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As always, the CES show that just ended in Las Vegas generated significant buzz. Tablet PCs and electronic book readers were hot. There were various mobile product innovations. But the most dazzling products all relied on LEDs as a key enabler. The trend toward LEDs as backlights in HDTVs gained steam with virtually every TV maker turning to that technology for leading-edge sets. LEDs are also serving as a direct light source in new projector designs. And the computer monitor segment will soon be dominated by LED backlit models. In all cases, LEDs yield lower-power and mercury-free green designs. Lets consider some examples.
In HDTVs, LED backlighting offers both the low-power and green advantages as well as improvements in image quality and styling. The image enhancements come courtesy of the TVs ability to selectively brighten or dim regions of the screen to match light and dark content in the displayed video frame. The dimming capability essentially boosts the dynamic range of the image.
Toshiba was touting LEDs as the key to its Super Local Dimming feature. The companys ZX900 Series TVs utilize 512 individually controllable backlight zones. The company claims the design yields a "dynamic contrast ratio" of effectively 9,000,000:1.
Vizio make similar dynamic contrast claims with its newest TruLED models. The larger models such as the 72-in set have 480 dimming zones while the 42-in model has 120 zones. The company claims the LED-based TVs use 50% of the power used by prior models.
LG, meanwhile, offers two different approaches to backlighting in its LED-based Infinia line |
