Three to Share Takeda Award for LED Research

TOKYO & MENLO PARK, Calif., Sept. 18 -- Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano, both of Meijo University, and Shuji Nakamura of the University of California, Santa Barbara, will share an $833,000 Takeda Award for their work on blue light-emitting semiconductor devices.

The annual award by the Takeda Foundation, to be presented Nov. 20 in Tokyo, was established last year to recognize those who have made outstanding achievements in information and electronics, the life sciences and the environment.

Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura will receive the information and electronics category award.

A Takeda Foundation press release said, "Development of the blue light emitting diode (LED) and laser diode is the final link in completing the light spectrum for semiconductor devices. The blue LED has enabled the development of the next generation of large-capacity CDs/DVDs, which will increase by sixfold the amount of digital content (audio, video, television, photographs, etc.) that can be stored on a single disc."

The blue LED has completed the light spectrum for semiconductor devices, thereby enabling the creation of the white LED, according to the foundation.

"LED lighting has many advantages over traditional incandescent light bulbs, including higher energy efficiency, longer life (by several years) and brighter, clearer light, even in direct sunlight.

"This has resulted in the use of LEDs in traffic signals, for backlight in car displays and electronic devices, and for full-color, outdoor screens. In the future, it is expected that white LED lighting will replace incandescent bulb lighting," said the press release.

For more information, visit: www.takeda-foundation.jp