• LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. A diode is a semiconductor that only allows passage of electrical current in one direction.


• An LED consists of two elements of processed material: P-type semiconductors and N-type semiconductors. These two elements are placed in direct contact, forming a region called the P-N junction. The main difference between an LED and other diodes is that an LED is specifically designed to produce photons and has a transparent package that allows visible energy (light) to pass through.


• Originally only used for low-light indicator type applications, LED technology has evolved in many areas. Newer color development (blue and white in particular) and Higher Brightness LEDs have made these devices more popular for many applications.

• Illumination (flashlights, step-lights, backlighting)
• Status Indicators
• Automotive Industry
• Traffic Signal Industry
• Refrigeration
• Task Lighting
• Outdoor Lighting
• Signage

Mainstreaming LEDs for general lighting purposes depends upon the availability of high-quality, high-brightness white light. Producing white light may sound like a simple task, but attaining a white LED, especially a bright, high-quality white LED, has been compared to Arthur's search for the Holy Grail.

The invention of the blue LED in the 1990s made today’s white LED possible. White light is commonly created either by mixing red, green and blue in combination or by putting a yellow phosphor directly onto a blue LED. White LEDs of general lighting quality are a relatively recent development. Improvements to the white LED continue to be important.

The Grail may soon be within reach.

• Low Power Requirements
  • LEDs run from low-voltage DC.
  • No dangerous voltages such as the high-voltage AC associated with fluorescent lamps.
  • Can be used in portable battery-powered devices.
• High Efficiency
  • Up to 32 lumens per Watt.
  • Currently more efficient than incandescent (16 lm/W) and halogen (22 lm/W) light sources and will one day become more efficient than fluorescent light sources (50-100 lm/W).
  • LED traffic signals use 80% less energy than incandescent traffic signals.
• Long Life
  • LEDs, in theory, have a potential lamp life of up to 100,000 hours, though 30,000 to 40,000 hours is probably a more accurate number at present.
  • Money is saved on replacement costs for incandescent bulbs.
  • Some devices that have been converted from incandescent bulbs to LEDs include traffic signals, tail lights and flashlights, just to name a few.
• Small size
  • Useful for tight spaces.
• Durable
  • No filament to break.
• Reliable
  • Catastrophic failures rare.
• Dynamic Control of Intensity and Color
  • Able to be dimmed and switched rapidly.