Category Archives: LEDs

July 17, 2012 – BUSINESS WIRE — Intematix Corporation, phosphor and phosphor component developer for light-emitting diodes (LEDs), plans to conduct a registered initial public offering (IPO) of its common stock.

The IPO is expected to commence after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) completes the review process initiated by Intematix’s confidential submission on July 13, 2012 of its draft registration statement, subject to market and other conditions.

Phosphors help control LED luminous efficacy and color to bring the technology on a level with traditional lighting. Phosphors used in LED lighting applications will see a market increase to over $1.6 billion by 2019, according to a recent NanoMarkets report.

Cree, Philips, and Intematix are the three major players in remote phosphors, a developing sector of LED phosphors that can reduce costs and increase light quality control.

IPO details: This announcement is being made pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135 under the Securities Act of 1933. As required by Rule 135, this press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction.

Intematix Corporation is a materials developer making customizable, patented phosphors and remote phosphor components for high-quality, energy-efficient LED lighting. To learn more about the company, please visit www.intematix.com.

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July 16, 2012 — Light-emitting diode (LED) prices are declining, as revenues are growing through 2016, according to a report from Strategies Unlimited. Trends include multi-chip packaging and different LED power levels for different applications.

Global revenue for LED packages hit $2.04 billion in 2011, according to Strategies Unlimited.

Between 2010 and 2011, LED prices declined by more than 25%; for some suppliers the decline was more than 40%. The decline in prices stimulated demand for LED lighting products, increasing overall revenue by 46.3%. LED suppliers diverted excess manufacturing capacity to produce LEDs for the lighting industry, picking up the slack from the slower-than-expected display backlighting sector.

LED prices will continue to decline 2012-2016 at a 13% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). In the same period, CAGR for revenues for LEDs in lighting is forecast to grow 10%.

In 2011, all major players in the LED industry made a big push in the sales of multi-chip packages (MCP). The use of high-lumen-output packages helps reduce the size of the light source as well as the time for luminaire design development.

Use of high-power LEDs continues where high lumen output from compact light sources is required in applications such as streetlights, flashlights, recessed lights and PAR replacement lamps. In the forecast period, more luminaire manufacturers will use MCPs, while ambient lighting applications will use low- and mid-power LEDs for diffused lighting applications such as troffers and linear fluorescent tube replacement products.

Figure. Forecast for LEDs in lighting, by application, 2010-2016 ($M). SOURCE: Strategies Unlimited.

Although the demand for white LEDs increased to 84% of the total revenues, the lighting industry is increasingly using remote phosphor with blue LEDs or red LEDs with cool white LEDs to make warm white light. Also read: Phosphor trends for LED manufacturing

China was the largest LED market in 2011, with 49% of the revenues, with high penetration rates in outdoor, industrial and building decoration lighting applications. The improvements in quality of LED lighting products for retail displays — refrigerated and general merchandise displays — is forecast to be the fastest growing segment.

This report is the latest in a series of reports on LED Markets from Strategies Unlimited. Strategies Unlimited specializes in market research and strategic consulting directed
at photonics systems and components. The company is a research unit of PennWell Corporation, a global media and information company that also publishes Solid State Technology. Strategies Unlimited’s new report, The Market for High-Brightness LEDs in Lighting Applications: Market Review and Forecast- 2012, is now available. Learn more at www.strategies-u.com.

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July 16, 2012 — In the July/August issue of Solid State Technology’s sister publication, LEDs Magazine, Lily Li, patent strategist at IP Checkups, examines remote phosphors for light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, in “Patents compete for priority in the remote-phosphor LED technology space.” Phosphors modulate the color of LED-produced light. For better thermal reliability and system-level design flexibility, LED chips are grouped in modules or bulbs with remote phosphor-coated ceramic plate.

Remote-phosphor technology for LED lighting applications is a hotbed of innovation, with companies such as Intematix and Cree leading the way, Li says. “Remote phosphor addresses a fundamental pain point in the solid-state lighting industry and the one main barrier to widespread adoption of LEDs: cost, cost, cost. But intellectual property concerns cloud the picture for remote-phosphor usage.”

Li considers the advances in remote phosphor technology from Cree and Intematix, noting that Philips has an impressive remote phosphor technology roster, but the company also has access to Cree’s patents, and therefore was not included. “Given the potential size of the LED lighting market, and the revolutionary nature of remote phosphors to the industry, a battle already rages on for ownership of the fundamental technology behind remote phosphors” between Cree and Intematix.

Li also explains why remote phosphors are used and how they change the cost composition of an LED product.

Figure from the article: Company comparison of phosphor technologies and applications. Publications from 01/01/2009 to 02/01/2012.

