LED is an acronym for Light Emitting Diode
Instead of a filament they use a semiconductor diode which emits narrow-spectrum light.
Depending on the composition & condition of the semiconducting material used (Silicone, germanium), they come in either Infrared for sensing heat, Visible for every day use, or Near-Ultraviolet for spotting stains at a crime-scene.
An LED consists of a chip of semiconducting material that has been “doped” with impurities in order to create a p-n junction.
A p-n junction is basically a junction between an anode and a cathode.
Current flows easily from the p-side to the n-side, but never in the reverse order.
The wavelength and color of the LED depends on the band-gap energy of the materials forming the p-n junction.
2. What Are LED’s?
• LED is an acronym for Light Emitting Diode
• Instead of a filament they use a semiconductor diode which emits narrow-
spectrum light.
• Depending on the composition & condition of the semiconducting material
used (Silicone, germanium), they come in either Infrared for sensing heat,
Visible for every day use, or Near-Ultraviolet for spotting stains at a crime-
scene.
• An LED consists of a chip of semiconducting material that has been “doped”
with impurities in order to create a p-n junction.
• A p-n junction is basically a junction between an anode and a cathode.
• Current flows easily from the p-side to the n-side, but never in the reverse
order.
• The wavelength and color of the LED depends on the band-gap energy of
the materials forming the p-n junction.
4. Current uses of LED’s
• Status indicators on all sorts of equipment: your cell phone, computer, monitor, stereo
• Traffic lights
• Architectural lighting
• Exit signs
• Motorcycle and bicycle lights
• Railroad crossing signals
• Flashlights
• Emergency vehicle lighting
• Message displays at airports, railways, bus stations, trams, trolleys and ferries
• Military and Tactical missions utilize red and/or yellow lights to retain night vision.
• Movement sensors
• LCD backlighting in televisions
• Christmas Lights
• Lanterns
5. LED’s Vs. Incandescent’s
Incandescent
Positives
• Cheap to manufacture & buy
• Easier to come by
• Generally stronger light output
• Better for seeing through Fog and Smoke
Negatives
• VERY breakable
• Horrible patterns in light
• Hot burning
• Heavy on battery consumption
• Short lifespan
• Yellowish color filters out anything with
yellow in it, IE: White looks yellow, yellow
doesn’t show, red looks brown, green looks
black.
LED
Positives
• Virtually indestructible
• 100,000 hour lifespan
• Low energy consumption
• Symmetrical beam with little-to-no artifacts
• Cheap to manufacture
• Available in a multitude of colors without
requiring a filter.
• Pure white light means no color will be
filtered out.
• Low functioning temperature
Negatives
• Less potential output (for now)
• Slightly more expensive to purchase
6. How will this affect the business
world?
• With the horizons of LED technology broadening, many light manufacturer’s
are putting their top scientists to work:
Maglite, for instance, always made Incandescent lights, but have
recently begun creating drop-in LED modules for their incandescent
torches.
• If one car company comes out with LED headlights that manage to function
at a higher efficiency and also increase output, it is inevitable that all other
car companies will follow. Nobody likes a burnt out headlight!
• Energy is an expensive commodity! The more money we can save on
energy, the more money we can spend on more important business
aspects. One office building that solely uses LED bulbs could save
thousands a year in Energy use alone.
When the sun explodes we won’t be able to make anymore energy and we
will have to rely on LED’s and their efficiency to find food in the pitch black.
Impact of LED’s on the world of Business