Colour conversion technology sets new standards

The TV standard is once again moving to a larger colour triangle with Ultra HD. Quantum Colours was developed for precisely this standard. Initial customer projects are in progress and this technology is scheduled for backlighting LEDs for the mass market by the end of 2016.

Quantum Colors is based on a green quantum converter that is combined with red phosphor on a blue chip. The technology was developed in part in the SSL4EU and Hi-Q-LED projects funded by the EU and the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and does not require any cadmium.

This results in numerous advantages over the quantum dot sheets that have been used up to now for high-quality color rendering in TV backlighting. Osram’s Quantum Colours technology offers superior coverage of the colour space because of a narrow green peak with full width at half of the maximum (FWHM) of only 30nm. This technology means that color space standards such as DCI can be covered 100% and REC2020 more than 80%. What’s more, the Osram technology does not require the system or any other components to be adapted, which simplifies the production processes and the entire system design.

Compared with quantum dot sheet solutions, which are based on semiconductor particles measuring only a few nanometers, costs can be halved. Dave Rousseau, Product Marketing Manager at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, provides an example: “A 55" TV with Ultra HD 100% DCI coverage based on OSRAM Quantum Colours technology can be provided for about $58, including all the costs of the light sources. The cost of just the quantum dot sheets in existing solutions is twice as high.”

Another advantage is the constant colour throughout the life of the LED. Quantum dot sheets take on a bluish tinge over time. As far as lifetime is concerned, Quantum Colours LEDs should last at least 30,000 hours; initial tests have produced positive results.