News Article
What are the benefits of sold state lighting?
Solid state lighting offers a number of benefits over fluorescent or incandescent lamps.
Solid state lighting differs from fluorescent or incandescent lamps – which use filaments and gases in a glass bulb to create light – as it converts electricity to light through semiconductors.
Although light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were first developed over 40 years ago, so far they have primarily been used in devices such as torches and laser pointers. However, research and development could well mean they are increasingly used in solid state lighting.
Organic light-emitting diodes or polymer light-emitting diodes can also be used in the devices as well. Solid state lighting is often used in traffic lights and remote controls.
The technology looks like it may revolutionise the lighting industry and there are many advantages of using compound semiconductors in such items.
LEDs can reduce operating costs as they have a longer life to incandescent light bulbs. While the latter option lasts an average of 1,000 hours, the former can provide 50,000 hours or more of life – and they tend be twice as bright as well.
Further benefits of LEDs include being safer – as they run on low voltage and tend not to heat up – being more flexible thanks to their size and being more durable, as they are able to withstand vibrations.
The Lighting Research Centre (LRC) noted: "LED lighting systems have already proved to be very effective in indicator applications where brightness, visibility and long-life are important, such as in exit signs and traffic signals."
According to the group, there are numerous possibilities where the items can be used in the future – such as small-area lighting, under-shelf features, outdoor parking and step marking.
It may be possible in the future for them to be used to cover entire walls and ceilings, as the technology becomes more advanced, the organisation concluded.
Recently, the LRC conducted research into understanding which factors affect the performance of standalone solar-powered LED lighting systems. It found that generally high irradiance, low temperature and maximum power point tracking controller can provide the fastest charging rates.
Although light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were first developed over 40 years ago, so far they have primarily been used in devices such as torches and laser pointers. However, research and development could well mean they are increasingly used in solid state lighting.
Organic light-emitting diodes or polymer light-emitting diodes can also be used in the devices as well. Solid state lighting is often used in traffic lights and remote controls.
The technology looks like it may revolutionise the lighting industry and there are many advantages of using compound semiconductors in such items.
LEDs can reduce operating costs as they have a longer life to incandescent light bulbs. While the latter option lasts an average of 1,000 hours, the former can provide 50,000 hours or more of life – and they tend be twice as bright as well.
Further benefits of LEDs include being safer – as they run on low voltage and tend not to heat up – being more flexible thanks to their size and being more durable, as they are able to withstand vibrations.
The Lighting Research Centre (LRC) noted: "LED lighting systems have already proved to be very effective in indicator applications where brightness, visibility and long-life are important, such as in exit signs and traffic signals."
According to the group, there are numerous possibilities where the items can be used in the future – such as small-area lighting, under-shelf features, outdoor parking and step marking.
It may be possible in the future for them to be used to cover entire walls and ceilings, as the technology becomes more advanced, the organisation concluded.
Recently, the LRC conducted research into understanding which factors affect the performance of standalone solar-powered LED lighting systems. It found that generally high irradiance, low temperature and maximum power point tracking controller can provide the fastest charging rates.
