By: Gonzales, Frankie C. Legaspi, Jorrel Angelo S.

Lopez, Allan Paul Lozares, Patrick

Introduction

What are LEDs?

Almost everyone is familiar with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) from their use as indicator lights and numeric displays on consumer electronic devices, and later used in seven-segment alphanumerics that became briefly popular in digital watches and other display applications during the early 1970s.

Figure 4.1 Light Emitting Diode Anatomy

INVENTION AND DEVELOPMENT

In 1906, Henry Joseph Round first reported

electroluminescence while experimenting with Silicon Carbide (SiC). In 1955, Rubin Braunstein (born 1922) of the Radio Corporation of America first reported on infrared emission from Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) and other semiconductor alloys. In 1962, Nick Holonyak Jr. (born 1928)
General Electric Company invented the first practical

light-emitting diode operating in the red portion of the visible spectrum. Throughout the later 1960s and 1970s, further invention and development produced additional colors and enabled LEDs to become a readily available commercial product.

How LEDS Work?

When certain elements are combined in specific configurations and electrical current is passed through them, photons (light) and heat are produced. When a sufficient voltage is applied to the chip across the leads of the LED and the current starts to flow, electrons in the n region have sufficient energy to move across the junction into the p region.
Once in the p region the electrons are immediately

attracted to the positive charges due to the mutual Coulomb forces of attraction between opposite electric charges.
When the electron and holes recombine, photons (light)

are created.

COLOR
The color-emitted light of LEDs depends on the chemical composition and dominant wavelength of the semiconducting material used.

Tri-color LEDs
The most popular type of tri-color LED has a red and a green LED combined in one package with three leads. They are called tri-color because mixed red and green light appears to be yellow and this is produced when both the red and green LEDs are on.

Bi-color LEDs
A bi-color LED has two LEDs wired in inverse parallel (one forwards, one backwards) combined in one package with two leads. Only one of the LEDs can be lit at one time and they are less useful than the tricolor LEDs described above.

TECHNICHAL DATA FOR LEDs

Type Colour IF max. VF typ. VF max. VR max. Luminous intensity Viewing angle Wavelength

Standard

Red

30mA

1.7V

2.1V

5V

5mcd @ 10mA

60

660nm

Standard

Bright red

30mA

2.0V

2.5V

5V

80mcd @ 10mA

60

625nm

Standard

Yellow

30mA

2.1V

2.5V

5V

32mcd @ 10mA

60

590nm

Standard

Green

25mA

2.2V

2.5V

5V

32mcd @ 10mA

60

565nm

High intensity

Blue

30mA

4.5V

5.5V

5V

60mcd @ 20mA

50

430nm

Super bright

Red

30mA

1.85V

2.5V

5V

500mcd @ 20mA 5mcd @ 2mA

60

660nm

Low current

Red

30mA

1.7V

2.0V

5V

60

625nm

SIZES, SHAPES AND VIEWING ANGLES

LEDs are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. LED die sizes range from tenths of millimeters for small-signal devices to greater than a square millimeter for the power packages available today The standard LED has a round cross-section of 5 mm diameter bullet shape and this is probably the best type for general use, but 3 mm round LEDs are also popular.
Round cross-section LEDs are frequently used and they are very easy to install on boxes by drilling a hole of the LED diameter, adding a spot of glue will help to hold the LED if necessary. LED clips are also available to secure LEDs in holes.

LUMEN DEPRECIATION
Lumen depreciation is the lighting attribute most often

used to determine the useful life (minimum maintained illuminance level) of LED sources. LEDs do not fail abruptly; instead, they dim with time. Although a 50,000 to 100,000hour life is commonly attributed for LED. The best LED achieved 70 percent of original light output at 50,000 hours of operation under standard use conditions. One of the key limitations affecting LEDs is temperature. A common maximum junction temperature rating is more than 130oC. The higher the design junction temperature, the faster the light output will degrade.

ADVANTAGES OF USING LEDs

LEDs are capable of emitting light of an intended color without the use of color filters that traditional lighting methods require. The shape of the LED package allows light to be focused. Incandescent and fluorescent sources often require an external reflector to collect light and direct it in a useable manner. LEDs are insensitive to vibration and shocks, and they are solid-state devices that do not use gases or filaments. Thus extremely high reliability against mechanical shocks and vibrations are achieved.

ADVANTAGES OF USING LEDs

LEDs are built inside solid cases that protect them, making them hard to break and extremely durable and moisturetolerant. However, the electronic circuitry (drive circuitry/power) that surrounds them in a system is not. Since LEDs are low-voltage devices, LED systems are safer than other lamp systems that require high voltages. In addition, visible-wavelength LEDs do not generate appreciable amounts of ultra-violet or infrared.

LEDs have an extremely long operating hours, twice as long as the fluorescent lamps and fifty times longer than the incandescent bulbs.

ADVANTAGES OF USING LEDs

Further, LEDs fail by dimming over time, compared with the abrupt burn-out of incandescent bulbs. LEDs give off less heat than incandescent light bulbs with similar light output. LED lights up very quickly and will achieve full brightness in approximately 0.01 seconds, 10 times faster than an incandescent light bulb (0.1 second), and many times faster than a compact fluorescent lamp, which starts to come on after 0.5 seconds or 1 second, but does not achieve full brightness for 30 seconds or more.

DISADVANTAGES OF USING LEDs

LEDs are currently more expensive than more conventional lighting technologies. The additional expense partially stems from the relatively low lumen output (requiring more light sources) and drive circuitry/power supplies needed. LED performance largely depends on both current density and junction temperature. More light output degradation occurs whenever either of these parameters is increased. It is very important that the specified LED junction temperature not be exceeded for effective LED system operation. Adequate heat sink is required to maintain long life.

LED APPLICATIONS While LEDs may be more expensive than incandescent lights up front, because theyre built around advanced semiconductor material, their lower cost in the long run can make them a better buy. The main drivers for conversion to LEDs are higher efficiency, long life, reduced maintenance, and increased and superior visibility, making LEDs a more cost-effective lighting option for a wide range of situations. Below are examples of different usage of LEDs.

(a) seven segment in showing numbers in calculators and measurement instruments. (b) in dot matrix arrangements for displaying messages displays in public information signs (banks, hotels, airports and railway stations and as destination displays for trains, buses, and ferries). (c) remote controls for TVs, VCRs, etc., using infrared LEDs. (d) traffic signals (e) pedestrian signs (f) highway sign panels (g) railroad signals (h) marine navigational lights (i) emergency beacon or strobe lights at airports (j) exit signs

Dot matrix LED

Seven-segment LED

Exit and Emergency Sign Backlight LED

LED SHOWER LIGHT