News Article
Unique AC powered Acriche LED reaches new peaks
Seoul Semiconductor 100 lumens/watt LED is in mass production and 150 lm/w version will follow by end of 2010
Seoul Semiconductor has announced its latest development in its Acriche, the only semiconductor light source that can be driven by an alternating current power source without the need for an AC-DC converter. The result is a significant reduction in cost and energy when compared to standard DC LED technology.
In addition, in the case of some LEDs, using the AC-DC converter may lead to a reduced life for the bulb if the converter has a shorter average life than the LED.
The Acriche also claims to offer a reduction in the environmental impact of lighting, reducing carbon dioxide emissions without a compromise in brightness or quality of light and is claimed to have a lifespan of over 35,000 hours.
Since achieving a luminous efficiency of 100 lm/w in February, the research and development sector has been focusing on the 150 lm/w model and the company aim high volume production of this version to begin by 2011.
Acriche is suitable for many residential and commercial lighting applications where the main source of available power is AC.
The European Union’s legislation has already banned the sale of incandescent light bulbs of more than 100-watts (since September 2009), although bulbs in stock may still be sold. The U.S. is waiting until January 2012 to take the same step.
Hence competition among LED manufacturers will become even more rife in the replacement of halogen lamps, incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent lighting with LED technology.
Two of the world’s largest lighting companies already have products, for lighting applications, in mass production using the Acriche. Furthermore, more than 100 companies are beginning to utilize the Acriche in various applications.
