LED retrofit lamps have started to show up on retail shelves. Many players in the LED industry are giddy about the anticipated growth over the next few years. Nevertheless, the road to success for LED lighting will not be completely smooth, as there are a number of pitfalls to navigate.
Bumps in the road ahead for solid-state lighting article gives a picture of the expected pitfalls. Some of the potential problems ahead are pricing, color quality, thermal management, regulatory, and consumer education. While most of these issues are not technical, the design engineer will nonetheless need to understand them.
While white LEDs are very efficient light sources, converting approximately one-third of the input power into light, the remaining two-thirds is converted into heat in the LED. Currently impossible to passively cool an LED that outputs 1,500 lm (the typical output of a 100-W light bulb) in the physical confines of the normal light bulb size form factor. So at 100 lm/W, about 10 W must be continuously and rapidly dissipated while keeping the LED well below maximum operating temperature (typically approximately 120ºC).
Thermal management will get somewhat easier in the future. As LED efficiencies improve, the thermal management improves by approximately the square of the efficiency, because the total power supplied to the LED decreases and the percentage of heat generated by that input power also decreases by the same amount.
Color quality may be the most difficult problem to solve. The industry has spent tremendous time and expense in measuring and controlling the color variability of white LEDs. But color temperature and tight chromaticity binning don’t tell the complete story, because two light sources with identical chromaticity coordinates may have very different wavelength spectra. LED spectrum is very different from the incandescent’s spectrum. If the spectra are too different, non-white surfaces will appear to be different colors under the two light sources. The Color Rendering Index or CRI is a measure of how closely the perceived color of a surface illuminated by a particular light source will be to the perceived color of the same surface under incandescent illumination. A CRI of 100 is a perfect match. A CRI above 80 for an LED is considered good.
In the short term, LED retrofit bulbs will make the initial splash, but in the long term there are great opportunities for custom LED luminaires. LEDs make possible much more complex form factors and consequently can create more interesting and useable illumination patterns than traditional bulbs and CFLs. Imagine a luminaire that not only is dimmable, but one that you can select the color temperature you desire.
When LED efficiencies reach the 150 lm/W range, it will become feasible to increase office lighting to 1,000 lux, as opposed to the 300 lux now typical in most office spaces.
86 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
To Protect LEDs, Know Your Standards
http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1386&doc_id=256265
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have become so prominent in so short a time that new standards and specifications are emerging faster than most engineers can gain familiarity with them. Prime among those are standards involving overcurrent and overvoltage protection from such organizations as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and the US Department of Energy’s Municipal Solid State Street Lighting Consortium (MSSSLC), among others.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Future in Automotive Front Lighting
http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1365&doc_id=256391&cid=NL_Newsletters+-+DN+Daily
the non-incandescent solutions require power electronics to regulate light output. Ultimately, the article predicted a move toward a completely LED-based two-stage electronics design.
This two-stage converter (a single boost stage followed by multiple independent buck stages) was shown to have the most flexibility and scalability while providing the best performance. Though it is fairly easy to describe the benefits of LED-based headlights versus incandescent or HID, the nuances of one LED driver topology versus another are less obvious. To better understand the merits of a two-stage design, the single-stage solutions must be examined in more detail.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The market has pulled a record number of dangerous electrical equipment. Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency’s control in the attacks was caught almost 260 items. Very many of them were LED light.
Poor equipment design have been found in a lot, especially in LED light bulbs.
- With high enthusiasm we went to the new technology and then forgotten the basic electrical engineering, grant Hannu Mattila.
The majority of those who reject the decision device is derived from the Asian countries. Similarly, there are also quality equipment, as electronics production has shifted to Asia almost completely. The European Union as required CE marking can be found in the quality of products, but also in bad products.
CE marking is not in itself guarantee that the product is safe for sure.
Source: http://yle.fi/uutiset/hehkulamput_havitettiin_sahkoiskun_vaara_tuli_tilalle/6440515
Tomi Engdahl says:
Linear and switcher LED supplies combine, overcome disadvantages of each topology
http://www.edn.com/design/led/4404595/Linear-and-switcher-LED-supplies-combine–overcome-disadvantages-of-each-topology
To control their brightness, LEDs need a constant current; this can be done with a resistor placed in series with the LED string. Both the LED-string voltage and the supply voltage can vary, so a dedicated LED driver is a must to guarantee the current accuracy. Two solutions—each with advantages and disadvantages—are widely used: a linear constant-current LED driver or a step-down switching converter.
