In 2011, Technology licensing company Rambus planed to start quantity production of an LCD TV backlight unit (BLU), with MicroLens' edge-type single-side (on the bottom) LED technology. It is possible that the mount of using LEDs in a 40-inch model would reduce to 142 unite from 240 units at present.

Rambus noted that its MicroLens technology focused the light distribution of light guide plates to improve edge-type BLU efficiency, resulting in reduced LED usage. And the technology enables slim light guide plates that measure less than 0.3mm to lower material costs. Meanwhile, the light guide plate cost in a 46-inch model could fall to US$20, versus US$30 currently.

The company said, recently, the 40-inch or larger products, and dual-side (top and bottom) BLU designs accounted on about half of the LED TV market.  In 2011, more and more models with left and right BLU designs and single-side technology would be the key to reducing cost. Rambus expected a 20% market penetration of LED-backlit LCD TVs in 2010, and believed it could reach 50%, if prices fell within 10% of CCFL models.

Using single-side designs (bottom), Rambus expected 46-inch LED TVs in 2011 would use 172 LEDs, down from 240 in 2010 and further drop to 142 in 2012. The 55-inch LED TV would use single-side edge-type models of this size by mid-2011.

For the lighting sector, the company expected to further expand LED lighting market. In December 2009, Rambus acquired the optical electronics team and patents for MicroLens from Global Lighting Technologies (GLT) for US$26 million.

Recently, both Rambus and GE Lighting signed a licensing agreement for the use of Rambus' lighting patents, including its product reference designs and manufacturing process. Both of them initial focus would be to create a flat-panel LED lighting system for architectural and commercial lighting for global markets. Quantity production was scheduled for 2011.