After releasing Pad Extension Chip (PEC) in 2013, LED chip manufacturer Epistar, has improved the technical and support system for the product, and now the product is applied in direct-type LED TV backlight, lighting and flash lights. Epistar’s PEC chips will be applied in large volumes in direct-type LED TV next year, with target products being 32 inch to 45 inch LED TVs. The company’s orders are mainly from China and South Korea, said Epistar Deputy Director of Marketing Center, Dr. Chiu-Lin Yao while attending LEDforum 2014 held in Taipei, Taiwan on Oct. 24, 2014.

Epistar Deputy Director of Marketing Center, Dr. Yao Chiu Lin. (LEDinside)

PEC has the advantages of being wire-bonding free, low thermal resistance and high overdrive, which allows it to instantly generate high lumen output within a small space, and achieve high Cost/Performance ratio (lm/$). LED usage volume in TV backlight can be reduced, by applying PEC chips in direct-type TV. For example, PEC technology can reduce LED usage volume in old LED TV models from 24 LEDs to only 12 to 16, said Yao. In addition, only a few manufacturers have secondary optic lens patent ownership, which has led to continual high costs. Not to mention packaging technology challenges have made assembly cost reduction a difficult task. PEC technology enables secondary optics lens to effectively achieve high lumen output in a small area and reduce the amount of secondary optics lens required in production, effectively reducing the overall systematic cost.

Reducing LED chip usage volume will not affect Epistar’s revenue, said Yao. The statement was drawn from findings based on the company internal assessment of LED demands, which showed a balance can be achieved between revenue balance and  growth. Flip chip technology is not something new in the industry, but Epistar PEC excels in cost-effectiveness, efficiency and product quality. Additionally, the product’s supporting measures has won over customers.

Other PEC applications include replacing COB in chip packaging, filament lamps and mobile phone flash and any applications that require an instantaneous high current. Currently, Epistar’s PEC revenue comes mainly from lighting and flash applications, but by 2015 revenue is expected to more than double as direct-type LED TV backlight applications is expected to become the main revenue source for PEC products.

(Author: Angela Yang, Reporting Editor, LEDinsidehttp://Translator: Lik-Chin Low Editor, LEDinside)