Lumex QuantumBrite ™ Backlights

1. Purpose To demonstrate the versatile uses of backlights beyond traditional LCD applications Objective Overview of backlight structure and traditional definition Review alternative uses for backlights outside of LCDs Introduce Lumex’s advanced backlighting technology Content 10 Pages Learning Time 5 Minutes Lumex QuantumBrite™ Backlights Welcome to Lumex’s LED Backlights training module. This module will present an overview of what an LED backlight is and what they are traditionally used for. This module will also discuss alternative uses for backlights and introduce Lumex’s advanced backlighting technology. Lumex is a leading designer and manufacturer of opto-electronic components, as well as a provider of semi-custom and custom LED and LCD technology-based products.

2. What is a backlight? A backlight is a light source designed to create illumination. Typically, a backlight is designed to illuminate from behind an object, such as an LCD A backlight is used to focus light on an object, creating illumination from behind. In the electronics industry, a backlighting technique is typically used to make a display easier to view in low ambient conditions. Backlights are traditionally used to provide enhanced illumination for flat panel devices, such as LCDs.

3. Advantages of LED Backlighting • Are thinner in design than conventional CCFL backlit displays • Have a longer lifespan, (LEDs - 100,000 hours / CCFLs - 20,000 hours) • Saves resources as LEDs are replaced less often than CCFLs • LEDs maintain their brightness intensity over a longer period of time • Lower power consumption than traditional backlighting sources • Environmentally friendly (LEDs do not contain hazardous materials such as mercury) LED backlighting technology has numerous advantages over conventional CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent tube) lamps. Some of the main advantages of LED backlighting include more compact size, longer life span, lower costs, immunity to breakage, low power consumption, and environmental improvements.

4. Types of LED Backlight Technology Edge Lit Backlight LEDs Light Guide PCB There are two primary types of backlight technology: Edge Lit and Chips On Board. In both types of technology, LEDs are used as the light source that focuses light into the light guide which then distributes the light evenly behind the viewing area. As its name implies, an Edge Lit backlight is constructed of LEDs that run along the outer axis of the backlight.

5. Types of LED Backlight Technology Chips On Board Backlight PCB Matrix of LEDs Diffuser A typical Chips On Board (or COB) backlight is constructed in an LED matrix format mounted on a PCB along the entire emitting plane of the backlight.

6. Edge Lit vs. COB Construction COB Advantages Brighter lighting Uniform color and intensity Both Edge Lit and Chips On Board technologies have advantages and disadvantages, and no one method is right for all applications. With the Chips On Board design, there are many LEDs mounted uniformly behind the display, therefore the Chips On Board approach can offer more uniform and brighter lighting, however it does consume more power than Edge Lit construction.

7. Edge Lit vs. COB Construction Edge Lit Advantages Lower power consumption Cost-effective (less LEDs) Thinner package With an Edge Lit configuration, LEDs are only mounted to the edges of the display. This allows the Edge Lit design to offer a thinner package and consume less power, however the display may not be as brilliant as with a Chips On Board construction. The choice of which backlight technology to use in a particular design depends on the requirements for brightness, contrast and size of the final product.

8. LED Backlight Applications Edge Lit backlights are idea for small, hand-held devices such as cellular phones and portable media devices Chips On Board backlights can be used for panel displays, or industrial control panels LED Backlights are traditionally used for LCD electronic devices that require illumination from the back. Examples of common LCDs with LED backlights include cellular phones, industrial controls, audio systems, networking equipment, appliance displays or panel or industrial control panels.

9. Advanced Backlight Applications Although LED backlights have traditionally been used as illumination sources for flat panel, LCD applications, advancements in LED technology have contributed significantly to the flexibility in use of backlights for non-traditional applications. Because of these many advancements, backlights are now being considered as replacements for many non-traditional backlight applications, such as the use of direct and indirect lighting.

10. Lumex Advanced Backlight Technology Lumex custom-designed backlight solution for interior appliance illumination Lumex custom-designed backlight solution for interior appliance illumination Lumex’s advanced backlight technology meets the needs of these non-traditional design applications. Lumex’s LED backlight capabilities feature a high intensity brightness upwards to 10,000 nits, almost twice that of normal backlights. Lumex’s advanced backlight technology offers designers the ability to allow for full daylight visibility when incorporating a backlight into a product design.

11. Expanding Backlight Usage Lumex’s Technical Design Specialists are experts at structuring backlights to effectively utilize them in non-traditional applications. Lumex can increase backlight illumination through the use of its unique brightness enhancement films, or altering the curvature of the backlight for additional lighting effects.

12. Expanding Backlight Usage Recent trends in backlight applications include the use of LED backlights as an alternative for indirect lighting, thereby replacing lamps or overhead lighting in homes or offices. LED backlights are also being considered as a direct lighting option as well, such as architectural signage or display cases. Logo enhancement within a product design is also an example of how backlights are providing a non-traditional source of product differentiation.

13. Expanding Backlight Usage Lumex is a pioneer in the art of LED technology and offers a wide array of through-hole and surface-mount LEDs which can be incorporated into any backlight design to meet any level of thickness or intensity level. Lumex backlights can also be easily tooled for non-rectangular shapes, such as triangular, octagon or circular shapes, and are offered in all standard colors, as well as RGB on a custom basis.

14. LED backlights offer many advantages over traditional CCFL backlights. • Advances in LED technology have opened the door to increased use of backlights beyond that of LCD illumination • Backlight illumination is now being considered as replacement for applications such as direct and indirect lighting and logo enhancement • Lumex’s advanced backlight technology features high intensity brightness that allows for full daylight visibility Summary Technological advances in LED backlighting, such as brightness, cost, and power consumption have opened the door to increased flexibility in the use of backlighting. This flexibility has extended the use of LED backlights beyond the doors of simple LCD illumination. The use of backlights can now be considered for many applications that might not otherwise have been considered such as lamp replacement, display case illumination and logo enhancement.