Nagoya, November 13, 2001 – Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. today announced that it has successfully developed a new type of white light emitting diode (LED) with an unprecedented level of brightness. The "TG White Hi" LED incorporates a gallium-nitride (GaN)-based blue LED with a newly developed phosphor to achieve luminosity levels as high as 400 millicandela (mcd).*

The TG White Hi will be offered in various packaging options, including SMD (Surface Mount Device) and LED lamps. Toyoda Gosei will begin sales of technical samples of the TG White Hi this December; the company will ramp up production and launch sales in February 2002.

The new phosphor in the TG White Hi was developed by an Austrian company, Tridonic Optoelectronics GmbH, and two German companies, Leuchtstoffwerk Breitungen GmbH and Litec GbR. Toyoda Gosei is a licensee and has secured sublicensing rights for the phosphor. The three European companies and Toyoda Gosei have applied jointly for a patent for the TG White Hi worldwide.

*A luminous intensity of 400 mcd has been achieved in case 3Å~3mm SMD(Surface
Mount Device) type at 20 mA forward current.