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What is Mini-LED backlight technology?

For several decades now, fierce competition and digital technologies stimulate innovative boom in the consumer electronics segment. First of all, it manifests itself in the segment of high-tech devices, including projectors, TVs, robotic vacuum cleaners, etc. For example, the list of innovative technologies developed in recent years for TVs includes HDR technology, HDMI 2.1 standard, 10 and 12-bit color depth, HFR (high frame rate) format, Micro LED, etc. Mini-LED Backlight technology has taken a worthy place in this list. As known, it was developed and first introduced by the Chinese TCL company at CES 2019.

Backlight TV

As known, all modern LCD TVs use LEDs for backlighting. But OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TVs use their own radiation of organic diodes and do not require backlighting. As a consequence, they provide absolutely black and, accordingly, endless contrast, which characterizes the white / black ratio. As known, LEDs emit light when exposed to electricity and are widely used in consumer electronics. Companies usually placed LEDs on the edges (Edge-LED backlight) or behind the screen (Direct-LED backlight). Each LED backlight type has its pros and cons. But modern TVs are increasingly using FALD (full-array local dimming), which is an improved version of Direct-LED backlight.

The rapid spread of this technology was due to the growing popularity of HDR (high dynamic range) technology. In this case, TV dims the LEDs behind dark sections of the image, increasing contrast between the bright and dark areas of the image. Of course, reducing the brightness of each pixel also increases the visualization of contrast. However, this task is technically very difficult for the LCD. As known, LED TV creates an image by blocking the backlight. But the LCD-matrix only partially blocks light, creating a grayer image with fewer black gradations compared to, for example, an OLED matrix. To solve this problem, engineers developed Local dimming technology, which adjusts the backlight in areas of the screen depending on the frame content.

In fact, the further development of this technology has become the basis for FALD. Today, backlight technology is one of the main specs of TV, significantly affecting image quality. Therefore, modern models use several types of backlighting, depending on the class.

Mini-LED backlight technology

Of course, each of the 8 million pixels in a 4K TV cannot have its own LED for backlighting. Actually, each group of LEDs (they are called dimming zones) illuminates tens and even hundreds of thousands of pixels. For example, their average number varies about 100 for ordinary models, and reaches several hundred for top models. Unfortunately, sizes, energy drain, heat generated and cost limits the increase in their quantity. Usually their sizes vary in the range of about 1000 microns (0.04 inches), but today companies produce mini-LEDs measuring about 200 microns (0.02 inches). Unfortunately, they have less brightness compared to conventional LEDs due to the reduction of material to create the light. Of course, an increase in voltage and current increases their brightness, but this drastically reduces their longevity. But the improvement of mini LED production technology has allowed engineers to expand these boundaries by increasing their efficiency. As a result, TCL's engineers developed "Quantum Contrast" mini-LED backlight technology based on them. Of course, mini LEDs are more expensive, but their pros compensate for this aspect.

Due to the reduced size of the LEDs, the company was able to place over 25,000 mini-LEDs the back of the TV, which are grouped into around 1,000 dimming zones. In comparison, the 75-inch Vizio Quantum X uses only 485 local dimming zones, and the Sony XBR-85Z9G 8K TV costing about $ 13,000 has 720 zones. As a result, more accurate dimming of screen areas significantly increases the overall contrast ratio due to the reduction in the diffuse lighting of dark objects. Moreover, the company can increase the brightness of LEDs without fear of artifacts, providing improved contrast in various scenes.

Conclusion

Of course, this technology cannot compete with OLED or MicroLED, which control every pixel. But, this technology drastically improves the contrast of LED TVs, and may well claim an alternative to OLED technology. Today, TCL offers 8-series Roku TVs, including the 65-inch TCL 65Q825 and 75-inch TCL 75Q825 with this technology. This video offers the announcement of the 8-series TCL TVs with Mini-LED backlight technology. Read the full article

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Direct-LED backlight vs Edge-LED backlight in TVs

Of course, the TV choice depends on the image quality. In turn, image quality depends on the quality of the LED backlight. As known, LCD pixels do not emit light and require a backlight. LED backlight is most popular in modern TVs. It's subdivided into Direct LED and Edge LED. Direct LED uses LEDs behind the matrix across its surface, and Edge LED uses LEDs along the perimeter of its side surface. In this case, the light falls on a special splitter, then redirected to the diffuser and dissipates over the surface of the matrix.

Direct LED

The LED strips inside the matrix container are arranged parallel to each other. The distance between the LEDs is 3 to 5 inches, depending on the type of LED strip.

PROS: - uniform backlight. CONS: - relatively large thickness of the matrix. Uniform backlight requires a high-quality optical diffuser that affects the thickness of the matrix container. Therefore, these models are significantly thicker compared to Edge LED.

Edge LED

Of course, this backlight is the cheapest and easiest. But LEDs for backlight are located at the edges behind the screen. The number and location of LED strips is the main difference. Budget models use only one or two LED stripes on the bottom, top or side. Expensive 4K TVs often have LED stripes on all four edges (all sides configuration).

Typically, companies indicate a backlight configuration - all sides, only on one side (usually on top or bottom) or on two sides (usually on the sides). Of course, all sides configuration is optimal for local dimming and ensures maximum depth and uniformity of the black level on the screen. But today it's less popular because of the high cost that is due to the large number of LEDs. PROS: - thin matrix; - high brightness; - low energy consumption. CONS: - excessive lighting on the edge of the screen; - models with Edge LED are expensive compared to Direct LED; - uneven LED backlight.

Improved LED backlight

Of course, competition between companies is accompanied by a continuous improvement of technology. Therefore, today manufacturers use various innovative solutions, improving Direct LED and Edge LED. For example, FALD (full-array local dimming) and NANO Full LED are improved versions of Direct LED. LED Plus, in fact, Edge LED with the option of extended local dimming. Direct LED backlight is used in 9 series of Philips and Sony models. LG TVs of 9 series are also equipped with a Direct LED backlight, but its quality is lower. LED backlight is always on, and crystals pass light even when closed. Therefore, this technology does not provide the low black level and the high contrast for color transitions (the picture quality is inversely proportional to the black level). This problem is solved by companies with the help of Local Dimming technology that provides independent on/off of individual groups of LEDs in different areas of the screen.