In spite of the additional components, the combined linear/buck solution is valuable in applications where low-noise performance and the extended supply-voltage range are desirable. Linear-to-buck transition voltages can be set to optimize the thermal dissipation.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Correction Technique Adds ‘Warmth’ to Dimmable LED Light
http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1395&doc_id=257274&cid=NL_Newsletters+-+DN+Daily
Engineers at NXP Semiconductors say they’ve found a way to take the “coldness” out of dimmable white light-emitting diode (LED) light.
Using a combination of new technologies that earned the company 15 patents, the company’s engineers can reportedly remove the harshness from white LEDs and replace it with the “warmer” combination of yellow and white that’s familiar to consumers
“LED lights have always had this cold white — a hospital white,” Radu Sudeanu, senior scientist for NXP, told Design News. “But now we know how to correct it to get the right color.”
With its new technology, NXP hopes to make LEDs acceptable to a broader swath of consumers. In the past, some retailers have reportedly received dimmable white LEDs back from unhappy customers, some of whom say the light is too much like that of a fluorescent bulb. “Many people don’t like it,” Surdeanu told us. “They want the same yellowish light that we’ve all grown accustomed to for a hundred years with the Edison bulb, and for a thousand years before that with fire.”
NXP engineers remove “coldness” from LED light with a three-pronged solution. By combining the black body radiation curve (which relates light wavelength to light intensity) of an incandescent bulb with a logarithmically-based dimming technique, and then correcting for temperature variation, they say they can produce a color that lies between amber and white.
Tomi Engdahl says:
First driver compatibility program for LED modules
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/other/4405003/First-driver-compatibility-program-for-LED-modules?cid=EDNToday
The Driver Compatibility Program for LED products provides LED lighting manufacturers with a list of driers compatible with Cree LED modules, based on evaluation and testing by Cree. Leveraging the technology and features of third-party drivers, the program enables lighting manufacturers to quickly address unique requirements in various countries, and differentiate their products.
The program, previously limited to the use of Cree drivers with Cree products, extends Cree’s LED module warranty to the use of Cree’s LED module with a compatible third-party LED driver.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Light an LED without wasting energy
http://www.edn.com/design/led/4369638/Light-an-LED-without-wasting-energy
LEDs need current to illuminate, and current usually flows through a power supply to an LED. A typical LED-driver circuit uses a transistor to provide current and a series resistor to decrease the voltage you apply to the LED. Unfortunately, the energy (VSOURCE−VDIODE)×IDIODE in a transistor/resistor combination goes to waste, giving off heat.
minimize this waste by using an inductor and an oscillating circuit to control the current through the LED
This circuit provides a general way of saving power without worrying about the intensity issues or operating voltage of the device.
You can expect efficiencies as high as 80% with this circuit.
You can use a 5- to 10-mH ferrite-core inductor for L1 with a white LED with a forward-voltage drop of approximately 3V.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dimming LEDs with pulse-width modulation
http://www.eetimes.com/design/smart-energy-design/4405792/Dimming-LEDs-with-pulse-width-modulation
LEDs can be dimmed in two ways: analog and pulse-width modulation (PWM) dimming. Analog dimming changes LED light output by simply adjusting the DC current in the string, while PWM dimming achieves the same effect by varying the duty cycle of a constant current in the string to effectively change the average current in the string. Despite its attractive simplicity, analog dimming is inappropriate for many applications.
Analog dimming is inappropriate for many applications because it loses dimming accuracy by about 25 percent+ at only 10:1 brightness levels, and it skews the color of the LEDs. In contrast, PWM dimming can produce 3000:1 and higher dimming ratios (at 100Hz) without any significant loss of accuracy, and no change in LED color.
Tomi Engdahl says:
World’s most energy efficient light bulb
NanoLight surpasses standard fluorescents and LEDs
http://www.electronicproducts.com/Optoelectronics/LEDs/World_s_most_energy_efficient_light_bulb.aspx
It may look a little funny, but NanoLight is used to the stares. The futuristic-looking light bulb has an unconventional look big enough to match its unique energy-efficiency.
