Everlight Electronics Granted LED Royalty License

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 17 -- Lighting manufacturer Osram GmbH announced today it has signed a patent license contract with Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd., of Taiwan, that enables Everlight to manufacture and sell surface-mountable light-emitting diodes (SMT LEDs) for white and colored light. The agreement also enables Everlight to manufacture and sell other white LEDs with conversion technology, for which Osram holds patents. Typical applications for these products include backlighting for mobile phone and car radio displays.

SMT mounting forms are very small and facilitate further processing in industrial series manufacturing. Osram holds patents for several mounting forms and packages for SMT LEDs. Conversion technology for LEDs was developed by Osram's subsidiary in Germany, Osram Opto Semiconductors. This technology enables white LEDs to be produced using blue-emitting indium gallium nitride-based chips and a fluorescent converter.

Osram Opto Semiconductors has facilities in Germany, San Jose and Malaysia. Its optical products are used for lighting, sensor and visualization applications.

Rudiger Mueller, CEO of Osram Opto Semiconductors, said, "The demand for SMT LEDs and white LEDs is growing so quickly that for capacity reasons, we are not able to provide all the products the market requires."
The company signed patent contracts with Nichia and Rohm last year; this is its first contract in Taiwan.

For more information, visit: www.osram-os.com