22 April 2014

LG Innotek mass producing 560mW UV LEDs

Seoul-based LG Innotek, a subsidiary of Korea’s LG Group, has begun mass producing UV LED chips that deliver what is described as world-class output of 560mW (at a drive current of 500mA) on a single chip.

LG Innotek has developed the 365nm-wavelength UV LED chips with output enhanced by 37% while maintaining compact 6mm2 dimensions. The propriety epitaxial growth and vertical LED chip technology made this possible in only 5 months, says the firm.

Applications include industrial hardeners, light exposure systems, and counterfeit bill detectors. The UV LED chip is expected to shorten process time as its improved performance will optimize applications dependent on UV light exposure. It will also reduce system costs, as the number of LED packages mounted on equipment will be minimized, adds the firm.

LG Innotek plans to continue to expand its market by introducing a broader UV LED portfolio of diverse wavelengths and sizes. The firm has developed products optimized for multiple applications, including 365nm, 385nm, 395nm, and 405nm UV LED chips used in general industrial applications, and 280nm UV LED chips used in sterilization and medical equipment applications. LG Innotek projects that its UV LED chip sales in 2014 will grow more than three-fold year-on-year, based on the success of its highly reliable and high-output UV LED chips.

“UV LED technology can be seen a basis for the company’s LED technology,” says Harry Kang, vice president of LG Innotek’s LED Lighting Division and “We have a plan to produce a 365nm-wavelength UV LED with an output of up to 600mW.”

Market research firm Yole Development forecasts that the UV LED market will grow from $61.8m in 2013 to $129.3m in 2015. It also forecast that the market share, as the share of UV LEDs in the UV light source market rises from 16% to 25%.

Tags: LG Innotek UV LEDs

Visit: www.lginnotek.com