Higher brightness, reliability still priority in COB LED module production

Makers of COB LED modules concentrate on realizing greater power, luminous efficacy and CRI, and conforming to LM-80.

Wide adoption in LED lighting and displays spurs China suppliers of COB LED modules to keep strengthening the line, emphasizing brightness and reliability as a continuing objective.

Companies build on the lighting component's performance and cost advantages over rival SMD types to benefit further from these strong application markets. They target to achieve greater power, luminous efficacy and CRI, and boost thermal conductivity to pass LM-80 testing in a bigger number of releases. At present, makers can reach up to 130 lm/W, exceed 85 CRI and meet the LM-80 standard in high-end models. They offer units with as much as 300W rated power.

Integrating Cree chips, Shenzhen Xun Cai's variants have 20 to 150W, 110 to 130 lm/W, maximum 85 CRI, 2,700 to 10,000K color temperature and 120-degree viewing angle. The forward rate voltage is 30 to 32V, reverse voltage 0 to 5V, rated current up to 2.4A and thermal resistance 2.5 C/W, matching LM-80 requirements. Interviewed maker Shenzhen Fedy Technology Co. Ltd offers a model with 120 lm/W, as high as 90 CRI and 160-degree viewing.

Flip chip technology is getting more attention in local COB LED module manufacturing. The packaging method eliminates the use of gold wire, which reduces cost, and enables smaller configurations with enhanced thermal conductivity and as wide as a 180-degree viewing angle. Conventional COB LED modules, in comparison, support up to 120 degrees only.

More than half of Shenzhen Ming Qiang Optoelectronics Co. Ltd's shipments already consist of flip-chip kinds. The supplier will raise the share as demand increases steadily in 2019.

Globally, the LED module industry remains on the upswing. The total market scale will reach $6.1 billion by end-2018, according to projections by local market research Newsijie Industry Research Center. This is forecast to go up to $13.51 billion in 2022. In China, the sector will mirror the same upward trend, with annual growth expected at about 20 percent.

COB units represent 20 percent of China's total shipments of LED modules, and may rise to 30 percent in the next one or two years. In the backlighting sector, the component will extend reach in small-pitch LED displays and replace SMD counterparts in the near future. Shipments for the application will double by this year's end, compared with the volume in 2017. This high growth trend is anticipated to persist in 2019.

The majority of domestic companies plan to bolster output in the next one or two years. Shenzhen Ming Qiang has been increasing yield by 10 to 20 percent and will try to sustain this momentum through 2019.

There are about 200 COB LED module makers in China now. Locally owned companies constitute over 70 percent of the pool. Some focus on the category, while others are also engaged in the manufacture of SMD kinds, and high-power LEDs, LED displays and other optoelectronic components. For the latter group, COB LED modules account for 20 to 80 percent of production.

The Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta regions are still the hubs in China. The provinces of Guangdong and Fujian play host to more than 60 percent of the suppliers. The main city locations are Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhongshan and Xiamen. There are factories in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces as well.

3 to 300W LED modules

The typical selection of conventional and flip-chip COB LED modules in China consists of round and square models with 3 to 300W rated power, more than 90 lm/W luminous efficacy, over 70 CRI and 2,900 to 6,500K color temperature. There are single- and dual-color types. The products use aluminum or ceramic substrates.

Most makers accept OEM and ODM projects. Such orders make up between 30 and 60 percent of production.

For key component LED chips, local suppliers continue to rely on foreign providers Lumileds and Osram, besides Cree. Some source them from homegrown companies, including San'an and Lumei.

The other manufacturing inputs such as aluminum and ceramic substrates, gold wires and adhesives come from the domestic supply.

The cost of materials and components has remained generally stable, ensuring no changes in the price of COB LED modules. The flat trend is expected to persist through 2019.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our mainland China-based market analyst for representing current trends in COB LED modules from mainland China and Taiwan makers.

COB LED module with >0.9 power factor

From Hebei Shentong Optoelectronics Technology Co. Ltd, model ENG43FT120M-90S COB LED module has 125 lm/W luminous efficacy. Its rated voltage is 90V, rated power 12W and power factor >0.9.

An order of 1 unit is accepted. Delivery takes 7 days.

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COB LED module exceeds 80,000 hours

This COB LED module from Shenzhen Fedy Technology Co. Ltd, model FullspectrumCOBLED, has 70, 80 or 90 CRI, 120 lm/W luminous efficacy and 160-degree viewing angle. The unit has a life span exceeding 80,000 hours. It meets CE and RoHS requirements.

A minimum order of 100 units is for delivery within 7 days.

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4.5W-rated COB LED module

Shenzhen Ming Qiang Optoelectronics Co. Ltd's model MQ-18107-18B1C COB LED module has 110 lm/W luminous efficacy, 3 to 3.4V voltage range, 4V rated voltage and 4.5W rated power.

The supplier has a 10,000-unit minimum order requirement for this 107x18mm model. Delivery is within 7 days.

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100 to 120 lm/W COB LED module

Model AC7575-120W COB LED module from Super Brite Ltd has 3,000, 4,000 or 6,000K color temperature, >70 or >80 CRI and 100 to 120 lm/W luminous efficacy. The 75x75mm unit has 180 to 265VAC input voltage and 120W rated power. It operates in -15 to 50 C.

The minimum order is 2,000 units and the delivery lead time is 10 days.

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