Roll over LCD, LED’s here

LED technology has brought about a revolution in the technology landscape for monitors and televisions in terms of picture quality and image clarity offering, as it does, crystal-clear images, deeper blacks and the most realistic colors available today. By Manjari Juneja

LED or Light Emitting Diode can be understood as an electronic device that lights up while electricity passes through it. It is a semiconductor light source used as the indicator lamp in a number of devices. Today, LEDs are increasingly used for general lighting. In 1962, LEDs found their niche in the electronic industry as a practical electronic component. During the early days, LEDs emitted low-intensity red light.

With advances in technology, today we find a number of versions of LEDs at visible, ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. Moreover, the fact that LEDs are small makes them a good choice to display images. LEDs do not burn out like other lights, while the power consumption is significantly lower when compared to conventional light sources.

LED monitor technology is the next evolution for panel displays and therefore almost all leading manufacturers have introduced models using LED backlit technology. LED monitors are in demand with those looking for better picture quality and superior energy efficiency. This technology is expected to supplant LCD but it will take time.

The technology

LED backlight is the most popular backlighting for small and medium LCDs. The advantages of LED backlighting are long life, immunity to vibration, low operational voltage and precise control over intensity thanks to Dynamic Contrast Ratio (DCR). The compact size of LEDs has allowed new text and video displays and sensors to be developed, while their high switching rates are useful in communications. The drawback of LCD technology vis-a-vis LED is that it requires more power.

Ranjit Yadav, Director, IT and Mobility, Samsung India, said, “The LED display process has changed the experience of viewing TV, monitors and other peripherals. LED monitors are more scalable and flexible in terms of usage; they are bright and long-lasting. With advances in the technology, LEDs are in demand for the better viewing experience that they offer.”

LED monitors are superior in terms of design aesthetics (offering customers the advantage of thin bezel or narrow screens with reduced weight) and they offer superior picture quality coupled with low power consumption.

In terms of picture quality, LED monitors score higher on two parameters namely contrast ratio and response time. The contrast between light and dark colors on the screen, defined as contrast ratio, is what makes images stand out. The bigger the range of difference between light and dark images, the more vibrant the images will appear.

R. Manikandan, Business Group Head, Business Solutions, LGEIL, said, “LED monitors offer the customer the benefits of power saving and, therefore, a low cost of ownership, while contributing to the environment. The average power consumption of an 18.5’ LED monitor for example is 14W as compared to 21W for an LCD monitor of comparable size. Our LED monitors sport a contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1(DCR) as opposed to 50,000:1 (DCR) in LCD monitors of comparable size. Coupled with 5 ms response time, which drastically reduces flicker and breakage in moving images, the user is sure to have an overall better viewing experience.”

LED vs. Plasma/ LCD

LED monitors are a subset of LCD panels. Rather than conventional cold cathode florescent lamps (CCFL) to illuminate the LCD pixels, they employ tiny light-emitting diodes.

An LED monitor consumes the least power among plasma and LCD monitors with energy savings of up to 40% when compared to a conventional, lamp-based LCD model. The other major benefits of using light-emitting diodes include low heat emission and eco-friendliness. The latter is due to the mercury-free design of these energy-efficient bulbs.

Another advantage of edge lighting is that it frees up space behind the screen, which significantly reduces bezel depth, giving rise to a family of ultra slim panels. These lightweight displays are also much easier to install.

Govindan Ramanujam, Managing Director, BenQ India, said, “LED Monitors use Light Emitting Diode (LED)-backlights with a TN or VA panel. These, however, rely on individual LEDs all over the back of the screen that turn on or off independently, giving the displays more precise control over the amount of light that comes through. The advantages of an LED backlight are better energy efficiency, more accurate color reproduction, a conceivably thinner panel design and a higher potential brightness level.”

Price as a factor

LED monitors are priced higher than LCD monitors of comparable size. Nevertheless, customers prefer to buy LED monitors as they are sleek and consume less energy. Vendors believe that, just as LCD monitors have supplanted CRTs, LED monitors should follow the same path.

The high-brightness LED and substrate materials market is projected to grow from Rs. 30,742.80 crore ($6.6 billion) in 2006 to Rs. 49,374.80 crore ($10.6 billion) by 2011, according to report from BCC Research titled ‘Light Emitting Diodes for Lighting Applications’. The BCC Research report also said that this market would grow at an Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR) of 10.2% until 2011.

Ganesh Ramamoorthy, Principal Research Analyst, Gartner, said, “The overall LED lighting market is pegged at $75 million in 2010. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 50-55% over the next year and reach $380 million by 2014. LED is being introduced in the market with the promise that it is better than any other technology available today. However, after three or four years, when the penetration goes up, the cost will come down.”

Gautam Ghosh, Country Manager, ViewSonic Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., said, “LED is bringing about a visual revolution in the monitor market. Also as the market matures and people start looking forward to the aesthetic values of these monitors, their environment friendliness, power saving features and space saving benefits, LED is expected to replace LCD.”

Reduced energy consumption

LED technology has brought about a revolution in the technology landscape for monitors and televisions in terms of picture quality and image clarity. The technology offers crystal-clear images, deeper blacks and the most realistic colors available today. The advanced thermal management techniques enable more light and longer LED lifetime.

LED technology saves up to 40% of power consumption. It also saves on space, resulting in an ultra-slim design that can be hung on the wall like a picture frame.

Environmental factors and the high quality display are the most important factors which are leading to the growth of LED technology in India. Gaming or entertainment, architecture, medical diagnostics etc. are some other factors driving growth.

Future of LED technology in India

In India, the response to LED technology is positive. If you talk about LED technology as a whole, in light, in television and in monitors, the future looks good for this technology. Besides television and monitors, the usage of LED technology also occurs in other applications including traffic lights, digital clocks, watches and microwave oven time displays.

Also, TFT monitors with LED technology should benefit further from 3D technology, a format that will be more readily available with LED. In addition, the power saving nature of LED technology is good news for both the consumer's energy bills and the environment.

The stage is set for LED technology to revolutionize the television and display products industry. We are already seeing it happening in the television industry and LED Monitors should grow in popularity as well.

From technology point of view, it is a green technology as it consumes less power. LED is a new technology and therefore the price gap between LED and CCFL monitors is high as of now. However, LED comes with its unique slim form factor, superior design, higher contrast ratio, low power consumption etc. However, going forward, as the technology gains prominence, the prices are expected to stabilize and the gap will reduce.

manjari.juneja@expressindia.com