The bulbs look a bit like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, all sharp corners and seams, because that’s essentially what they are: several small circuit boards with LEDs connected that are cut to fit together. The loose, interconnected design allows the bulb to dissipate more heat than a standard bulb while also directing light in all directions.
Currently, NanoLight comes in 10W and 12W bulbs. While the 10W uses 50% less energy than a compact fluorescent bulb with the same light output, the 12W is NanoLight’s breakthrough product. The bulb generates more than 1600 lumens, equivalent to a 100W incandescent light bulb. That works out to a little more than 133 lumens per watt — about 200% more efficient than other light bulbs on the market.
The project almost immediately surpassed its $20,000 goal on Kickstarter with more than 2,000 backers pledging over $100,000.
Tomi Engdahl says:
LED dimming adjusts to circadian rhythm
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/other/4406362/LED-dimming-adjusts-to-circadian-rhythm
Warm Glow Dimming and Color Curve Dimming LED technologies adjust and change color temperatures throughout the day to improve the user’s performance and comfort by stabilizing their circadian rhythm.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Steampunker extraordinaire [Jake von Slatt] loves the idea of solar-powered garden lights soaking up the sun’s rays during the day and powering a LED in the evening. Commercially available solar lanterns, as [Jake], you, me, and everyone else on the planet have discovered, are universally terrible and either don’t have solar panels large enough to charge a battery, or only last a year or so.
Source: http://hackaday.com/2013/02/13/a-table-saw-to-cut-solar-panels/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Pairing LEDs with dimmers: The ground rules
Tips on making your LED bulbs dimmable
http://www.electronicproducts.com/Optoelectronics/LEDs/Pairing_LEDs_with_dimmers_The_ground_rules.aspx
you’ve decided to replace all your bulbs with LEDs and connect them to dimmer circuits for extra home ambiance. Unfortunately, the pairing of LEDs and a dimmer circuit is not that simple, and you must meet a number of factors to ensure proper dimming.
Pick a dimmer designed for LED
Verify LED labeling: Purchasing LED-compatible dimmers is not enough, the LED itself must be labeled by the manufacturer as being dimmable in the first place; otherwise the LED will not perform properly.
Compare light output: Recall that LEDs are energy efficient; therefore, a 16 to 20-watt LED is equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent bulb in terms of light produced. Rather than focusing on wattage when selecting the LED bulb, pay attention to lumens
Match the base shape
The bottom line: The most important thing to remember when pairing your LED bulbs with dimmer switches is that the two must be compatible. Failing to install the right switch will produce inadequate dimming.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Get more operating life from LED-based bulbs
http://www.edn.com/design/led/4410231/Get-more-operating-life-from-LED-based-bulbs-
Replacing incandescent lighting mandated by the largest countries around the world is powering a paradigm shift to solid-state lighting.
While a traditional incandescent bulb has a life expectancy of 1000 hours(1), LED bulbs offer the promise of up to 50,000(2) hours of operating time, while consuming only approximately 20% of the power for equivalent light output. But without the right precautions, the lofty promise of nearly 25 years without changing a light bulb may fall short.
The complexity and reliability of the driver circuit compatibility with legacy dimmer technology and the LEDs themselves are areas of concern that need to be addressed in order to maximize operating life.
The legacy LED driver technology previously available for LED bulbs required large numbers of external components, costly isolation components and special design considerations to avoid long-term degrading of key components (such as electrolytic capacitors) when interacting with dimmers, commonly used in homes across the world.
The integration of the driver circuit inside the bulb now makes the bulb susceptible to reliability issues, such as infant mortality or degraded MTTF (mean time to failure) rates.
Since the driver circuit transforms a high AC-voltage (100VAC/220VAC) down to a DC voltage that can be used to power the LEDs, electrical isolation is necessary for safety reasons.
primary-side digital control technology that allows for sensing of the LED current via the primary side of the isolation transformer using real-time waveform analysis. This eliminates the need for direct feedback from the output
By reducing the external components count and eliminating the opto-isolator (the component with the highest FIT rate), the reliability of the LED driver circuit goes up, improving the overall reliability of the entire bulb.
The LED driver needs to manage several factors to support the dimmer function, including dimmer detection, compatibility and light flicker.
