In 2020, the sudden COVID-19 epidemic brought a huge test to the world. The lighting and display markets, which are the main applications of LED, were hit hard. However, TV backlight display was least affected, especially the development speed of Mini LED backlight that exceeded expectations.
In the first half of the year, Apple announced its product roadmap and confirmed that the new generation of MacBook and iPad Pro in 2021 will all use Mini LED; in the second half of the year, TCL 55-inch 4,500 yuan Mini LED TV and Xiaomi 82-inch 49,999 yuan Extreme Commemorative Edition Mini LED TV were released one after another; pushing the application of Mini LED in the field of TV backlight to a new height.
In this complex background, more technical The development of Mini LED with technological content is inseparable from the efforts of colleagues up and down the industry chain. At the same time, it is closely related to the very core light source device behind Mini LED TV, and this link has also attracted industry attention.
As one of the well-known providers of light source components and solutions in China, Zhaochi Optoelectronics’ TV backlight division has bucked the trend this year and has grown unanimously, and has been unanimously recognized by international and domestic brand customers. As of the second quarter of 2020, it has mass-produced and supplied products to 8 of the top ten brand TV manufacturers in the world; Recently, Zhaochi Optoelectronics announced its products, scale strategy and patent layout on the TV backlight side.
Product strategy:
Full-size coverage from computer to TV
From the main From streaming products to high-end and forward-looking backlight technology,
In terms of product strategy, Zhaochi Optoelectronics has developed a series of direct-type and side-type mainstream solutions with high light efficiency and high reliability through comprehensive product layout, covering all product needs from computer monitors to TVs.
In addition to mainstream products, Zhaochi Optoelectronics also actively integrates upstream and downstream resources and customer needs to develop high-end backlight technology products such as high color gamut, eye protection, local dimming, ultra-thin, and curved TVs. At the same time, Zhaochi Optoelectronics and Southern University of Science and Technology jointly designed the most cutting-edge quantum dot packaging technology to increase the color gamut of display products to 120%, greatly improving customers' visual experience.
In terms of the layout of Mini LED backlight, the industry's high-end backlight technology vane, Zhaochi Optoelectronics has launched the Mini LED backlight in 201 It took the lead in developing Mini LED backlight solutions in 2019, and related products entered mass production in early 2019.
Since 2019, Zhaochi Optoelectronics has been actively cooperating with domestic and international first-tier brands on Mini LED backlight solutions, and has completed the testing and development of prototypes with domestic brand customers such as BOE, Skyworth, and KONKA. At the end of 2019, it has entered the stage of in-depth technical cooperation with Japanese and Korean international customers on Mini LED.
In terms of specific product performance, Zhaochi Optoelectronics has relied on years of accumulation in CSP and flip-chip technology to lay out Mini LED NCSP solutions, COB solutions and low-cost Local Dimming solutions, as well as flip-chip SMC3030 products;
(1) Mini L ED products: Zhaochi Optoelectronics has started research and development of Mini LED technology since 2018, investing multiple resources in the development of small-pitch lenses, and designing various types of Local LEDs ranging from 55-75 inches. Dimming TV products with multiple chips and small spacing; at the same time, relying on many years of CSP mass production experience, it has launched a new generation of NCSP products suitable for Mini backlights. After several years of accumulation, Zhaochi Optoelectronics is at the leading level in the industry in terms of raw material supply chain management, process technology, inspection and testing, reliability and lifespan; for COB solutions, Zhaochi Optoelectronics has begun to cooperate with international first-tier brand customers, and is planning a COB product line. It is expected to achieve mass production and supply in 2021, and promote it to domestic and foreign TV manufacturers.
(2) SMC3030 flip-chip product: In the first quarter of 2020, Zhaochi Optoelectronics launched a flip-chip SMC solution. With higher luminous efficiency, higher reliability, and higher thermal stability than regular LEDs, flip-chip SMC3030 has the opportunity to make a difference in high-brightness, high-power, and high-end applications.
Scaling strategy:
Full industry chain layout + intelligent automated production line
40% efficiency improvement, monthly supply of 8 million units
In 2018-2019, Zhaochi expanded its packaging and backlight component workshops respectively. After the expansion, the packaging production capacity tripled and the TV backlight component production capacity tripled, which can meet the monthly demand for 5-6 million TV sets.
At present, Zhaochi Optoelectronics has taken the lead in integrating four major systems, including MES system, EM management system, yield real-time monitoring system, and automated production system, to achieve precise control of each link, full-process quality monitoring, and improve product yield. and efficiency; at the same time, relying on the experience of automated production, we have cooperated with equipment manufacturers in the industry, through overall intelligent production line design, combined with intelligent logistics and feeding systems, to connect the flow between each machine and each process product, creating a manufacturing workshop with a high degree of automation in the industry. With the continuous optimization of process reform and equipment transformation, in the second quarter of 2020, Zhaochi Optoelectronics TV Backlight Division achieved an overall efficiency increase of 40%. Through efficiency improvement and product standardization layout, it promoted the development and progress of the entire industry.
It is revealed that in the future, Zhaochi Optoelectronics plans to add 10 more intelligent high-speed SMT lines. Through the addition of new lines and the transformation of original lines, the production capacity will be greatly increased. The production scale of TV backlights is expected to increase from 5-6 million units/month to 8 million units/month, striving to become the world's largest backlight product provider.
Patent strategy:
From design structure to materials and processes
Complete global patent protection
In the TV backlight market, patents are the core basis for products to compete in the international market. It is understood that Zhaochi Optoelectronics has international patented solutions (including Japanese, European and American) from lens structure and optical patented design to LED chips, phosphors, silicone, white light processes, etc. At the same time, the company focuses on the maintenance of independent intellectual property rights, and patent applications are constantly increasing. TV backlight products have completed global patent protection, escorting the company's global TV backlight strategy.
Thanks to the global patent layout of Zhaochi Optoelectronics for many years, Zhaochi Optoelectronics provides a full set of LED backlight patent solutions for the group company Zhaochi Co., Ltd.'s TV, display and other products, assisting the sales of Zhaochi Co., Ltd. Growth against the trend and performance reached new highs.
To sum up: Zhaochi Optoelectronics has a solid foundation and market reputation in the domestic and foreign backlight markets. There must be many unknown efforts and differentiated advantages behind this, but it is also closely related to its products and scale strategy, patents and global layout, which have better matched the market demand. We hope that under the new technological wave, Zhaochi Optoelectronics can continue to bring more products in the Mini LED era and provide humans with a better visual experience.
ANNA