Miniaturization, Smart Trends in LED Drivers

Sensors, wireless and other technologies enhance LED driver functionality despite smaller designs

by Vianie Li & Cecile de Veyra

Miniaturization of electronic components will continue and enable smaller but powerful electronic devices. LED drivers are no exception to this trend: they continue to shrink in size despite the addition of sensing, wireless and other technologies that support their expanding functionalities. From ensuring the optimum performance of LEDs and extending their life span, these self-contained power supplies are also responsible for investing them with color-changing, dimming, sensing and connectivity capabilities. This results in high-density circuits, which can pose thermal challenges that can impact driver efficiency.

To address this issue, China suppliers of LED drivers are placing equal emphasis on power, efficiency and miniaturization. They also manage EMI for enhanced product reliability and stability. Some have also introduced variants that enable lighting to be controlled remotely via app and voice assistants. Such LED power supplies incorporate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions and may have additional features such as ensuring flicker-free and dimming operations. This is expected to become a trend, with more Chinese companies releasing smart LED drivers.

Robust market

Encouraging these product developments is the robust growth of the global LED lighting industry. Based on Grand View Research’s projections, this market will achieve 12.5 percent CAGR from 2021 and reach $135.58 billion by 2028.

The LED driver segment was valued at $8.7 billion worldwide in 2021 and is expected to be in the scale of $24.87 billion by 2027 at 10.2 percent CAGR from 2022, according to the IMARC Group. This will go up further to $62.148 billion by 2030 based on the latest report released by P&S Intelligence, which from 2021 means a significant 24.4 percent CAGR. The top application is lighting, followed by automotive lighting. Demand in the latter industry is driven by the growing adoption by OEMs and vehicle owners of laser lights and LEDs.

In China, AskCI said that LED drivers reached a production value of $5.8 billion in 2021, posting 10.85 percent growth YoY and nearly doubling what was realized in 2016.

Manufacturers interviewed by Global Sources are anticipating two-digit growth in the next two years, with many attributing the increasing demand for LED drivers to developments in the smart city and smart home spheres.

This positive outlook is attracting investment in the category. A major Chinese LED driver supplier, Guangdong Kegu allocated $9.69 million for a facility in Foshan, which is scheduled to start mass production in 2023. This project is expected to turn out 20 million LED drivers annually, with sales value amounting to $71.42 million.