How to differentiate LED solutions with declining sale prices in the retrofit residential market?

One or two common architectures will emerge as the standard. For example, switcher solutions will rule in the under 10W space. High levels of integration will result with IC solutions highly optimized around one particular design.

BOM (bill of material) costs are approaching a minimum – lower cost comes with very high volume and lower margins.

Limited design variation is the dark side of high levels of integration. IC manufacturers will need to put “hooks” in the IC designs that allow for fast variations without much redesign.