When a dimmer is used to control the brightness of an A-lamp, the resulting load on the dimmer is also purely resistive and the current through the dimmer is constant and controlled.
An LED driver is effectively a current source and its input looks highly capacitive to the dimmer, which on start-up will see a large spike of in-rush current
An elegant solution to the dimmer in-rush problem is to use a two-step approach to driving the LEDs.
The digital control block that provides the primary-side control also contains algorithms for detecting and operating with virtually all dimmers available in the market
One method to ensure long operating life is to de-rate the current driving the LED and simply use more LEDs to generate a specific light output, resulting in less heat generation per LED and therefore a lower junction temperature.
A second method is to optimize the maximum LED current then establish a desired maximum junction temperature at which the LEDs current needs to be reduced in order to prevent degradation.
In the event that the maximum programmed temperature threshold is reached, the controller reduces the LED current by 10% increments until the temperature stabilizes.
fail-safe mode where the current through the LEDs reduces to 1% of programmed output current
This over temperature protection (OTP) topology offers flexibility in the design of the LED bulb and peace of mind that the bulb will be fully protected under extreme operating conditions.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Switching from CCFL to LED backlighting
http://www.electronicproducts.com/Optoelectronics/LEDs/Switching_from_CCFL_to_LED_backlighting.aspx
Here are some options available for liquid crystal display backlighting
There are currently four options for backlighting a display: (1) continue to use CCFLs with dc/ac inverters for as long as parts are available, (2) make an easy switch to an LED driver using a number of options currently on the market such as kits and drop-ins, (3) choose an LED driver, standard or newly designed, for an LED display that does not come with an onboard driver, and (4) for the display that has an onboard driver, it is possible to use the system’s existing input power signals and convert the analog dimming signal used for the inverter into a PWM signal for the LED driver.
CCFL still hanging on
CCFLs are not entirely dead yet, and they are still an option for certain legacy applications (for example, medical and point-of-sale) where a re-design for LED backlighting is not yet necessary or economical.
The majority of LCD users, however, are switching to LED backlights.
If you are sourcing a driver for an LED backlit LCD, you have a few options that can make the switch surprisingly fast and easy.
One option is a development kit available for OEM LED-backlit LCDs that includes everything necessary to get the panel, backlight and driver fully operational.
For CCFL designs already in the field, it’s possible to swap an LED rail for the CCFL lamp, or tube. LED rails are available on a long, narrow PC board that fits into a metal channel or “rail” that is similar in form factor to the channel in which CCFLs are commonly fitted. These are available as a drop-in replacement
There are many standard LED drivers available on the market today. However, LED backlights create new challenges for the power supply driving the BLU, challenges that cannot be met by the many single-chip ICs currently available. Getting optimum performance from LED BLUs requires a full-function power supply,
Another option is to integrate an LED display into an existing design by providing interconnectivity from the existing controller or power supply to the LCD backlight driver.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ensure long lifetimes from electrolytic capacitors: A case study in LED light bulbs
http://www.edn.com/design/analog/4411475/Ensure-long-lifetimes-from-electrolytic-capacitors–A-case-study-in-LED-light-bulbs
Hot LEDs and short-lived electrolytic capacitors
Several years ago I worked on a few designs for LED light bulbs. Very early on it became clear that the temperatures of components in such light bulbs can get quite high. I personally measured component temperatures as high as +130°C in light bulbs purchased at local retail stores. Now admittedly, these were early LED bulb designs. Manufacturers now understand that, even though these LED bulbs consume substantially lower power than those they would replace, they still must have good thermal engineering. This is the only way to get the lifetime of the electronics to match the lifetime of the LEDs themselves.
I found it disturbing that many of these hot designs contained electrolytic capacitors which are notorious for a short lifetime at elevated temperatures. I expected that the lifetimes of these capacitors would severely compromise the lifetime of the products, and not allow them to reach the 30,000 to 50,000 hour capability of the LEDs themselves. With common electrolytics rated at 2,000 to 5,000 hours at +85°C, I vowed not to use an electrolytic in any LED bulb designs.
In talking to LED bulb manufacturers at that time I found that many did not understand the limitations of electrolytic capacitors.
It is important to understand both the “endurance” spec of electrolytic capacitors and how temperature affects it.
