LEDs - How’d they do that?
September 22nd, 2007Light Emitting Diodes (LED) are certainly the buzzword in lighting. These sources offer somewhat efficient lighting with long lamp life for maintenance and a small form factor for unique applications. What many people don’t realize is that LED are not the ultimate answer in lighting. Currently, LEDs are more efficient than incandescent based sources, but not as efficient at fluorescent or HID technology.
LEDs are diodes. Diodes are used in electrical circuit to restrict the flow of current to one direction. As diodes impede the electricity, they release energy, sometimes in the form of light. Depending on the chemical composition and physical make-up of the diode, certain wavelengths of light are manufactured.
Diodes utilize a semiconductor charged with electrons, which passes electrons through this material when an electrical current is applied. As the electrons pass from the negative charge to the positive charge, energy is given off in the form of visible light.
Because LED do not feature electrodes or filaments light other sources, the life of the product is dramatically increased and great for long life applications.