Latest LED Technology and Trends in the LED Industry

Although many industries are making great strides when it comes to new technology and trends, the LED industry is certainly amongst the leaders. Over the last decade, the LED industry has experienced tremendous growth and change, with new applications, increasing efficiencies and lower costs throughout, particularly in automotive LED lighting solutions. For a prototype manufacturing company, this creates great opportunities to innovate and integrate the latest LED advancements into their designs, enhancing both product performance and development processes.

New LED Lighting Technology

The following are a few examples of recent updates in LED technology, including advancements in automotive LED lighting solutions.

• Traditionally, LED lighting systems have required external circuit board drivers capable of converting the system electricity supply into a drive current suitable for operating the LED and thus producing visible light from the diode in a stable fashion. Excitingly, there are new products emerging, which allow external drivers to be removed from the design equation. In their place are DC LED chips that handle all the power requirements for the LED directly on the chip. This allows more compact packaging and a host of new product applications. Additionally, light output relative to cost continues to increase across the industry.

• New LED systems with dynamic beam spread without moving parts have been displayed at recent trade shows. This provides opportunities for applications requiring custom beam control.

• Another development is in new manufacturing processes to make arrays of LEDs, which can be useful in products.  As an example, a Finland research center has created a flexible in-molded LED foil using a roll-to-roll type process. This achievement helps demonstrate that a roll-to-roll process is suitable for manufacturing flexible LED displays that contain printed electronics.  This also has potential to dramatically cut costs in this type of product.

• Finally, in an exciting development, Li-Fi, which is like Wi-Fi with the exception that light from LEDs is used by modulating the light on and off at high rates creating a data network. This has the potential of being useful for communications in electro-magnetic sensitive areas as well as potentially having a very broad capacity spectrum for data and very high data transmission rates. This industry lighting technology does depend on visible light and thus cannot pass through walls; so it assumed that its role might fit best in home and architectural networks where networked lighting could be placed room to room. This product is currently moving out of the research phase. Development of industry standards and actual commercialization efforts are underway around the globe in a number of organizations.

Automotive LED Lighting Trends:

Without question, LED’s are taking an ever-stronger presence in the automotive industry:

• The automotive industry in general has expanded its use of LED lighting across all of its car lines, not just the premium models, as had been the case only a few years ago. A visit to any recent auto shows demonstrated an exciting and varied use of LED based lighting, with LEDs utilized for styling and functional effects in both rear and forward lighting. Likewise, LED’s have become omnipresent in interior lighting applications, creating new interior space ambiance, passenger ergonomic safety, as well as the advantage of long life without bulb changes needed.  

• In advanced forward lighting, new exciting adaptive driving beam headlights reduce glare while optimizing illumination for the driver. These systems often use an array of LEDs, which are controlled by forward sensing technology. A microcontroller dims those LEDs in the array that may cause glare to an oncoming driver (or vehicles you are following) while effectively keeping high beams on for other areas of the roadway, adding to driver safety. These systems are approved and now in limited use in Europe. Industry standards are still being finalized in the US, but these systems have great future potential.

The integration of rapid prototyping in the automotive industry has become a driving force in shaping automotive LED lighting trends. This innovative approach, utilizing techniques like 3D printing and CAD, grants designers the flexibility to create intricate and customized LED lighting solutions, enhancing aesthetics and functionality. Rapid prototyping accelerates development cycles, resulting in quicker market releases of high-performance LED products. Moreover, it contributes to cost-efficiency and offers increased personalization options to cater to the demand for personalized vehicles. In conclusion, rapid prototyping is reshaping the automotive LED lighting landscape, fostering innovation, and enhancing the overall driving experience.

Internet access in homes and companies by this innovative technology using LED lights.

Researchers have found a better approach to empower quicker information transmissions through light-radiating diode (Drove) bulbs. Rather than setting up a Wi-Fi switch, this innovation will permit clients to interface their homes and workplaces to quicker web through lights.

In an explanation, an academic administrator at the College of Surrey's Cutting edge innovation Establishment and the lead comparing creator of the review, Dr Wei Zhang said: "In this market expenses and similarity are much of the time focused on over information transmission speed and researchers are searching for elective ways of diminishing energy utilization per nibbled and further develop minimization while at the same time dealing with working on the speed of information association."

Researchers have found a better approach to empower quicker information transmissions through light-radiating diode (Drove) bulbs. Rather than setting up a Wi-Fi switch, this innovation will permit clients to interface their homes and workplaces to quicker web through lights.

