LED backlight technology

LEDs are used to provide illumination for the display screens of most BRAVIA® TVs. There are three types of LED backlighting system: Edge LED, Dynamic Edge LED and Intelligent Peak LED.

How LED backlighting works

The LED backlighting system inside our TVs uses individual White LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) arranged behind or at the top and bottom of the television’s LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen to provide light for the picture.  

LED backlighting uses less energy than conventional CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lighting) backlighting, and means we can build thinner TV screens. LED backlighting can also deliver very high contrast, by directing light only to the areas of a picture which need to be bright – and leaving the dark areas un-illuminated.     

Our TVs use three types of LED backlighting: Edge LED, Dynamic Edge LED and Intelligent Peak LED.

Edge LED for the ultimate, slim design statement

Edge LED - seriously slim design

In televisions with Edge LED backlighting, the TV picture is illuminated by white LEDs which are arranged along the top and bottom edge of the liquid crystal display panel. A special guide plate then directs the light so that it shines out through the screen. Because there are no LEDs directly behind the screen, Edge LED televisions are incredibly thin and lightweight.

Dynamic Edge LED - rich cinematic picture in a slim design

Dynamic Edge LED - even richer pictures

Like the Edge LED system, Dynamic Edge LED backlighting uses white LEDs arranged along the top and bottom edge of the TV’s LCD screen. Local-dimming technology then controls the light output of individual groups of LEDs depending on the image showing. This enhances contrast of bright and dark areas in the same scene.

Intelligent Peak LED – get a real cinematic feel

Intelligent Peak LED - truly cinematic

Unlike Edge LED, Intelligent Peak LED backlighting uses many more white LEDs arranged directly behind the TV’s LCD screen to illuminate the picture – this is commonly known as Full or Direct LED. By controlling the light output of individual blocks of these LEDs, the system can light very specific parts of the picture, while dimming others to deepest blacks. It even provides localised ‘peak white’ lighting boosts, giving your television picture heightened contrast and detail; a lit match in a darkened room has never burned so bright.