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Mike Likes:
Shapeable LED backlights

Lumex has just launched its QuantumBrite Shapeable LED Backlight, a first-in-the-industry concept that provides engineers the ability to design-in holes that can be cut into the backlight in virtually any shape (for example, to allow space for a switch or other component on the circuit board).

"Engineers can now quite simply 'cut' the backlight around any obstacles they might have on their circuit boards to create a product optimized for their unique application," says Steve Sievers, product design engineer at Lumex.

This neat combination of flexible and shapeable backlight technology utilizing LEDs opens the door to a broad new range of LED backlight applications completely customizable in any shape, size, or color on both flat and curved surfaces.

The new backlight technology provides a brightness of up to 20 cd/m², making the technology ideal for applications where non-jarring, natural, and soothing lighting is required.

This is also an ultra-thin solution, which is always a big bonus. The QuantumBrite's LED backlight viewing area has a profile height of just 0.125 mm, which Lumex says is up to 97% thinner than traditional LED backlight technology and up to 79% thinner than alternative flexible LED backlight options. The profile is only marginally thicker than a standard piece of writing paper. Another cool touch is that the surface is textured with patterns specially designed for enhanced light distribution, which the maker says results in up to 30% more uniform light distribution compared to alternative flexible backlights.

The new shapeable LED backlight also generates cost savings at prices up to 30% less expensive than electroluminescent (EL) and 50% less expensive than fiber-optic backlights. Quoted costs are $1.50 to $5.00 for 1-in.² to 5-in.² units. Production lead times range from six to eight weeks.

The light provided is bright enough for visually challenging situations (such as around a cup holder in a darkened movie theater, or on in-cabin signage in an aircraft cabin), but soft enough not to be jarring (such as in automotive and roadside applications where it is important that bright lights not impair the vision of drivers).

Logo enhancement and indirect lighting provide a slew of design possibilities and inspiration. The super-thin profile makes the technology particularly well-suited for compact portable-device applications, and the material flexibility makes it possible to use the new technology on both flat and curved surfaces. Applications include: appliances, automotive/aviation, medical devices, industrial control, retail and entertainment, and even clothing.

Want more information? Click below or at right to check out the QuantumBrite Shapeable LED Backlight brochure.

Lumex

Published September 2012

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