The partnership will make Seoul's Led products more readily available to North American manufacturers though LightSpeed, Avnet’s new illumination-focused business unit – see Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas launches Avnet LightSpeed (Sept 2006).
Seoul Semiconductor recently introduced a number of new LED technologies, such as the brightest single-die white LED available, as well as Acriche, the world’s only LED that can be driven directly from household AC mains current (see Related Stories). Both will be available from Avnet Electronics Marketing.
Seoul and Avnet both say that LED breakthroughs such as these will serve as the lighting source of choice for automotive designers, commercial/residential lighting and tactical flashlight manufacturers, architects, traffic signaling and signage applications for years to come.
"Approximately 20 percent of the electricity generated in the world is now consumed by lighting, through the use of inefficient bulbs or fluorescent tubes with their high attendant maintenance costs," said Cary Eskow, director of Avnet LightSpeed.
"Advanced LED technology from Seoul will revolutionize many segments of the lighting industry, because high brightness LEDs generate light using just a fraction of the energy. For example, at 100 lumens per watt, Seoul’s new P4 LED outpaces fluorescents and is five to six times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs."
Unlike other distributors, Avnet’s LightSpeed unit works with customers through a national team of dedicated illumination-focused engineers called "Illumineers" who have experience in thermal, drive stage and optics design. When combined with Seoul’s nearly 1,000 patents and strong emphasis on LED research and development over its twenty-year history, Eskow says he considers the combination a differentiator for Avnet’s customers.
Seoul’s CEO says Avnet’s approach to the illumination market is one reason for the partnership. “We selected Avnet as our strategic partner in this venture for several important reasons,” said Mr. C. H. Lee, CEO of Seoul Semiconductor. “First is their broad reach into many emerging illumination sectors; second is the LightSpeed team’s unique technical knowledge of LEDs and the associated optical, thermal, and analog solutions; and of course, Avnet’s extensive offering of related semiconductors and supply chain services.”
