LED Backlight minimizes power consumption of LCD displays.

Press Release Summary:



Based on XThin® blue and green LEDs mounted to thermally conductive substrate, LED Backlight consumes 40 W, as compared with 100 W for other LED backlighting solutions and 45 W for CCFL-based solutions. It offers peak brightness of 300 NITS at thermal equilibrium. Color and brightness uniformity exceeds ANSII 9-point test for LCD displays. With LED backlighting, large computer and TV screens can be designed that do not require active cooling.



Original Press Release:



Cree LED Backlight Solution Lowers Power Consumption of LCD Displays



Lower power consumption leads to less heat in LCD monitors and TVs

Boston, MA, - May 23, 2005 - Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), a market leader in LED solid-state lighting components, today unveiled its unique LED backlighting approach that reduces power
consumption in larger format LCD monitors and televisions by 60 percent compared with other LED backlighting solutions and 12 percent compared with traditional compact fluorescent (CCFL)-based backlighting options. The new backlighting solution is based on Cree's energy efficient, high brightness XThin® blue and green LEDs mounted to a thermally conductive substrate. Cree will be privately demonstrating this latest innovation during the SID International Symposium, which is taking place May 22-27 in Boston.

By significantly reducing power consumption, television and computer monitor makers can design larger screens that do not require active cooling, eliminating the need for fans, heat pipes and heat sinks associated with first generation LED backlit LCD panels. Manufacturers benefit from lower production costs as computer monitors and televisions can be significantly thinner relative to current LED backlighting solutions. Display systems that generate less heat can also maintain brightness and color uniformity over a longer period of time.

"Initially, LED-based backlighting solutions for larger LCD monitors and televisions were applauded for significantly improving color rendering. It's now clear that energy savings can also be significant if the backlighting system is designed for high energy efficiency," notes Jerry Simmons, who manages the Solid State Lighting R&D Program at Sandia National Laboratories.

"Sandia is working with LED industry leaders such as Cree in ongoing research and development efforts to further increase the energy efficiency of LED technology. However, it is equally important to improve LED brightness and uniformity to spur the widespread adoption of this technology and to dramatically reduce energy consumption now and into the future.

Advances such as this will make a significant reduction in the nation's energy consumption." "The industry recognizes the dramatic visual benefits provided by new LED-based backlit LCD
televisions and computer monitors," notes Mike Dunn, Cree vice president and general manager in charge of backlighting systems. "Cree's backlighting approach exploits the full range of solid state lighting benefits to achieve significant increases in energy efficiency, durability, longer life and greater product design flexibility, which in turn leads to a more cost-effective and higherquality LCD monitor and television screen."

Key benefits of Cree's backlighting solution, demonstrated by a prototype large format LCD monitor, include:
o Power consumption of 40 watts, as compared with 100 watts for other LED backlighting solutions and 45 watts for CCFL-based solutions.
o Peak brightness of 300 NITS at thermal equilibrium.
o Color and brightness uniformity exceeding ANSII 9-point test for LCD displays.

Cree targets making its backlighting solution commercially available for use in LCD computer monitors and televisions by late 2005. Additional information can be obtained by calling Cree Lighting at 919-313-5300.

About Cree, Inc.
Cree is an advanced semiconductor company that leverages its expertise in silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) materials technology to produce new and enabling semiconductors.
The products include blue, green and near ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diodes (LEDs), near UV lasers, radio frequency (RF) and microwave devices, and power switching devices. Cree
understands the important convergence of science, technology and creativity, placing high value on ideas, as well as the energy and ability of its people. Potential applications for these products include solid-state illumination, power switching, wireless infrastructure and optical storage. For
additional product specifications, please refer to the data sheets on Cree's website at www.cree.com.

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