Currently, there is a big difference for high-brightness LED (light emitting diode) market forecast. Despite the forecast data is different, but the trend is clear: high-brightness (HB) LED market is growing at an alarming rate. Some forecasts 15 percent CAGR for the year, whereas others CAGR of 35%. 2007 automotive LED lighting in its infancy, with sales of $ 670 million, but is expected to grow 15% CAGR to 2011 (1) reached $ 1.2 billion. If the non-automotive applications into account, then the annual compound growth rate of nearly 35 percent, and by 2011, the total high-brightness LED market is likely to ease over 2.5 billion US dollars.
Rely on such a high growth potential driven First, the efficiency of the light generated by the LED is 10 times incandescent, fluorescent lamp while almost twice, thus greatly reducing the amount of light output to provide specific? (Unit: lumens) electric power required ??? Second, incandescent need to be replaced after 1,000 hours of use, the sustainable use of fluorescent 10,000 hours, while the LED lifetime more than 100,000 hours. In most applications, this allows LED permanently embedded into the final application without attachment. Examples include automobile body for mounting on the LCD display or HDTV display, because these LED in the car, HDTV or monitor the lifetime sports venues will not need to be replaced. Third, than other lighting products several orders of magnitude, dimensions can be made very flat, so that they can be permanently embedded into the car interior and exterior applications. Further, by using red, green and blue LED configuration, you can achieve many colors. Finally, LED capable of dimming, and its time to turn on and off quickly, imperceptible to the human eye, which greatly improves the HDTV and other types of display backlighting. Without these LED, you can not have high contrast and clear high resolution LCD HDTV.
Nevertheless, one of the biggest challenges is how the lighting system designers to fully utilize all the benefits of the latest generation of LED. Because they generally require an accurate DC current source, also require dimming, the LED driver ICs must be designed to meet the various needs of different applications. Power solutions must be highly efficient and reliable function, and, as usual, be very compact and economical. Reason to believe that, LED drive one of the most demanding applications in automotive applications, including LED-based interior lighting, LCD display backlighting, brake / turn signal lights, and even headlights.