In an explanation, an academic administrator at the College of Surrey's Cutting edge innovation Establishment and the lead comparing creator of the review, Dr Wei Zhang said: "In this market expenses and similarity are much of the time focused on over information transmission speed and researchers are searching for elective ways of diminishing energy utilization per nibbled and further develop minimization while at the same time dealing with working on the speed of information association."

he innovation was found while exploring how to deliver high velocity photonic sources utilizing metal-halide perovskites. Researchers found that semiconductors, when incorporated with LEDs, showed fantastic optoelectronic properties and minimal expense handling techniques.

During this review, scientists were likewise ready to accomplish gadget adjustment transfer speeds of up to 42.6 MHz and information rates over 50 Mbps. At the point when further investigated, the review proposed that the data transfer capacity might surpass gigahertz levels.

"We have taken a colossal jump forward and shown how metal-halide perovskites could give an expense effective and strong answer for cause LEDs which to can possibly build their transmission capacities into the gigahertz levels. The experiences acquired from this examination will without a doubt shape the fate of information correspondence," Dr Zhang noted.

He additionally noticed that the innovation could open up new ways for progression in optoelectronic advancements. Hao Wang, co-first creator at the College of Cambridge, said that the examination is the first of its sort to make sense of the systems behind accomplishing high velocity perovskite LEDs.

"The capacity to accomplish arrangement handled perovskite producers on silicon substrates additionally prepares for their joining with miniature gadgets stages, introducing new open doors for consistent coordination and headway in the field of information correspondences," Wang proceeded.

Citing Health Concerns, Some Cities Consider Dimmer LED Streetlights

 In the last several years, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Seattle and other U.S. cities have installed high-intensity, white LED streetlights. In all, at least 13 percent of outdoor lighting is now LED, and many communities that haven’t yet made the switch are rushing to do so. But health concerns, heightened by a recent warning by the American Medical Association (AMA), are giving pause to some local officials, spurring them to consider less-intense LED alternatives. Honolulu, Phoenix and smaller cities in Arizona, California, Florida and Massachusetts are among those who are taking the health warnings seriously.

Cree revamps entire LED line of better bulbs

Cree, Inc. announces a completely new portfolio of next generation LED bulbs aimed at delivering better light experiences for consumers. The new bulb portfolio consists of 25 new products, offering better light quality, better dimming, better lifetime, better warranty and better pricing to deliver on the true promise of LED technology to make lighting better than it was before.

“Cree is committed to innovation and unlocking the true potential of LED technology,” said Betty Noonan, Cree chief marketing officer and general manager, consumer lighting. “Many new LED products fail to live up to the promise of LED technology; shouldn’t you choose a better bulb when it will live in your house for decades?  Cree believes it’s now more important than ever to give consumers a better choice.”

Notable features in the new bulbs include superior lifetimes, with most projected to last 22+ years and some up to 32 years.  Color rendition is improved, with smoother, quieter dimming to levels as low as 1 percent.  Cree’s market-leading “Candlelight Dimming,” available in the new candelabra bulb, mimic’s a true candle flame with a warmer 1800K color when dimmed.

The new Cree bulbs meet or surpass the requirements for ENERGY STAR product certification and are covered by a 10 year 100 percent satisfaction guarantee – one of the strongest warranties in the industry. The new bulb portfolio includes new A-lamps, BR lamps, PAR lamps and Candelabra lamps, as well as a new series of recessed downlight retrofit products.

Achieving Optimum LED Performance With Quantum Dots

The invention of blue LEDs and the subsequent rapid rate of development of new phosphor and down-converting technologies have enabled the phenomenal growth of all LEDs in general lighting applications. White LEDs initially employed the use of a blue LED combined with a single phosphor with broad yellow emission. However, the light quality provided by this relatively simple solution was less than satisfactory, particularly in the red part of the visible spectrum. But more recently, new phosphors and phosphor combinations (green-yellow plus red) have been developed to provide a higher quality of light. While these advancements afford a significant improvement over previous offerings, phosphor technologies have yet to deliver desirable white light with rich color rendering ability along with the energy efficiency typically attributed to LEDs.

Infrared LED revenue growing faster than overall IR components

Increased adoption of biometrics security in mobile phones, close-circuit television and other consumer applications spurred revenue growth in the global market for infrared LEDs from $201.5m in 2014 to $241.4m in 2015, according to Jamie Fox, principal analyst, LEDs and Lighting, at IHS Markit. While infrared LEDs grew 19.8% year-on-year in 2015, the overall infrared components market fell by 9%. Osram, Everlight and Vishay were the leading suppliers. 

Common infrared LED that emits infrared rays has the same appearance with visible light LED. Its appropriate operating voltage is around 1.4v and the current is generally smaller than 20mA. Current limiting resistances are usually connected in series in the infrared LED circuits to adjust the voltages, helping the LEDs to be adapted to different operating voltages. 