Read this article, published in the July/August 2012 issue of our sister publication, LEDs Magazine, here.

Also read: In "Phosphor trends for LED manufacturing," Barclays Capital shares some take-aways from the Intertech Pira Phosphor Summit, touching on LED efficiency and quality from phosphors, color mixing, remote phosphors, and silicone encapsulants for LED packages.

Visit the LED Manufacturing Channel on Solid State Technology and subscribe to the LED Manufacturing News monthly e-newsletter!

July 16, 2012 — The price of a light-emitting diode (LED) bulb will fall by about half by 2020, hitting $11.06, according to Lux Research. With the LED chip package seeing 70%+ cost reduction, technology innovation will shift to the surrounding “balance of system” elements — thermal management, drivers and optics — to push costs lower.

Costs of the central LED chip package will fall by more than 70% to $2.14 in the next decade, but this makes up just 19% of the bulb costs in 2020. To drive overall costs lower, the related system elements will need to see similar cost reductions.

Read about blogger Dr. Phil Garrou’s costs saving analysis of an LED bulb in Bidding Adieu to Lester Lightbulb and Lester the Lightbulb vs CFL and LED : the Saga Continues

“We find that today’s balance of system technology solutions fall short of the dramatic cost reductions needed to mirror the LED package,” said Pallavi Madakasira, Lux Research Analyst, adding that existing alternatives are ineffective and uneconomical.

Lux Research analysts studied the key LED cost stack components of a 60 W incandescent equivalent LED bulb as well as the technologies available to accelerate cost cuts in order to understand the true pathways to LED bulbs’ potential. “LED lighting is by no means standardized, and potential disruptions to the component stack abound,” Madakasira said.

Thermal management is the biggest target for cost reduction past the package. Active thermal management technologies such Nuventix’s SynJet will lead to cost savings over aluminum-based solutions, but only from 2017 on.

Dimmable drivers are priced at a premium to non-dimmable ones because they enable precise control of the light output and lead to energy savings. Innovation in this area will bring about a 1% cost saving in 2020, boosting the performance of the LEDs overall.

Secondary optics account for about 5% of the total cost of a 60 W equivalent LED bulb. The field is dominated by specialists such as Ledil, Khatod, and Fraen, and innovation lies in improving the shape of the beam and the ability to collect more light from primary optics.

The report, Cheaper, Brighter, Cooler: The Need for Cost Reduction Past the Package, is part of the Lux Research Energy Electronics Intelligence service. Lux Research provides strategic advice and intelligence for emerging technologies. Visit www.luxresearchinc.com for more information.

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July 16, 2012 — Oxford Instruments launched the PlasmaPro 100 etch and deposition tool for manufacturing micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS), high-brightness light-emitting diodes (HB-LED), semiconductors, and other applications.

Deposition rate for high-quality SiO2 and SiNx improved with changes to the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) hardware, which also reduces cleaning overhead. The latest generation of Cobra ICP source improves etch rate and feature control capability.

The tool’s robotic handler optimizes processes. Combined with the system’s control and software interface, this improves diagnostics, reliability and serviceability, the company reports.

The PlasmaPro 100 is configurable with process chambers as stand-alone modules or clusters. Users can access over 6,000 process recipes through Oxford Instruments.

Oxford Instruments specializes in the design, manufacture and support of high-tech tools and systems for industry research. Learn more at www.oxford-instruments.com.

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July 13, 2012 — Terry Brewer, one of the newest members of SEMI’s North American advisory board, talks about semiconductor industry consolidation, as well as new technologies and materials in the industry. He shares how SEMI is reacting to this evolution.

Brewer, president and founder of Brewer Science, speaks with Pete Singer, chief editor, Solid State Technology, at SEMICON West 2012 in San Francisco. See all the news and interviews from SEMICON West here!

 

July 13, 2012 — Barclays Capital Inc. analysts held conversations with the light-emitting diode (LED) supply chain at SEMICON West, this week in San Francisco, CA. The show confirmed for Barclays that Q2 2012 orders for metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) tools remained flattish with the trough-like Q1 numbers.

Top MOCVD suppliers Veeco and Aixtron confirm that activity is picking up into H2 2012. Sub-component suppliers to the MOCVD makers, as well as adjacent LED equipment suppliers, are anticipating gradual order growth in Q3 and Q4 2012.

Key accounts that are in the process or on the cusp of placing orders in the remainder of 2012  include Sanan and 3E in China, Toyoda Gosei and Showa Denko in Japan, a little bit of Epistar in Taiwan exiting the year, and likely Samsung in Q4 for equipment installation in 2013. Additionally, Nichia also appears to be actively ramping capacity, though this will not benefit Veeco or Aixtron, given Nichia’s internal tool production.

