August 2004
World record in efficiency
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors' thin-film chip technology offers an efficiency of more than 100 lm/W. Using red-emitting devices (618 nm) in a TOPLED® package, the company can demonstrate more than 2 lm of output power at 20 mA, which corresponds to an efficiency of 108 lm/W.
In view of the fact that the emission surface of the chip measures just 350x350 µm2, this translates into a record luminance - in other words into a record amount of useful light.
Another advantage of surface-emitting LEDs such as OSRAM s thin-film devices is the scalability of output power as a function of chip area, at comparable levels of efficiency. Large-area high-flux devices can be operated at high operating currents while maintaining the efficiency of small LEDs designed for small currents.
High efficiency values have been achieved with the second generation of thin-film devices. The technology will be used in the new generation of commercial devices due to be launched in the second half of 2005.
The devices are ideally suited for applications requiring high-brightness LEDs. Examples include automotive tail-lights, rear-cluster lamps and traffic lights. Because of their high luminance, they are perfect for applications in which light is collected by optical elements such as lenses or light guides.
Thin-film first-generation LEDs offered excellent performance in automotive head-up displays for the BMW 5 series and in tail-light applications.
The next step is to establish second-generation thin-film technology as the platform for all AlGaInP colors and chip sizes. With this platform we will be able to offer small chips as well as mid-size and large-area chips with comparable efficiencies.