An IR LED, also known as IR transmitter, is a special purpose LED that transmits infrared rays in the range of 760 nm wavelength. Such LEDs are usually made of gallium arsenide or aluminium gallium arsenide. They, along with IR receivers, are commonly used as sensors.

The appearance is same as a common LED. Since the human eye cannot see the infrared radiations, it is not possible for a person to identify whether the IR LED is working or not, unlike a common LED. To overcome this problem, the camera on a cellphone can be used. The camera can show us the IR rays being emanated from the IR LED in a circuit.

Measurement basics in LED thermal management

A successful LED design needs a balance of form and function to be a desirable luminaire with the right lumen output. Sounds simple enough, but these two requirements are often in conflict. When form trumps function, LEDs that are usually mounted onto a metal-clad PCB (MCPCB) as a module are all too often crammed together, creating a module with high-power density. If the device has not been designed to remove the heat from the LEDs effectively, there is a real risk of the LED overheating. As with any semiconductor, when LEDs overheat efficiency is reduced, light quality deteriorates, lifespan shortens and ultimately the LED can catastrophically fail.

Indian Bulb Maker Eveready Acquires Large Order from EESL

Indian LED manufacturer Eveready Industries acquired a large order of 1.3 million LED tube lights from the state-owned power company Energy Efficiency Services Ltd. (EESL), reported Business Standard.
The EESL order values an estimated INR 179.4 million (US $2.67 million).
“The company has obtained a letter of award from Energy Efficiency Services Ltd for design and supply of 20W external batten LED tube light on pan India basis,” stated Eveready in a press release.
EESL is a joint venture formed by Indian power companies NTPC Limited, PFC, REC, and Power Grid Corporation to implement energy efficiency projects, and also works as an energy services company. The organization is responsible for implementing India’s Domestic Efficient Lighting Program (DELP).
Everready is one of the leading manufacturers of batteries and flashlights, and sells more than 1.2 billion batteries and nearly 25 million flashlights. The company also makes LEDs, CFLs, and GLS lamps and other lighting products, small home appliances and tea.

Fujian achieves breakthrough in LED technology

Fujian province has seen the technological breakthrough of LED technologies for transparentfluorescent ceramic material that allows dense LED lights to concentrate on a small surface. The technology has been co-developed by Research on the Structure of Matter (FJIRSM) andFujian Zhongke Xinyuan Optoelectronics Technology Co Ltd. “With previous technologies, Chinese LED manufacturers were not able to produce largepower LED,” said Hong Moachun, academician at FJIRSM, “because when the light runs formore than 200 watts, the LED lights will produce too much heat on a small surface that coulddamage the light. Therefore, these LED lights are used only for ordinary lighting. ”

Nanocrystals speed up Wi-Fi-emitting LEDs

Communication technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi operate on invisible radio waves, but transmitting data on wavelengths we can see might turn out to be more efficient and secure. Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a nanocrystal that helps boost data speeds transmitted through a visible light LED up to 2 Gbps – while pleasantly lighting the room.

Communication technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth operate on invisible radio waves, but it turns out, transmitting data on visible wavelengths may be more efficient and secure. A team of researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia developed a nanocrystal that helps boost data speeds transmitted through a visible light LED up to 2 Gbps while also lighting up the room.

Because just a fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum can be seen by the human eye, making use of those wavelengths could mean faster, safer wireless data systems. With so many wireless signals zipping around, certain frequencies can become clogged, and radio waves can interfere with sensitive equipment, such as those used for navigation or in hospitals. Visible-light communication (VLC) systems can help bypass these issues.
Currently VLC devices are based on LEDs, which use phosphorus to turn some of the blue light emitted by a diode into green and red. When combined, the colors form white light to comfortably light a room while also providing a wireless signal. But as you’re likely aware, this technique comes with limits.
“VLC using white light generated in this way is limited to about one hundred million bits per second,” said KAUST Professor of Electrical Engineering, Boon Ooi. However, a University of Virginia study reached 300 Mbps, and Siemens managed 500 Mbps. Pennsylvania State University has even hit 1.6 Gbps using invisible infrared light.
As for the researchers at KAUST, they’ve achieved 2 Gbps using visible light, converting the colored light into white using nanocrystals instead of phosphorus. At 8 nm long, the crystals are made of cesium lead bromide, and when hit by a blue laser, emit green light. An incorporated nitride phosphor emits red light, and the three colors combine to form the white, room-illuminating light that's comparable to that of existing LEDs.
In nanocrystals, the optical processes operate on a time-scale of about seven nanoseconds, meaning the optical emission of the light operates at a frequency of 491 MHz. This allows the data to be transmitted at 2 Gbps. Data is transferred through a series of flashes, undetected by the human eye, but clear to a receiving sensor.
The research was originally published in the journal ACS Photonics.