TOKYO — Nichia Corp. said Thursday (Dec. 21) it has developed a white LED delivering 150 lumens/W efficiency.

The prototype is packaged in the same lamp-type package used for Nichia's high-flux lamp type LED. The reported efficiency is about 11.5 times higher than conventional incandescent lamps that deliver 13 lumens/W and 1.7 times higher than widely used fluorescent lamps, Nichia said.

Even compared to high pressure sodium lamps, considered the most efficient light source, the prototype has better performance, Nichia claimed.

Nichia's white LED prototype

Powered by 20 mA current, the LED delivered a light flux of 9.4 lumens at 4,600 Kelvin color temperature. The new light source combines a blue LED chip and yellow fluorescent material.

Nichia demonstrated a 100 lumens/W LED in March, but said he has increased efficiency 1.5 times in its latest prototype. "The efficiency was achieved through accumulated fundamental research and by optimizing the package structure," a Nichia spokeswoman said.

Availability of the LED lamp was not disclosed.