Conversely, lifetime decreases by a factor of 2 for every +10°C increase in temperature. Therefore, at +100°C, the endurance of the 2,000 hour, +105°C-rated capacitor mentioned above would be 21/2 x 2000, or about 2800 hours. Even if you assume that, on average, the capacitor operates at +95°C, its lifetime only increases to 4000 hours. This is hardly the 30,000 to 50,000 hours desired for LED light bulbs.
Power factor and ripple: a trade-off
The more cost-effective LED light bulb designs back in those years all utilized single stages. All of the single-stage architectures of which I am aware produce either good power factor or low-output 120Hz (100HZ) ripple. Not both…unless you use at least one large-valued capacitor. To get capacitor values large enough to allow a design to deliver both, electrolytics must be used.
As time passed LED bulb manufacturers have become more sophisticated and low ripple is now desired. A good solution involves two-stage designs with a front-end power factor correction (PFC) circuit followed by a separate regulator, typically a fly-back.
We built a couple of prototypes and placed a much lower-valued ceramic capacitor right at the output and our larger electrolytic further away where it was not near the heat-generating components.
It was also important to examine the reduction in capacitance over the time that the endurance spec implied.
This is a good example of the importance of fully understanding the details of component specifications.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Will new lighting technology save energy?
http://www.electronicproducts.com/Optoelectronics/LEDs/Will_new_lighting_technology_save_energy.aspx
Lighting needs are said to use about 20% of our global energy production. So the use of CFL and LEDs can lead to fewer coal-fired power plants and that directly reduces the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere, which is good for the atmosphere.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration says that in 2011 about 461 billion kWh of electricity were used for lighting by residential and commercial sectors, which equaled about 12% of total U.S. electricity consumption
A simplistic comparison states that the LED has a life-span of 50,000 h vs 1,200 h for incandescent bulbs (and 8,000 h for CFLs). Additionally, an incandescent bulb producing the typical 800 lumens requires 60-W of power while a CFL uses 13 to 15 W, and an LED lamp needs only 6 to 8 W. For example, the environmental impact (CO2 emissions) of 30 incandescent bulbs (4500 lbs CO2/year) is about 10X more than the same number of LED bulbs (451 lbs/year). These are promising numbers if the comparison holds up.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Gadget Freak Case #239: Bridge Rectifier Eliminates LED Light Flicker
http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1362&doc_id=262542&dfpPParams=bid_30,aid_262542&dfpLayout=blog
When I converted my holiday lights from incandescent mini-lights to LEDs, my wife and daughter did not want them in the house. That was a surprise. They’re both visual people, and I thought they would like the vivid colors of the LEDs. At first, they did, but soon they complained the flickering LEDs gave them headaches. Eventually, I noticed the flicker and knew the cause: 60Hz line power. Even if you cannot see the flicker, your eyes might detect it — with ill effect.
By rectifying the AC line power with a full-wave bridge rectifier and using its output to power the strings, I eliminated the flicker.
Most LED strings used for holiday or festivity lighting work with the rectified current. The DC power produces a brighter light without any discernible flicker.
Tomi Engdahl says:
LEDs will never be seen here
edn.com/electronics-blogs/led-zone/4412955/LEDs-will-never-be-seen-here
That doesn’t mean they don’t exist. GE Commercial Lighting claims, in a recent press release, that there’s a dramatic transformation involving commercial lighting and design. LEDs, they claim, have found their way into places where they’ll never be seen by customers, including:
Inventory warehouses
Factories
Industrial spaces with tall, open ceilings
The primary reasons they’re finding their way into these spaces naturally include energy efficiency compared with previous HID systems and maintenance based on substantially slower change out. Not only is less labor involved, there is far less interruption to facility operations given the advanced machinery necessary to change bulbs on industrial floors.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Explosion-proof LEDs target failsafe apps
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/other/4415304/Explosion-proof-LEDs-target-failsafe-apps
Tomi Engdahl says:
Slideshow: How NASA uses LEDs
http://www.edn.com/design/led/4415460/Slideshow–How-NASA-uses-LEDs
Tomi Engdahl says:
OLED vs LED lighting: Is there room for OLED lighting?
http://www.electronicproducts.com/Optoelectronics/LEDs/OLED_vs_LED_lighting_Is_there_room_for_OLED_lighting.aspx
IDTechEx Research finds that in its “most likely” forecasts scenario OLED lighting will become a $1.3 billion market by 2023 – equat to 1.3% of the market size of LED lighting at that time.
