James Prietzel, Product Manager at Intelligent LED Solutions (ILS)
James is the ILS Product Manager for everything related to LEDs and has been with ILS since 2012. He is dedicated to understanding the latest technologies and innovations from leading suppliers in the OptoElectronics world, from optics, to LEDs and to Intelligent LED Drivers.
Within the last decade, LEDs (light emitting diodes) have become a commonplace technology. They provide ample opportunity for innovative lighting design and offer a wider range of possibilities than traditional lighting technologies such as incandescent bulbs. LEDs, unlike incandescent bulbs, use less energy, produce less heat, and do not have filaments that burn out. Plus, due to their small size, they enable unique design concepts to become a reality.
LEDs can be implemented in anything from general lighting bulbs and home projects, to horticultural lighting, to sensors. The applications are endless. In small quantities they can form digits on digital clocks, illuminate watches, transmit information from remote controls, and create car indicators and headlights. When grouped together, they can light up traffic lights, create signage and illuminate jumbo TV screens and public spaces.
LEDs can be coloured, non-visible or white. To create white light, deep blue LEDs can be covered with phosphor, a yellowish material that light passes through to convert it into the familiar white colour we see in homes, offices, and shops.
Light consists of many small particle-like packets that have no mass but have momentum from energy released by moving electrons. These particles are known as photons. Photons are one of the most basic measurements of light. Learn more about other light measurements here.
Traditional incandescent bulbs produce energy and emit light through the creation of heat. This is not the case with LEDs. Within a LED, electrical current passes one-way through a microchip, which then illuminates and produces light.
A LED component encompasses two conductive materials which are in contact. This is the diode. When electricity is applied to the diode, the atoms within one of the materials become electrically charged. This energy, in the form of electrons is subsequently passed into the second conductive material, and this release of energy is what produces the light we see.
Creating light in this way is more efficient and enables a light source that has a longer more reliable lifetime, so they do not need replacing as frequently. Unlike other traditional light sources, LEDs do not ‘burn out’. Instead, they may experience ‘lumen depreciation’ whereby the brightness slowly dims over time. But this occurs so slowly over time, depending on the application may not be noticeable or of importance.
LED efficiency is also increased as they waste less light. LEDs are a directional light source; they emit light in a specific direction. In comparison, incandescent and traditional CFL lamps emit light and heat in all directions. LEDs project light and use energy more efficiently in a multitude of applications. Particularly if a secondary optic is applied.
A key consideration of LEDs however is that they do still produce heat as a byproduct. Thermal management is a key factor contributing to successful LED performance over its lifetime. To prevent this causing performance issues, heatsinking is required to absorb and disperse excess heat. Good thermal management will help extend the lifetime of the LEDs. When operated at consistently elevated temperatures, LEDs will degrade and be subject to lumen depreciation at a faster rate. Learn more about LED thermal management here.
Within the last decade, semiconductor prices have decreased. This have made LED solutions more affordable and cost-effective for home and industrial applications. Though LEDs may still be more expensive up front than incandescent lights are, their lower ongoing and running costs, more than make up for this. So, if looking to invest in lighting, LEDs still offer the most benefits.
