9 Light Guide Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for light guides as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 9 light guide manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked light guide companies as of April, 2024: 1.Cochief Industrial Co., Ltd., 2.RSP Inc., 3.Elite Technology.
Table of Contents
What Is a Light Guide?
A light guide, or light guide plate, is an optical component that captures and directs light from a peripheral light source, such as LEDs, to a desired area.
There are two main types: injection-molded light guides and optical fiber light guides. Injection-molded light guides, made from transparent materials like polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC), offer design flexibility and can be shaped into various forms like strips or circles, tailoring light distribution and brightness. Optical fiber light guides, typically produced through extrusion molding, are limited to certain cross-sectional shapes but do not require individual molding dies, reducing initial costs.
Optical fiber light guides are bendable and distribute light uniformly without specific optical design. However, they may not be ideal for directional illumination or brightness control.
Uses of Light Guides
Light guides are used in various applications, including automotive interior lighting, industrial equipment, and household appliances. They allow for efficient, uniform light distribution, even from distant LEDs. Automotive applications include bright line lights, backlighting for switches, and lighting for ports and indicator lights.
Injection-molded light guides provide adjustable light direction and are classified into blast, prism, and dot methods, each with distinct illumination characteristics. The blast method offers uniformity without visible patterns, while the prism method is brighter but not suitable for direct illumination. The dot method balances brightness and pattern visibility.
Principles of Light Guides
Light guides manipulate light emission through surface features like protrusions or scattering effects. In a transparent, mirror-like acrylic part, light enters one side, reflects internally, and exits the opposite side. Surface features can scatter light, allowing it to exit in various directions, achieving desired lighting effects.
Structure of Light Guides
Light guides consist of bundled optical fiber strands, encased in a protective steel tube, with socket caps on both ends. Strand types vary based on intensity, wavelength, and heat requirements. Optical processing methods include prism processing, embossing, and dot processing, each providing different lighting effects.
Branching structures in light guides allow light from a single source to be distributed through multiple outlets. While this reduces the number of light sources needed, branching can diminish the light intensity from each outlet.
How to Choose Light Guides
When selecting light guides, consider the application's specific needs. Optical fiber light guides offer flexibility and uniform line illumination but may require fixed structuring. Injection-molded light guides, while requiring initial investment for molds, are more cost-effective for mass production of similar shapes.
List of 9 Light Guide Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- Japan
- Taiwan
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Elite Technology
LIGHT GUIDE FILM
Manufacturer Overview
Elite Technology is an American ISO 9001 certified contract manufacturer of injection molded products that was established in 1993. Based in Garner, North Carolina, the company offers various injection molding capabilities, including plastic and silicone injection molding, design for manufacturability, prototyping, quality control, and logistics services. It primarily produces light guide films, electronic membrane switches, resistive touch screens, and elastomeric connectors. Elite Technology mainly serves clients in the consumer electronics, aerospace, medical, and automotive industries.
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RSP Inc.
LIGHT GUIDE FILM
Manufacturer Overview
RSP Inc. has been a contract manufacturer of plastic molding and leveraging products in Brookfield, Wisconsin, USA, since 1964. The company's catalog features touch screens, rubber keypads, printed graphics, and membrane switches. It also manufactures PCB assemblies, wire harnesses, prototypes, metal fabrications, and light guide films for use in the education, energy, industrial, printing, and medical sectors. The company is FDA-approved, UL-listed, RoHS compliant, and certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485.
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Manufacturer Overview
SUMITA New Glass & Fiber Optics, established in 1953, is a manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Saitama, Japan, specializing in the production and distribution of light and optical glass products. The company's range of products includes optical glass materials, aspherical/specialty lenses, optical devices, small lens units, and fiber optic components. These products find applications in industrial equipment, automobiles, medical devices, energy, and measurement devices. They hold certifications such as ISO9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, and ISO14001:2015.
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CHUO PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD.
Light Guides
Manufacturer Overview
CHUO PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. (Chuo Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha), founded in 1955, is a Japanese manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, specializing in precise positioning units as well as optical machines and equipment. The company’s portfolio includes automatic and motorized stages and actuators, manual mechanical stages, stage accessories, and controllers. Automatic stage applications include sample table of laser repair and mapping systems, whereas manual stage applications encompass camera position adjustment for glass substrate and/or film inspection systems and prober position adjustment. Further offerings include microscopes and tool scopes, automation products for microscopes, as well as optical accessories, components, and instruments.
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Sing Mas Enterprise Co.,Ltd.
Light Guide Flexible type
Manufacturer Overview
Sing Mass Enterprise Co Ltd, founded in the year 1980, and based in Taiwan, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of acrylic products. Their product portfolio includes acrylic bars, rods, tubes, sheets, and blocks along with diffusers, LGP, reflectors, and curtain wands. The products are used in various applications which include lighting, decoration, display, building, and automotive. The company is ISO certified with a high-quality product range. The company also offers consulting services and technical support.
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U-TECHNOLOGY Co.,Ltd.
Light Guide
Manufacturer Overview
U-TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd., a company founded in 1992 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer that specializes in optical parts and peripherals. The company offers various products, including prisms, robots, video equipment, and experimental equipment. It also has a technical center in Kawagoe, Japan, for technical activities related to its products and services. Its Soleil Series Synthetic Sunlight LEDs provide the health benefits of sunlight with incredible 97+ CRI lighting, allowing true colors to shine. The company has achieved the STAR certification from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA). Moreover, it serves the lighting industry.
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Oshino Lamps
Light guide
Company Overview
Oshino Lamps, established in March, 1931, a company based in Higashioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer and distributor engaged in a lighting business. The company’s products include LED lamps, halogen lamps, fluorescent lamps, and specialized lighting for automotive and industrial applications. These products are widely used in various industries and applications. They also provide comprehensive services such as product customization, technical support, and after-sales assistance, ensuring that customers receive tailored solutions to meet their specific lighting requirements.
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Cochief Industrial Co., Ltd.
LIGHT GUIDE PRODUCTS
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HOYA GROUP
Light Guide
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Light Guide Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of April 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cochief Industrial Co., Ltd. |
25.0%
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| 2 | RSP Inc. |
25.0%
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| 3 | Elite Technology |
25.0%
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| 4 | Oshino Lamps |
25.0%
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Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the light guide page as of April 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
- SUMITA: 380
- Oshino Lamps: 100
Newly Established Company
- Sing Mas Enterprise Co.,Ltd.: 1980 (44 years ago)
- Oshino Lamps: 1931 (93 years ago)
Company with a History
- Oshino Lamps: 1931 (93 years ago)
- Sing Mas Enterprise Co.,Ltd.: 1980 (44 years ago)
Light Guide Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of Light Guide Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
Japan
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3 | 50.0% |
United States of America
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2 | 33.3% |
Taiwan
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1 | 16.7% |