OLED displays are growing quickly but their lighting counterparts are still actively trying to define their unique selling points vis-à-vis LED lighting. Today, they lag behind in terms of efficiency. This is because LEDs regularly offer 90-100 lm/W at package level (the LED chip encapsulated), while OLED modules are still in the region of 20 to 50-lm/W. The lifetime of LEDs far exceed that of OLEDs. Indeed, LED lamps regularly offer in excess of 50,000 hours, which is why they initially found a niche market in out-of-reach outdoor applications. In contrast, OLED lighting offers 5,000 to 15,000 hours of operational life even when encapsulated.
LED lighting is also now low cost, selling at $5/klm at package level (luminaires costs $20 to $100/klm). Contrast this with the extortionate price of OLED today. They cost $300 to $500/klm at panel level, excluding the cost of fixture design, retail, installation and profit margins
Based on our “most likely” scenario, IDTechEx forecast the market will grow to $1.3 billion in 2023 and initially grow at a rapid rate of 40 to 50% annually, although the initial market base in very small
Tomi Engdahl says:
LEDs on the 2014 Corvette Stingray
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/other/4416635/LEDs-on-the-2014-Corvette-Stingray
While a recent Automotive Electronics Service report, LED Headlights: Styling Drives Growth, Control and Cost Challenges Remain, predicts that only 12% of light vehicles will adopt LED headlights by 2012, the luxury and high-end sports brands are immune to that low adoption rate.
At the front, indirect white LED lamps give a distinctive daytime style.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Slideshow: Top LED Design Center Articles—First Half 2013
http://www.edn.com/design/led/4417687/Slideshow-Top-LED-Design-Center-Articles-First-Half-2013
ankara web tasarim says:
Valuable information. Fortunate me I found your website accidentally, and I’m surprised why this accident didn’t took place earlier!
I bookmarked it.
Tomi Engdahl says:
LED tail lights
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/living-analog/4420757/LED-tail-lights
LEDs like to make red light, or at least many of them do. That makes them a very attractive choice for automobile tail lights. However, I have seen a great many recent vehicles with LED tail lights that are to my eyes, visually disturbing to the point of compromising driving safety.
It’s my guess that the LED brightness is pulse controlled and that the pulse repetition rate, the operating frequency of the LED drive, is only 100 Hz or so. That’s fast enough to make LED light look unblinking when it’s being directly stared at, but it’s not fast enough for me when I’m driving my own car and scanning the road.
It’s worth noting that not everybody falls prey to this effect.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Smartphone-controlled LED lightbulbs employ Wi-Fi for LAN connectivity
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/09/led-bulbs-wifi.html
NliteN has released its dimmable 2D-Lux SLEDD [Smart LED Disk], a 60W-incandescent-replacement LED “smart light bulb” aimed primarily at the consumer market which incorporates an Atmel AVR microcontroller, USB interface, and hardware-expansion pins to the company’s companion 2D-LiteLED Disk system (also recently released). The new device pulls together intelligence, programmability, additional hardware functions, and the ability for consumers to install, and run light bulb apps, including smartphone control, at a very low cost — according to NliteN, the new light bulb product is priced at about the average price of “dumb” (connectivity-incapable) LED bulbs found at most retailers (roughly $25).
One of the first apps/shield combinations being planned enables remote control of a SLEDD using a standard Android or iPhone mobile device for such functions as on, off, dimming, timed functions, etc. Using a Wi-Fi shield, its LDA and smartphone app, all purchased from NliteN’s online store, SLEDDs can be addressed and controlled individually, or as a group, over an Internet or LAN connection without lowering lumen light output, needing a special bridge device, or limiting the number of LED Disks that can be controlled. A set of basic free apps are also planned for release, enabling the SLEDD to perform simple tasks, such as using the AVR’s on-board timer to turn its LEDs on or off at defined intervals.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Osram headlight LED becomes part of standard soldering process
Carolyn Mathas – September 19, 2013
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/other/4421371/Osram-headlight-LED-becomes-part-of-standard-soldering-process-
The Oslon Black Flat LED from Osram Opto Semiconductors is now available in a two-chip version. Suitable for all headlight functions, the LED is an SMT component that can be directly attached to a PCB and processed with other components as part of the standard soldering process. The capability saves both cost and time, given the LED’s reduced complexity.
