Application of the technology of the University of Cambridge, LED lighting products will be very competitive

UK semiconductor manufacturers the Plessey ready to start the production of high brightness wholesale LED lighting products. Manufacturing will be adopted in a study by the University of Cambridge technology concern.

Plessey has a 6-inch wafer fab in Plymouth, UK, and the recent acquisition of a Cambridge University spin-off company CamGaN. Through this transaction, Plessey the CamGaN Company and silicon-based GaN (GaN-on-Silicon) LED wafers (epi wafer) manufacturing-related intellectual property rights and CamGaN three employees work for Plessey.

At this stage is uncertain Plessey will introduce what kind of products in this highly competitive, high-brightness LED market, Rye, that the processing of silicon die and the LED devices are likely. Can now be determined, Plessey intend to purchase a large number of metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) reactor for large-scale production of wafers in their own factories.

Plessey's chief engineer John Ellis said, so far, high brightness LED grown on large size silicon substrates to achieve the biggest technical challenges faced in the commercialization of the lattice mismatches between GaN and silicon substrates. Plessey's GaN-on-si, new technology overcame this challenge by the Plessey technical expertise, and by 6 inches automated processing equipment that cost will reduce the advantages of high brightness LED lighting products to ensure that Plessey's leading position in the industry.

LED industry believe that the transfer to the silicon substrate to achieve low-cost, high yield, high-performance lighting applications, device manufacturing technology necessary evolution. But not everyone agrees.

Even so, the LED lights to replace the traditional light bulb still has a high cost. Humphreys, Professor, Cambridge, said: "At present, LED light bulbs cost £ 40, but we hope that by leaving the cost of LEDs grown on silicon substrates decreased five times."

In fact, the LED replacement lamp costs down quickly, which means that the Plessey will need to face an equally rapid changes in the cost targets. Market research firm IMS Research in the October 2011 report pointed out that a 60W wholesale LED Gadgets average retail price of $ 36, but its price up to $ 70 in Germany and in Taiwan, but less than 20 dollars.