By Steve Sechrist

Luminus Devices announced it is shipping a new LED chip set (PhlatLight PT120) optimized for DLP technology, specifically the xHD5 1080p DLP chip  used in many high-end MDTVs.  The new RGB LED package offers more than 1500 white lumens, suitable for sets up to 62 inches, the company announced. 

Luminus said one of the biggest advantages of solid-state LED illumination is the ability to cycle at 2.9 kHz, which is 48 times faster than the 60Hz refresh of traditional TV frame rates.  This results in stunning motion reproduction and is a good complement to the TI 1080p chip set. 

LED offers many advantages as a video light source, including increased color gamut, high reliability, long life (up to 60K hours), instant on, simpler light-engine design that allows for thinner set designs, and the elimination of hazardous materials. 

But beyond the technical improvements of this new product, LED illumination offers some compelling upgrade opportunities for existing DLP TV makers.  Toshiba, for instance, uses the TI xHD5 chip in four of their nine MD sets.  Luminus said the PhlatLight PT120 chipset is now being designed into a number of DLP HDTVs that use this DLP chip, and these sets have screen sizes as large as 62 inches.  Several models from various manufacturers will be commercially available in 2007.

While the sets won’t be cheaper than arc-lamp-based MDTVs, the “solid-state” moniker has long been sought by TV makers looking for the “instant-on” experience that solid-state (transistor sets) brought to market in the 1960’s – not to mention the improved lifetime numbers and overall reduced operating costs. 

Our take: Brightness and cost have remained the two main hurdles to the adoption of LED illumination.  With this announcement from Luminus we may well be on the road to a whole new generation of high-performance LED-based MDTV sets with killer image quality. 

Luminus, an MIT spin-off and patent holder of photonic lattice technology, has come a long way in improving LED brightness.  As adoption of the technology expands we can look to economies of scale to bring reduced prices that will, in turn, spur demand even further.  Perhaps – even in the midst of the flat-panel revolution – there may yet be an MDTV in your future.  –SS

About Insight Media:   Insight Media http://www.insightmedia.info is a leading market and technology research firm providing its unique Opportunity Analysis  for manufacturers and resellers of electronic displays and their components.  Opportunity Analysis evaluates technology, market data, competitive factors, user applications, business and distribution elements and combines them into an integrated strategic operational guide.  Insight Media also provides timely newsletters, detailed assessments, global market reports, focused industry conferences, and tactical consulting.

Steve can be contacted at steve@insightmedia.info