The LED achieves over 500 lumens at 1 ampere from a compact 3.1 mm x 3.75 mm x 0.5 mm (height) package. The slimmer LED is suitable for both low beams and high beams, fog lamps and daytime running lights with guides where optical incoupling is used.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cree rolls LEDs with double lumen density and 50% less power
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/other/4421297/Cree-rolls-LEDs-with-double-lumen-density-and-50–less-power
There’s a new high-density class of CXA arrays from Cree that doubles the lumen density for next-gen LED spotlights. The CXA 1520 is the first HD Array announced under the breakthrough technology.
Applications from general purpose floods to specialty retail spot lights will benefit from the arrays that deliver up to 3478 lumens at 33 watts, 85°C.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Assessing Compatibility of Adhesives for LED Assembly
http://www.designnews.com/document.asp?doc_id=270189&cid=nl.dn14
Today’s LED lighting devices are expected to perform reliably outdoors and indoors in industrial, commercial, consumer, residential, and architectural settings. These lights must stay bright for more than 36,000 hours, despite exposure to extreme temperatures, dust, dirt, and vibration and even in cases of underwater submersion.
The core of a white solid-state lighting (SSL) luminaire device is the LED (light-emitting diode). The LED is typically a metal-doped silicone carbide chip with a phosphorous layer. The phosphorus changes the typical blue light emitted by the die into whiter, warmer light colors. This assembly is attached to a substrate material and covered with a silicone encapsulant to protect the die and effectively transmit light.
For the manufacturer, adhesives, sealants, potting materials, and threadlockers bond and seal the LED assembly onto the associated substrates and enclosures, lowering manufacturing costs of the lighting assembly and helping ensure the long life of the LED.
But chemical interactions between the materials used in LED production can degrade the light emitted by the encapsulated chip. For example, when adhesives and sealants outgas, they release VOCs into the LED assembly. These VOCs cause the LEDs in the light modules to discolor, reducing the clarity and brightness of the LED light. This is especially common in closed systems, where the space between the chip, the silicone lens, and the external cover lens is a sealed environment with no ventilation to the outside atmosphere.
In a closed environment, the VOCs have nowhere to escape. Trapped organics migrate into the silicone lens and make contact with the LED die. If an incompatibility exists between the LED and VOCs, the LEDs discolor rapidly, often within hours of exposure. Light output levels drop and changes in the quality of the light’s color or chromaticity occur. In extreme cases the device can fail completely
LED discoloration is typically not permanent and can be reversed by removing the external cover lens or venting the closed system to release the VOCs.
By specifying only adhesives and sealants that meet compatibility requirements, LED manufacturers can eliminate these materials as a source of browning and help maintain the color point and consistent quality of their lighting devices. Careful adhesive selection during device design ensures that any incompatibilities between LEDs and adhesives never occur.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Synjet® Coolers for Use in LED Lighting
http://www.eeweb.com/company-blog/digikey/synjet-coolers-for-use-in-led-lighting/
Nuventix and Digi-Key introduces Synjet® Coolers used in LED lighting. Synjet® Coolers have an oscillating diaphragm, high velocity air flow or pulls air in its wake, and turbulent airflow.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Source: http://www.uusisuomi.fi/tiede-ja-ymparisto/75995-led-valoilla-ikava-seuraus-huolestuttavia-merkkeja
Tomi Engdahl says:
Led lights nasty consequence? – Disturbing signs
LED lights increase in everyday life can negatively affect the vision and dream, writes the Financial Times . LED lights are used a lot, especially smart devices and consumer electronics.
According to the newspaper more than once, the study has revealed worrying signs that the exposure to the LED lights may cause long-term age related macular degeneration. According to FT that it is the most common cause of blindness in the Western world.
A Spanish study found that LED light may destroy the eye tissues of several 12-hour exposure.
The results are still preliminary, but they raise questions about the LED lights effects.
