A Light Emitting Diode Engineering Essay

A Light Emitting Diode Engineering EssayA Light-Emitting Diode in core group is a P-N junction solid-state semiconductor diode that emits comfortable when a authentic is applied though the turn of events.1 By scientific definition, it is a solid-state device that controls underway without the deficiency of having heated filaments. How does a lead work? White leads ordinarily need 3.6 Volts of Direct Current (DC) and expenditure virtually 30 milliamps (mA) of current and has a power dissipation of approximately 100 milliwatts (mW). The positive power is connected to one side of the guide semiconductor through the anode and a hairsbreadth and the other side of the semiconductor is attached to the top of the anvil or the shun power lead (cathode). It is the chemical composition or shamup of the LED semiconductor that determines the color of the trip that the LED catchs as well as the intensity level. The epoxy resin enclosure allows most of the unwarranted to escape from the elements and protects the LED making it virtually indestructible. Furthermore, a light-emitting diode does not have any moving parts, which makes the device extremely resistant to damage due to vibration and shocks. These characteristics make it ideal for purposes that demand reliability and strength. LEDs therefore can be deemed invulnerable to catastrophic failure when operated within design parameters.Figure 1 shows a regular(prenominal) traditional indicator LED. Traditional indicator LEDs utilize a small LED semiconductor run that is mounted on a reflector form also known as the anvil, on a lead-frame (whisker).This whole configuration is encased in epoxy which also serves the purpose of a lens. LEDs have precise high thermal resistance with up of 200K per Watt.LEDs atomic number 18 highly monochromatic, only emitting a single pure color in a narrow oftenness range. The color emitted from an LED is identified by peak curllength (lpk) which is measu expiration in nano meters (nm). The peak wavelength is a function of the material that is use in the manufacturing of the semiconductor.3 Most LEDs are produced using gallium-based crystals that differ in one or more additional materials much(prenominal) as phosphorous to produce distinct color. Different LED chip technologies enable manufacturers to produce LEDs that emit light in a special(prenominal) region of the palpable light spectrum and replicate different intensity levels. Thus, one would exchange the material utilise in the production of LEDs in order to obtain the desired results. The graph below depicts the variation in response time for the specific wavelength of light.Principle MechanismThe essential portion of the Light Emitting Diode is the semiconductor chip.Semiconductors can be either intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic semiconductors are those in which the electrical behavior is based on the electronic structure inherent to the pure material.5 When the electrical characteristi cs are dictated by impurity atoms, the semiconductor is tell to be extrinsic.6 obtain Appendix A for further information regarding the different materials and their characteristics. This chip is further divided into two parts or regions which are detached by a boundary called a junction. The p-region is dominated by positive electric charges (holes) and the n-region is dominated by negative electric charges (electrons). The junction serves as a barrier to the flow of the electrons between the p and the n-regions. This is somewhat similar to the role of the band-gap because it determines how much voltage is needed to be applied to the semiconductor chip before the current can flow and the electrons pass the junction into the p-region.In general, to achieve higher momentum states (with higher velocities), there must be an empty ability state into which the electron may be excited. (In other words, to achieve a net flow of electrons in one direction, some electrons must change the ir wave vectors thereby increasing their energy.) 8 Band-gaps determine how much energy is needed for the electron to jump from the valence band to the conduction band. As an electron in the conduction band recombines with a hole in the valence band, the electron makes a transition to a lower-lying energy state and releases energy in an amount play off to the band-gap energy.This energy is released in photons. Normally the energy heats the material. In an LED this energy goes into emitted infrared or visible light.If a large lavish electric akinly difference (voltage) is absent, across the anode and cathode, the junction serves as an electric potential barrier to the flow of electrons. When sufficient voltage is applied across the chip of the LED, the electron has enough driving force to move in one direction over the junction that separates the p-region and the n-region. The p-region (holes) is where the positive charge forms the majority of charges. (Implicitly, there are als o negative charges but they are the minority).Vice versa for the n-region. The electrons from the n-region basically flow across the junction into the p-region. In the p-region, the electrons are attracted to the positive charges due the mutual Columbic forces of attraction between opposite charges of alike magnitude. Thus recombination occurs.After every successful recombination, electric potential energy is transformed into electromagnetic energy. This releases a quantum electromagnetic