LED Alphabet Soup, What Does It All Mean?
When the LED first be came commercially available, approximately 30 years ago, no one really paid much attention to how it was made or what it consisted of chemically. This was in part due to the fact that only a few basic types and colors were available (such as GaP - red and green, and GaAsP - yellow). Today, in order to obtain new colors, or wavelengths, and improve performance and reliability, there are many new types of chemical structures being created. Because of this, LEDs are no longer referred to strictly by their color but also by their chemical name, such as InGaAlP or GaAlAs. If the user is not familiar with LED technology or does not have a degree in chemistry and materials, this hodgepodge of letters can be very confusing. The following information is provided to help alleviate some of this confusion.
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Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have found a permanent home in traffic VMS (Variable Message Sign) applications. After a somewhat auspicious start in the 1980's, LEDs have become the preferred VMS light source for the new millenium. Virtually maintenance free, LEDs offer numerous advantages over other VMS options available today.
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If there were ever any question that LEDs would be such a dominating lighting technology just take a look around. They are virtually everywhere. From standard indicators on stereo equipment, laptops and toys to traffic lights, variable message signs and automotive lighting, LEDs have enjoyed an explosive growth over the last several years with no end in sight.
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A light emitting diode (LED) is essentially a PN junction semiconductor diode that emits a monochromatic (single color) light when operated in a forward biased direction. The basic structure of an LED consists of the die or light emitting semiconductor material, a lead frame where the die is actually placed, and the encapsulation epoxy which surrounds and protects the die.
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It's been over 30 years since the introduction of the first LED (Light Emitting Diode) and at long last we now have a White LEDs that begins to rival incandescent in many architectural and small area illumination applications.
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