1 family had entered production and subsequently published a detailed datasheet on the LEDs in January 2013. But those earlier LEDs have yet to show up in a commercial product.

Of course, it could be that specs trailing sapphire-based LEDs have limited the customer acceptance of the first-generation products. Some of those LED models have efficacy in the 80-lm/W range and 3000K was the warmest CCT for which Toshiba published a datasheet.

The efficacy on the second-generation TL1F2 LEDs will range from 104 lm/W to 135 lm/W over the 2700K to 5000K CCT range with 70- and 80-CRI models available. The basic product specs are listed in datasheets noted as underdevelopment on the Toshiba Japan website. Neither the datasheets nor press release detail at what temperature the efficacy figures apply.

It was also strange to see the second-generation announcement come out of Toshiba’s European operation. In the past, new LED announcements from Toshiba have originated in Japan.

Most recently, Toshiba announced mid-power GaN-on-Si LEDs back in July. Those LEDs still substantially trailed similarly-sized sapphire-based LEDs, and it’s not clear that Toshiba has shipped the mid-power LEDs at this time.

About Toshiba Electronics

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Toshiba Corporation (株式会社東芝 Kabushiki-gaisha Tōshiba?) is a Japanese multinational engineering and electronics conglomerate corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Its products and services include information technology and communications equipment and systems, electronic components and materials, power systems, industrial and social infrastructure systems, household appliances, medical equipment, office equipment, lighting and logistics.

Toshiba announces second-generation silicon-based LEDs

GTAT Optimistic About Drive in ASF Demands By Non-LED Applications

The imbalance in sapphire substrate supply and demand is being overcome by increased demands in LED lighting applications and strong demands for non-LED applications. GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) is optimistic about the rapid growth in smartphone demands for sapphire substrates. As a result,...

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The imbalance in substrate supply and demand is being overcome by increased demands in LED lighting applications and strong demands for non-LED applications. GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) is optimistic about the rapid growth in smartphone demands for sapphire substrates. As a result, the company’s Advanced Sapphire Furnace (ASF) might grow and expand production capacity in the future.

Following the usage of sapphire substrate in smartphone applications by Apple and LG, sapphire substrate face supply shortages in high end application. According to sapphire substrate company Monocrystal, sapphire substrate for high-end applications is facing a supply shortage of 20 to 30 percent and the rise in use of sapphire substrate outside of LEDs provides price increase opportunities. GTAT is also optimistic about sapphire substrate demand growth in non-LED applications and estimates proportion of smartphone usage in sapphire substrate production capacity to slowly increase.

GTAT predicts that sapphire substrate will be one of the growing markets in 2014. ASF currently produces 115 kg of the world’s sapphire. In regards to demand for LED and optical application, production capacity is already enough but sapphire substrate in non-LED applications including smartphone camera lens caps and home button covers, as well as the possible usage in smartphone displays by the end of 2014, demand for sapphire substrate is expected to rapidly increase. The company plans to increase sapphire furnace production to 200 kg. GTAT emphasized equipment purchased by clients can be directly upgraded, and thus reduce costs for clients as they do not need to purchase new equipments.

About GTAT

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GT Advanced Technologies is a diversified technology company with innovative crystal growth equipment and solutions for the global solar, LED and electronics industries. Its market leadership is based on a history of delivering innovative products that provide sustained value to our customers by lowering the cost of manufacturing and improving operational efficiency.

GTAT Optimistic About Drive in ASF Demands By Non-LED Applications

Sapphire prices expected to rise 10-15% in Q1 2014

Sapphire maker Monocrystal says due to potential extended use in smartphones, prices for sapphire are expected to increase 10-15% in the first or second quarter of 2014. Sapphire growth systems are used by LED companies for the production of LED cores and LED wafers.

LED-Sapphire-Products

Due to potential extended use in smartphones, prices for sapphire are expected to increase 10-15% in the first or second quarter of 2014, Taiwan-based makers cited Russia-based sapphire maker Monocrystal as indicating. Sapphire growth systems are used by LED companies for the production of LED cores and LED wafers.

Following use to make covers for smartphone rear cameras and the iPhone 5s Home key, sapphire is likely to be further used to make screen cover glass, the sources said. However, cost will be key to further applications, the sources noted. For a 4-inch smartphone screen, cover glass made from Corning-developed Gorilla glass costs about US$3, and one made from sapphire will cost about US$30, the sources indicated. To be feasible, sapphire smartphone screens should drop to US$10-15, the sources said.

Monocrystal currently has a monthly production capacity of 1.5-2.0 million millimeters of sapphire ingots, the sources said. South Korea-based Sapphire Technology Company will expand production capacity and may become a main supplier for smartphone vendors Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, the sources indicated.

Sapphire prices expected to rise 10-15% in Q1 2014