Evaluating LED Performance in Projection Systems

Anne L. Fischer, Senior Editor

Although they have yet to replace high-intensity lamps, LEDs increasingly are being used as illumination sources in projection systems.

The report “LED Projection Systems” issued by Insight Media of Norwalk, Conn., features performance data, cost information and availability of LEDs for this sector, as well as a discussion of optical modeling that helps determine how LEDs will work with a given system. It includes analyses of the optics currently used in projection systems and compares them with LEDs.

LED performance is expected to improve over the next four years, enabling LED collection modules to decrease considerably in price while offering more collected lumens. The graph shows the projection for a 0.55-in digital light processor.

A technology forecast highlights expected changes through 2010, including increases in brightness, and current and future packaging technologies are described. Profiled in the report are seven companies involved in LED projection and six high-brightness LED manufacturers.

According to Chris Chinnock, senior analyst at the company, projection applications pose a difficult supply problem because they require the brightest and the highest-quality LEDs, so projector manufacturers must choose their LED suppliers carefully. The demand for high-brightness LEDs for other applications also may limit the ability to obtain them in the volumes and specifications needed.

Unless LED manufacturers find customers for the high-brightness emitters that are not bright enough for the projection application, the rejected emitters will raise the cost of those that do pass inspection. Ideally, an LED supplier will have customers in many markets with needs for various power levels so that each diode in the wafer can be put to use.

Insight Media provides market segment analyses for consumer front- and rear-projection televisions, pocket projectors, head-up displays, integrated systems, electronic cinema, and visualization and simulation. Three segment analyses are included with each report purchase.

The 224-page report was released in December and is available for $5000. Contact info@insightmedia.info for more details.