energy that is emitted in the form of a photon of light with frequencies characteristic of the semiconductor that was utilize in the process. These photons have specific wavelengths thus specific alter according to the different materials apply. Therefore, different compositions of the chemical elements used in the manufacturing of the semiconductor results in different color emitted as well as different energies needed to light them.The electrical energy is in relation to the voltage comman dd to enable the electrons to flow across the p-n junction. Predominantly, LEDs emit light of a single color.ApplicationThere are various materials that are used in the manufacturing of Light Emitting Diodes. Most of the materials are gallium-based crystals and are used in high-brightness applications. Gallium is a minor metal noted by its low warming point of 29.8 C, the name being derived from Gallia, the Latin for France, which was where it was discovered. 14Among these include AlGaAs (Aluminum-Gallium-Arsenide), a semiconductor that typically generates the red spectrum, often used in signs, displays and electronic equipment.InGaAlP(Indium-Gallium-Aluminum-Phosphide) produces the yellow-green wavelength tored are often used in signs, auto interior as well as exterior, traffic signals and cellphones.15 InGaN (Indium-Gallium-Nitride) typically generates Blue, Green and white spectrums and are used most often in full color signs, cell-phones, auto interior, trafficsignals.16. Furth ermore, there is room for further improvement on the design of traffic lights. The visible light from the LEDs in a traffic light can further be modulated and encoded with information. Hence, it can be used for the broadcasting of audio messages or any traffic or road information. Essentially, all LED traffic lights can be used as communications devices. 17 InGaN LEDs overly has been made the light source of choice for many diagnostic and photo-therapy applications from the Ultra-violet to the near Infrared. 18 Light-emitting diodes (LED) emit light in proportion to the forward current through the diode.Light Emitting Diodes are the penetrative edge technology of lighting today. Generally,Light Emitting Diodes are categorized according to their performance. The performance of aLED is linked to a few primary characteristics of the LED itself which includes color, peak wavelength and intensity. As LEDs are highly monochromatic, LEDs are differentiated according to their peak wavelen gth. Peak wavelength is a function of the LED chip material.Although manufacturing process variations produce a standard deviation of 10nm, nevertheless, these variations are perceptible to the human eye because the 565nm to 600nm wavelength spectral region (yellow to amber) is where the sensitivity level of the human eye is at its peak. 19 See Appendix B for details on the different semiconductor oddballs as well as characteristics of those semiconductors.The light output of a specific LED varies with the type of chip, encapsulation and efficiency of individual wafer lots. There may be other random variable stars that may affect the performance of the LED too. This typically is categorized into the nuisance variable factor and is taken into account as the error margin. Many LED manufacturers use different terms such as super-bright, and ultra-bright to describe LED intensity. However, such terminology is entirely subjective, as there really is no industry standard for LED brightne ss.Luminous intensity is roughly proportional to the amount of current (I) supplied to the LED. The greater the current, the higher the intensity.20 Nevertheless, luminous intensity (Iv) does not represent the natural light output from an LED. Both the luminous intensity and the spatial radiation physique (viewing angle) must be taken into account. If two LEDs have the same luminous intensity value, the lamp with the larger viewing angle will have the higher total light output.Overall visibility can be enhanced by increasing the number of LED chips in the encapsulation, increasing the number of individual LEDs, as well as utilizing secondary optics to distribute light. To illustrate, consider similar red GaAlAs LED chip technology in four different configurationsIn all(prenominal) individual case, the amount of visible light depends on the application of the LED as well as how the LED is being viewed. The single chip frame-up may be suitable for direct viewing in contrast with hi gh ambient lighting. The 6-chip may be more suitable as a backlight to a switch or small legend, while the cluster or lensed LED design may best be used to illuminate a pilot light or larger lens.In this millennium, Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs are making major inroads into a lot of industries. In the past, filament bulbs like incandescent and halogen lamps dominated and were the main source of lighting. Today, in the automotive industry, we see cars with LEDs for taillights and instrument panels. Why the switch to the new technology? Among the reasons why include the higher status of the LED itself. It lasts on average 20,000 hours for a 15-Watt traffic light in comparison to 1000 hours for typical filament bulbs.23 Generally, LEDs are designed to operate upwards of 100,000 hours. This greatly supercedes the standard incandescent bulb with an average lifespan of about 5000 hours.LEDs too are low voltage devices that respond almost instantaneously to changes in current (10Mhz).24T his would entail better safety for motorists on the road. Costs of maintenance of the vehicle would too decrease as replacements of the lighting fixtures need not be done as often. With such fast reponse times, LEDs used as an unbiased photodiode, exhibits a non-linear power dependent response that also can be used for sensitive detection and characterization of mode-locked femtosecond and picosecond laser pulses. 