FT: According to macular degeneration causes specifically the blue part of sunlight. Yale University School of professorfin Ron Adelman, the macular degeneration is more common in the northern parts of the world living in people. Blue light is more intense LED lights than incandescent lamps. It is estimated that in European countries led and fluorescent lights completely replace incandescent light bulbs by 2016.
Studies have also found that the blue light interferes with sleep. THL’s senior researcher Erkki Kronholm evaluate the new Finland in November , that the increased use of electronic devices may appear young sleep problems increase.
- 90 since the beginning, more and more young people have started to use computers, game consoles, smart phones and other similar electronic devices in the evenings. Their light affects the nerve center, for example, in the evenings playing activates the psycho-physically, making it difficult to calm down. Sleep disorders correlated with an increase in the use of equipment with Kronholm said.
Source: http://www.uusisuomi.fi/tiede-ja-ymparisto/75995-led-valoilla-ikava-seuraus-huolestuttavia-merkkeja
Effects of light-emitting diode radiations on human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22989198
Human visual system is exposed to high levels of natural and artificial lights of different spectra and intensities along lifetime. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are the basic lighting components in screens of PCs, phones and TV sets; hence it is so important to know the implications of LED radiations on the human visual system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of LEDs radiations on human retinal pigment epithelial cells (HRPEpiC). They were exposed to three light-darkness (12 h/12 h) cycles, using blue-468 nm, green-525 nm, red-616 nm and white light.
It is shown that LED radiations decrease 75-99% cellular viability, and increase 66-89% cellular apoptosis. They also increase ROS production and DNA damage.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Home> Community > Blogs > BenchTalk
My kingdom for a 12V adapter
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/benchtalk/4441809/My-kingdom-for-a-12V-adapter
Our new house is inching towards 100% LEDness, from LED “bulbs” in standard light fixtures, to custom LED lighting, to flexible LED light strips. It’s the latter I’m having some problems with.
After some preliminary research, I decided that the only affordable sources for LED strips would be from among the numerous Shenzhen & Hong Kong mega-retailer Websites. There, you’ll find standard 5m LED strips in the $4-$20 range, instead of the $50-$100 range typical of other sources.
After some preliminary research, I decided that the only affordable sources for LED strips would be from among the numerous Shenzhen & Hong Kong mega-retailer Websites. There, you’ll find standard 5m LED strips in the $4-$20 range, instead of the $50-$100 range typical of other sources.
With the LEDs themselves taken care of, I turned to power sources. In the basement, I’ll probably use some centralized high current 12V power supplies..
While I’m willing to accept some creative LED specs, I do expect a 5A adapter to be a 5A adapter. Silly me. They turned out to be more like 2A, and to add insult to injury, the output cables appeared to be vastly undersized
Tomi Engdahl says:
A look inside a bigger 24 LED street light
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZiB9rLTSRo
This light was donated for teardown by http://www.banggood.com and you can find it listed here:- http://bit.ly/1HVMS8B
There are a lot of things I like about this light. It has a good robust case with a glass front and thick seal. The LEDs are plain 1W beads on a well spread out mounting panel with plenty of heatsink compound between it and a chunky finned exterior heatsink. The temperature on the heatsink only rose about 20C above ambient, which is very good. The LEDs are also driven in a continuous series string at 300mA
Tomi Engdahl says:
EEVblog #869 – Counting LED Photons!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJcMgoJ4DOE
How may photons does a LED emit at very low currents?
What is the lowest current where a LED will actually emit photons? Dave does some measurements to answer this quantum physics level stuff!
Tomi Engdahl says:
There were many flaws in the Led floodlights
European market surveillance authorities investigated the safety and compliance of LED bulbs with a joint control project. Indeed, 47% of the products were removed from the European market as non-compliant.
Of the 82 LED floodlights tested, only two met the technical and administrative requirements of both legislation. As a result of the project, 47% of the tested LED spotlights were pulled out of the EU market. A total of 87 floodlights were tested for electrical safety requirements. 87 per cent of the tested products did not meet the requirements. Indeed, 71 percent of the products had flaws that could endanger the user’s safety.
Tukes closely monitored the ten LED spotlights sold in Finland, of which five were withdrawn from the market
Source: https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2017/09/12/led-valonheittimista-loytyi-paljon-puutteita/