What is an LED?

An LED-or Light Emitting Diode-is a semiconductor electronic component. Diodes are commonly used in all sorts of electronic circuits and allow current to pass in only one direction. Very specific semiconductor compounds are used to make LEDs which have distinct characteristics of emitting a certain color of light when current passes through them.

What is inside an LED-based lighting system?

Basic components are:

- LEDs

- Driver (power conversion device)

- Control devices (dimming controls, color mixing controls)

- Optics

- Fixture (housing, including heat sink devices, to contain all components)

What is all the fuss about LED's?

LED technology has improved significantly over the past 5 to 10 years. Light output has reached a point where LEDs are viable for many applications, especially colored light applications. More importantly, LED manufacturers see improvements in light output continuing for years to come such that LEDs could make sense for virtually any lighting application.

What types of LED's are available in the market?

LEDs being used in general lighting applications fall in to two categories: Low flux and high flux. Low flux LEDs are typically 0.1 to 0.4 watts each, arranged into clusters or arrays to create a collective light source. LEDs in this category come in numerous configurations. High flux LEDs are approximately 1 watt or more and provide significantly higher light intensity. This category of LED generates much interest in the lighting community because of the intensity in such a small package.