Barclays Capital estimates that MOCVD chamber shipments will pick up from 67 in H1 2012 to 80 in H2. The risk to MOCVD orders comes from the hard disk drive (HDD) sector, and how much it decelerates in H2, though service should provide a buffer here.

Get the full report from Barclays at http://live.barcap.com/PRC/servlets/dv.search?contentPubID=FC1838394&bcllink=decode

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July 12, 2012 — After meeting with various semiconductor manufacturing tool suppliers — Applied Materials, KLA-Tencor, Lam Research, Tokyo Electron, Teradyne and Cymer — at SEMICON West, Terence Whalen, semiconductor equipment sector analyst, Citi and colleagues share impressions on foundry spending plans and tool choices.

Whalen observes that Applied Materials (AMAT) expects a large ($500 million) H2 2012 foundry pushback, lowering its Q3 guidance to the bottom of its range, while other tool suppliers report virtually no change to their foundry customers’ plans. There is no change to TSMC’s aggregate 2012 capacity plan that Citi’s taiwan semiconductor analyst Roland Shu could find, though minor shifts in critical layer configurations could (at least partially) explain how AMAT could see weakness not experienced by other vendors.

Speculation has been “markedly negative” on H2 2012 semiconductor demand, Citi says, including talk of NAND capitulation, skepticism that foundry might weaken, and questions on whether Intel might reduce its blockbuster capex. Meetings at SEMICON West are largely confirming tool suppliers’ suspicions that there will be weak orders in Q3, picking up in Q4. Part of 3Q’s weakness may be amplified by heightened seasonality that arises given higher customer concentration, Whalen says. However, Citi accepts the potential for improving semiconductor demand into Q3, which might strengthen capex in Q4.

Foundry orders will rebound sooner in H2 2012 than NAND, which see increases in H1 2013, Citi predicts. Based on its interviews with Lam Research and others, Citi expects flat or slightly better foundry capex in 2013, driven by steady 28nm deployments.

Some notes on equipment trends:

  • Single-wafer clean is gaining traction as chipmakers performance demands rise (source: Lam Research);
  • Intel’s investment in ASML is likely a move to coordinate supplier timing to chipmaker need on the transition to 450mm wafers;
  • 20nm foundry activity is increasing (source: KLA-Tencor);
  • Tokyo Electron is looking to grow its business in semiconductor packaging (recent NEXX buy) and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) fab.

Read more from Whalen at http://ir.citi.com/%2BnkGI0K%2BGgl2DqdhefgsTRHbYsIMp6NZjGciK%2FrzUDc%3D

Check out Solid State Technology’s coverage of SEMICON West 2012!

July 11, 2012 — Citi analysts surveyed the light-emitting diode (LED) manufacturing market and LED demand at SEMICON West 2012, taking place this week at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA.

Demand for general lighting applications remains robust for LEDs, though the LED oversupply remains significant. This could explain why orders for metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) tools have ticked slightly higher, but primarily limited to Epistar and some small China orders.

From a chip perspective, discussions suggest Cree (NASDAQ:CREE) stepped on some large customers toes when it acquired Ruud Lighting in August 2011. Ruud makes outdoor lighting fixtures based on LEDs. This has had greater than expected negative impact on chip demand, Citi says. The downstream acquisition for the LED maker is viewed by some customers as directly competitive with their businesses.

View Citi’s full report at http://ir.citi.com/uyRtd8u%2B6M2pDF7aCZQyUr4RBK2BMqjLd6ziy8f56t2Ci20uJjgV%2Bg%3D%3D

Visit the LED Manufacturing Channel on Solid State Technology and subscribe to the LED Manufacturing News monthly e-newsletter!

July 10, 2012 – BUSINESS WIRE — Semiconductor manufacturing equipment supplier SUSS MicroTec uncrated the third generation of the ACS200 Coating and Developing Platform, developed from the company’s ACS200Plus and Gamma platforms.

The ACS200 Gen3 offers the capability to combine four wet process modules with up to 19 plates for high-volume production. State of the art offerings include open bowl spin coating and proprietary GYRSET closed cover coating technology.

The configuration flexibility of modules and technologies suits production of advanced semiconductor packages, micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The tool can also be used to bridge the gap between research & development (R&D) and high-volume manufacturing (HVM).

SUSS MicroTec, listed on TecDAX of Deutsche Boerse AG, is a leading supplier of equipment and process solutions for microstructuring in the semiconductor industry and related markets. For more information, please visit http://www.suss.com.