Makers of COB LED modules keep up with miniaturization trend

Production will steadily shift emphasis to flip-chip types, while tier-one companies pursue the development of MicroLEDs.

High brightness and brightness consistency, wide viewing angle and long operating life have been driving COB LED module adoption in lighting and displays. In the latter application, the category is forecast to replace SMD counterparts in small-pitch LED screens in the near term, while the future bodes well for MicroLEDs in this niche. The second is also based on COB technology.

To strengthen the line, China suppliers of the optoelectronic component follow through with initiatives on flip chip packaging, which eliminates wire bonding, enables greater reliability and results in smaller sizes. In the months ahead, this will have more share of local production than traditional COB types.

As for MicroLEDs, large local players such as CSOT and BOE have yet to reach industrialization, being still at the development stage. Such products, along with Mini-LEDs, are projected to take over markets dominated by SMD and conventional COB designs in small-pitch displays before expanding to TVs and car infotainment. So far, Samsung and Sony have released MicroLED displays. Ledman is one domestic display maker that has introduced a similar model with 324in and 8K specifications.

In future, MicroLEDs are anticipated to be used in AR/VR devices, smart watches and wearable electronics, and Mini-LEDs in smartphones and advertising displays.

Increasing market share

COB LED modules have a 20 percent estimated share of the small-pitch display market at present, and will push past the 50 percent mark in the next two or three years, becoming the mainstream technology.

Globally, small-pitch displays will have a market scale exceeding $5 billion by 2022, posting a CAGR of up to 28 percent from 2018, according to LEDinside. P1.1 LEDdisplays will achieve a 22 percent CAGR and P1.2 to P1.6 versions 32 percent up to 2022 from 2018.

As a result, demand for COB LED modules is expected to surge between 15 and 20 percent during the period.

The rosy outlook has been generating interest, spurring manufacturers in China's COB LED module sector to invest in the line in recent years. Up to $0.72 billion has been allocated, targeting the small-pitch display market, according to the China LED Displays Application Industry Association. This includes companies, which are mainly based in North and East China. The trend is foreseen to continue in coming months through 2021.

More than 200 suppliers make up the manufacturing segment for COB LED modules in China, of which 70 percent are local enterprises. Nationstar, Hongli and Xuyu are among the leading homegrown companies. The industry's key players that have production bases there include Osram, Philips, Nichia and Lumileds.

Most makers offer other optoelectronic components.

The provinces of Guangdong and Fujian have the largest concentration of suppliers, specifically in the cities of Dongguan, Shenzhen and Zhongshan in the first and Xiamen in the latter.

Traditional & flip-chip types

China makers of COB LED modules continue to target applications in lighting and displays, offering an established lineup of traditional wire-bond and no-wire bond or flip-chip kinds.

Both variants come in round and square options with single or two colors, 2,900 to 6,500K color temperature and more than 90 lm/W luminous efficacy. In terms of rated power, the selection has 3 to 300W units.

All releases comply with RoHS requirements, while some companies have ensured their products are tested to LM-80 standards.

Local manufacturers follow customers' requests on where to purchase LED chips to be used. Their usual foreign sources include Lumileds, Cree and Osram, while Sa'an and Lumei are among the local ones. The other components and materials come from the domestic supply.

Despite stable input cost, COB LED module prices have decreased due to intense competition. In the months ahead, these will continue to slide by 5 percent.

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

COB LED module with 110 lm/W

The EPYS25 Series model from Hebei Shentong Optoelectronics Technology Co. Ltd is a COB LED module with 110 lm/W luminous efficacy and more than 0.9 power factor. It has 200 to 240VAC input voltage and 10, 20 or 30W power.

The negotiable order quantity has a delivery lead time of 7 days.

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