UV LED technology supports evolving markets

Already at the forefront of the UV LED field through its established UV-A and UV-B series products, Nichia is extending its offerings to a new wide range of both SMD and COB LEDs.  Additionally, Nichia’s portfolio is now being bolstered by the 2019 introduction of its 280nm Deep UV / UV-C LED. At RadTech, the new products attracted ample attention, with Nichia receiving extremely positive feedback and a high number of enquiries. 

Erik Swenson, General Manager of Nichia America, commented: “The level of excitement and interest for solid-state UV lighting at RadTech was tremendous to experience. Much focus is justifiably on deep UV for sterilization, especially considering the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, many different creative approaches at various wavelengths are being developed. Similar to the rise of LED technology for general lighting, the UV LED sector is on a rapid growth trajectory with Nichia’s innovative solutions leading this market transformation.”

UV light technology has momentum and is a hot topic in the industry, as the light emitted kills biological impurities. In particular, LEDs in the UV-C band promise to revolutionize sterilization and disinfection, and could bring safer conditions to medical facilities – much needed in the current global environment.

Medical equipment OEMs can benefit from UV-C technology as it delivers infection prevention and control in portable devices. Equipment of this type can be deployed by healthcare workers at point-of-care, or to sterilize frequently touched surfaces such as personal electronics, medical trolleys and diagnostic devices.

The latest Nichia Deep UV LED, the 280nm NCSU334A, is designed to address mass-market demand for sterilization using solid-state lighting. Importantly, this small yet highly efficient LED delivers a typical radiant flux of 55mW (350mA), nearly double the efficiency of competing LEDs. For designers, the solution delivers better system miniaturization and highly stable long-life performance compared to previous technologies.

“With the NCSU334A we have a leading technology today.  To support expected market demand growth, we will be increasing the production capacity and releasing the next generation NCSU334B by the end of this year, further extending Nichia’s leadership position.  Our unique crystal growth technology, which has been cultivated for many years, has helped to successfully develop the world’s highest quality, highest performance, long-life UV LEDs, spanning UV-A, UV-B and UV-C, and achieving a significant lifetime improvement over conventional UV lamps,” added Swenson.

Nichia expects its UV portfolio to be play a role in completely replacing conventional mercury lamps and their associated environmental issues. In turn, the technology will further develop a market that leverages the characteristics of solid-state lighting and hopefully address a major global issue.