LED chip maker Epistar claims to have achieved a record efficacy of 168 lm/W for red-emitting AlGaInP LED chips.

Taiwan-based LED chip maker has developed the latest generation of its Aquarius-series AlGaInP LEDs, which demonstrated 168 lm/W efficacy at a dominant wavelength of 610 nm when driven by 20mA.

Developed in the company’s Epistar Lab, the small-area LED chips measure 14x14 mil (0.36 x 0.36 mm), and have an efficacy of 180 lm/W at 6mA.

Epistar says that its novel light-extracting technology has enabled an increase from 133 lm/W to 168 lm/W. The chart shows the new generation of Aquarius-series chips with higher efficacy and lower forward voltage as compared to previously announced AX14.

The chips have a horizontal structure to satisfy chip-on-board (COB) packages for lighting applications which require multiple chips mounted in series on non-conductive substrates.

Epistar says that this level of performance “promises to make these small chips a preferred choice for outdoor display, and RGB back-light unit (BLU) applications.”

Furthermore, says Epistar, these red chips could be combined with other colors to enable warm-white LEDs with higher efficacy and a better color rendering index than would be achieved through conventional blue LED conversion with phosphors.

The new generation of Aquarius-series AlGaInP LEDs have been demonstrated in the laboratory, but plans are “already in motion to transfer the technology to Epistars product line,” says the company. Further development of higher-efficacy AlGaInP LEDs is also under way.

About the Author 

Tim Whitaker is the Editor of LEDs Magazine.