Innovation Timeline

Never Before Possible Solutions

Lumileds is a global innovation leader. Our advances in OEM and aftermarket automotive lighting and accessories, camera flash for mobile devices, and light sources for general illumination, horticulture, and human-centric lighting enable our partners and customers to deliver never before possible solutions for lighting, safety, and well-being.

19
68
  • Commercialization of LEDs by HP optoelectronics division
70-1972
  • HP LEDs used in HP-35 calculator and first digital watch (Hamilton Pulsar)
87
  • Record efficiency of double heterostructure AlGaAs (650nm) LEDs on transparent substrate
88
  • High volume manufacturing of double heterostructure AlGaAs LEDs
90s
  • Pioneering AlInGaP LED innovation
  • First publication and commercial introduction of red and yellow AlInGaP LEDs
  • Continual performance breakthroughs

92
  • First LED rear applique (Ford Thunderbird)
94
  • Introduced LED package designed specifically for automotive lighting: SuperFlux
96
  • First cost-effective LED solution for automotive lighting: SnapLED
98
99
  • First automotive LED front turn signal lamp (Hyundai Equus)
  • First 100 lm/W LED: Record efficiency for AlInGaP LEDs
  • Lumileds becomes a joint venture between Philips and Agilent

00
  • First full automotive LED rear combination lamp (Cadillac DeVille)
01
  • First introduction of high power AlGaInN FlipChip light-emitting diodes
01-2003
  • First 1W power LED: LUXEON I
  • First 3W and 5W LUXEON power LED families
  • Industry's first warm white LED
04
  • First TV backlit with LEDs (Sony Qualia 005)
  • First LED for functional phone camera flash used in the Sony Ericsson: LUXEON PWF1
  • First LED daytime running lamp (Audi A8 W12)

06
  • Philips acquired Agilent Technologies’ interest in Lumileds
  • Lumileds introduced Thin Film Flip Chip architecture (TFFC): High efficiency, highest “punch” LED architecture for lighting

07
  • First full LED headlamp (Audi R8) enabled by first generation of LUXEON Altilon
  • World’s smallest, lowest cost power LED introduced: LUXEON Rebel, redefining power LED packaging
  • First to publish evidence of Auger recombination as the cause for epi droop
09
  • First to develop and manufacture ceramic phosphor for high-performance amber applications enabling industry's first PC Amber product: LUXEON Rebel PC Amber
10
  • World’s first to ship 1 billion high power LEDs
  • First to mass produce power LEDs on 150mm wafers
  • First to introduce Freedom from Binning products: LUXEON A and LUXEON S
11
  • Enabled first true replacement for 60 Watt bulb, 90 lm/W, 900 lm, 90CRI DOE L-prize bulb
12
  • First Chip-in-Frame LED product based on 8mm² multi-junction architecture for high bay and outdoor applications with leading lm/W performance: LUXEON M
  • First 50 Watt equivalent perfect-fit GU10, enabled by LUXEON H
13
  • World’s first Chip Scale Package LED
  • First combined LED lightguide, daytime running light and front turn signal (Audi A3)
  • First color tunable cell phone flash
15
  • Introduced nitride red phosphor with record-low FWHM: SLA
17
  • First illumination-grade LEDs with quantum dots
  • Lumileds officially an independent company
19
  • First Thin-Film-Side-Coat (TFSC) technology allowing for the design of significantly smaller, lighter, and more cost-efficient matrix arrays.
20
  • First Adaptive Flash for smartphones
  • First LED designed for deep dimming applications: LUXEON 3030 HE Plus Deep Dimming

21
22
  • First top emitting high power CSP LUXEON Neo Exact for Adaptive Driving Beam
23
24
  • Seamless car-wide body lighting with LUXEON 3D LED
  • First RGB multicolor MicroLED
  • First single epitaxial growth based stacked junction LED