25In the electronic industry, we have LEDs for lighting of almost everything. The ergonomic flat-panel computer screens otherwise known as lucid crystal displays (LCDs) are also in essence miniature LED clusters. The introduction of LCDs marks another milestone in development in the hi-tech industry. Displays now can be made that use less power as well as emit much less radiation in comparison with the traditional cathode ray tube(CRT) display. According to Keith Robinson for Frost Sullivan, The light emitting diode(LED) market, especially the visible LED (VLED) market, is poised to experience explosive maturation once economic conditions improve in North America. The most significant technology improvement that has taken place in the last 10 eld for LEDs is the introduction of blue and blue-green LEDs. The nitride-based LEDs have opened new opportunities for manufacturers of lighting products, such as traffic signal manufacturers and outdoor signboard manufacturers. The increased use of the new colors in consumer products and automotive applications is expected to have a positive impact on the market. 26Manufacturers have always been striving to replicate colors as accurately as possible.This is has always been the holy grail for the display industry. LEDs have made this a reality. Typical incandescent bulbs cannot replicate the vivid colors that can be reproduced using LEDs. LEDs give pure saturated colors with up to 130% more gamut compared to standard NTSC specifications.27 Take the reproduction of white light. When light from all parts of th e visible spectrum overlap one another, the additive mixture of colors appears white. However, the eye does not require a mixture of all the colors of the spectrum to perceive white light. Primary colors from the upper, middle, and lower parts of the spectrum (red, green, and blue), when combined, appear white. To achieve this combination with LEDs requires a sophisticated electro-optical design to control the blend and dispersal of colors. Variations in LED color and intensity further complicate this process.Presently, it is possible to produce white light with a single LED using a phosphor layer (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) on the surface of a blue (Gallium Nitride) chip.28Although this technology produces various hues, white LEDs may be appropriate to illuminate opaque lenses or backlight legends. However, using colored LEDs to illuminate similarly colored lenses produces better visibility and overall appearance in comparison with CRTs. Moreover, LEDs are not deficient in the relia bility department. LEDs are solid state devices with no moving parts as well as no fragile glass or filaments.LEDs too use up to 90% less energy in comparison with conventional bulbs and lamps today.29 Today a LED flashlight may last up to 200% agelong with the same batteries used to operate conventional filament flashlights. 30 Furthermore, LEDs are environmental friendly because they contain no mercury and since they last longer (about 100,000 continuous hours of life) there will be less disposal waste in the environment. This in turn would result is less pollution and less wastage of our curious and limited resources.LEDs also form the foundation for applications in optical-fiber communication and diode lasers. They produce a narrow spectrum of coherent red or infrared light that can be well collimated. This characteristic of the light produced by LEDs has enabled engineers to manipulate the setup to enable info transfer. This has made it possible for continents to be linked v ia the internet. selective information can be sent across the globe in a matter of fractions of a second and vast chunks of data can be hereditary without a hitch. With the improvement of infrastructure, the benefits extend also to the general populace. Before we had modems that used coaxial copper cables, today we have T1 to T3 connections which utilize fiber optics.Most institutions, organizations and companies that require the use of large bandwidths of data have such connections. Take for example, San Jose State University, it utilizes severalT3 connections to the internet and has T1 connections locally across campus to alleviate data congestion. In this way, data is made readily available to those hungry for knowledge.ConclusionLight Emitting Diodes has such a profound impact on society. It affects our daily lives as well as activities. It is used in so many applications and so many places. With LightEmitting Diodes, so many significant improvements to already existing techno logy could be made. historically the LED market has experienced signal digit growth of about 8.5 percent.The laser diode market has experienced double-digit growth in the past of approximately30.0 percent and once economic conditions improve it is anticipated that the market will experience strong growth rates once again. 31 As this technology expands, so does our horizon and our conquest for the betterment of todays technology. Light Emitting Diodes truly is a great invention of the age.