Nichia Corp. has developed a white light source with a luminance of near 10,000,000 cd/m2, using GaN semiconductor laser diodes. This luminance is almost equivalent to that of high-end halogen lamp products and conventional HID (high intensity discharge) lamps, and a digit higher than that of a white light-emitting diode (LED). A white light beam of 50 lm can be acquired from a round head of only 1.25 mm in diameter. The company will start sample shipments in the second half of 2005 as a replacement for halogen lamps and HID lamps.
The light source generates white light by combining light emitted from either a blue semiconductor laser diode using GaN materials or a blue violet semiconductor laser diode, and fluorescent materials that change the light wavelengths. The product consists of a light source unit containing a semiconductor laser diode, and an optical fiber whose end is coated with fluorescent materials. An optical lens directs lights emitted from the semiconductor laser diode into the end of the optical fiber, which then discharges white light from the other fluorescent materials coated end. Manufacturers can position the optical fiber's light emitting head away from the light source by winding the optical fiber, which, given its mechanical flexibility, could be up to a few meters long. The company explained that the light emitting head needs little cooling, because the light source, which generates heat during operation, can be located at a distance away from the head.
Satoshi Ookubo, Nikkei Electronics
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