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Solid-State Lamps Get the Spotlight
Spurred by the need for increasing efficiency, LEDs make inroads for applications in homes, computers and vehicles
Randy Frank, Contributing Editor -- Design News, October 6, 2008
It seems no matter where you look today, LED lighting is changing the way products, as well as the home and business environment, look. The growth is due to many factors including technology improvements, need for improved efficiency by users and the drive for energy efficiency from government agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program.
“LED technology is advancing at an astonishing rate,” says Keith Bahde, Ph.D., president of Gallium Lighting. “In the last 12 months, we have been able to boost the light output of our GS6 luminaire by 49 percent.”
Developed specifically for high-performance white LEDs, Gallium's GS6 fixture features 1.5-inch (38-mm) spacing between LEDs and a heavy-duty heat dissipation system to maximize efficiency and LED life. A 45-degree shielding angle maximizes visual comfort.
Cree Inc.'s LR4, a 4-inch architectural recessed LED down light for new construction and renovation projects, has been specified for corporate campuses, full-service hotels and global restaurant chains. Consuming less than 11W, the LED lamp delivers up to 540 lm of light.
LEDs in Computers and Cars
LEDS are appearing in many other locations. According to market research firm iSuppli, by 2012 nine out of 10 large mobile-PC LCD panels will use LED backlighting. In fact, LED-backlight shipments for large LCD PC shipments will increase to 17.4 million units by the end of 2008. The shrinking cost differential between LEDs and the currently used cold-cathode-fluorescent lamps (CCFLs), and the lower power consumption of the LEDs, are driving this trend.
Similarly, in cars, the lower power consumption, as well as long life, provide fuel efficiency and a differentiating factor for high-end vehicles. According to officials at Hella Inc., white LEDs first appeared as a single function in the automotive headlamp in the 2005/2006 time frame.
This section will highlight the technology improvement in white LEDs and show one of the newest vehicle headlamp applications.
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