Backlight Technology Reduces LED Count

MicroLens molded backlighting technology claims to provide uniform, high-output backlighting while using very little power, thereby allowing designers to use fewer LEDs. Based on LEDs, the new approach is said to offer brightness similar to EL lighting but with 50,000 to 100,000 hours or more time to half brightness. MicroLens light extraction features are molded into the panel, which maximizes the lighting efficiency. Panel sizes as large as 1" x 5" can be backlit with one LED. As the backlights are LED based, no power converter is needed. Pricing for the MicroLens backlights range from $2.20 or more for high-brightness white, green, or blue LEDs each/100,000.