Sharp will begin supplying LED backlights for LCD televisions to Sony, expanding their alliance in LCD panels, the Nikkei business daily reported today. And the two companies will also jointly develop next-generation backlights, according to the report.

Nu Horizons Electronics has signed a distribution agreement with Sharp Microelectronics Europe for the UK and Nordic territories. Nu Horizons currently distributes Sharp's electronic components in North America. The new deal marks the distributor's first major LED, optoelectronics and display module franchise in European markets.

The Sharp LC-40LB700X allows a user to watch TV and also play Blu-ray, DVD and CD discs. The integrated Blu-ray player features BD-LIVE to access additional content via an internet connection and a USB terminal for added local storage. High definition audio is achieved with spectacular sound reproduction thanks to 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-HD high resolution audio output.

Sharp Corporation will introduce into the Japanese market four models (60V-inch, 52V-inch, 46V-inch, and 40V-inch*1) of the LX Series “LED AQUOS” LCD TVs from November 10, 2009. Coming on the verge of 2010, the tenth anniversary of the first AQUOS LCD TVs, this series employs a newly developed LCD panel and an LED backlight.

Sharp Electronics announced the availability of its range of AQUOS Full Screen LED backlight LCD TVs for commercial use. Originally introduced to the world’s media in August this year, the ultra-low energy, affordable LE600 and LE700 televisions are expected to be popular for digital signage and multimedia applications. The LE600 is available in 32”, 40” and 46” models with the LE700 spanning the same range with the addition of a 52” model.

Sharp extends its range of industry-compatible LCDs with LED background lighting with two new displays in diagonals of 12.1 and 23 inches. The range now comprises nine displays with screen diagonals of 2.5 to 23 inches.

Breakthrough New Line of LED Backlit LCD TVs Bring Superior Brightness and Image Quality Combined with Industry’s Lowest Power Consumption for True Value

The new LED series from Sharp encompasses eight new white SMD chip LEDs in PLCC2 packages. Their main feature is the high color rendering index of 80 and a light efficiency of up to 90 lm/W, depending on model. Sharp offers herewith its high brightness LEDs with an optimized light quality.

Sharp Corporation will introduce into the Japanese market nine models of LED lamps. With the same standard screw-in base and fit in the same sockets as ordinary incandescent lamps, the lamps are easy to use as replacements for ordinary lamps.

At the Society for Information Display’s (SID’s) Display Week 2009 conference in San Antonio, TX, Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas (SMA) announced an expansion to its LED-backlit and touch screen display product lines. Two new TFT-LCDs – one 5.0-inch panel with resistive touch and one 7.0-inch panel – deliver LED backlighting rated at 50,000 hours of operation. Additionally, both panels feature built-in LED drivers, saving engineers time, effort, and expense.

Sharp Corp recently released 10 models of LED street lamps which are designed with lenses for widening the illumination area, with one of the models equipped with solar battery.

In addition to the LED Lighting Module “Zenigata“, Sharp plans to expand its LED Line-up with white and RGB high brightness chip LEDs. It consists of 21 different types of white light LEDs and 11 different types of monochrome and RGB LEDs. The company notes they offer a high light performance of up to 90 lumen per watt.

It’s reported that Sharp Corporation and Nichia Corporation have entered into a patent cross-licensing agreement covering LEDs and laser diodes to respond to market demand for LED lighting products and Blu-ray Disc recorders.

It’s reported that the use of LED backlights in LCD TVs will start to grow rapidly from 2009 as TV makers introduce slimmer models.

In the IFA 2008, many manufacturers introduced LED TVs to show their capability of combining LED and TV technology.SamsungFor example, Samsung introduced the A950 series, which supports Full HD(1920*1080) with screens made 46 or 55 inches, and adopts LED back light, which can control the brightness more efficiently.Sony

Why use LED backlight？A few days ago in the IFA 2008 hosted in Berlin，many of the branded TV manufacturers introduced LED-backlighted TVs(LED TV)，aimed at the top layer of customers. Some leading manufacturers such as Sony and Samsung already introduced LED TV in 2006，but with the costs of LED have decreased and the LED technology has progressed rapidly, LED TV has moved toward a real product rather than just a demonstration of technology.

Sharp Corporation will introduce into the Japanese market two models of solar-powered LED street lights that combine Sharp’s proprietary solar (photovoltaic) modules and high-intensity, long-life white LEDs (light emitting diodes). The LN-LW3A1 Solar-Powered LED Street Light delivers brightness at the industry’s highest level (instrument-measured luminous flux: 1,800 lumens) rivaling the light output from a regular 32-W fluorescent security light (which uses six compact fluorescent tubes) that is becoming the dominant product for this application.

It’s reported that Japanese consumer electronics maker Sharp Corp announced it aims to generate sales of $1.8 billion from LED market by the business year to March 2013. Moreover, Sharp would enter the lighting gear market with energy-saving LED technology to establish a new earnings pillar in addition to its flat panel and solar cell businesses this month.

It’s reported that Sharp is introducing 6 new downlights and 5 new oblong/square energy-efficient LED fixtures for factories, offices, and commercial spaces to the Japanese market.  

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. will begin test production of next-generation displays for TVs next year with plans for commercial output as early as 2011. Competition is heating up among the world's electronics makers, including Japanese rival Sony Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea, in OLED, or organic light-emitting diode, displays.