LED usage and design is growing exponentially each year. There are a number of advantages for designing circuitry the uses LEDs as the illumination component. Below we’ll cover some of the best uses and reasons for use in your cabinet, PCB and signaling projects.

LEDs and Directional light emission

Traditional light sources that were used in the past, emitted light in all directions. This flaw resulted in parts of the light being scattered and luminance lost. Special optics and reflectors could be integrated into the system to create directional light sources, but they caused even further light losses. Because LEDs are mounted on a flat surface, they emit light hemispherically reducing lost and wasted light.

Low Profile/Compact Size LEDs

The small size and directional light emission of LEDs offer designers flexible options for low-profile, compact lighting design. Using either through-hole or SMT LEDs or LEDs coupled with a lite pipe, can eliminate system devices that protrude and cause less space to be available in cabinet or PCB housings.

Breakage resistance

LEDs are extremely resistant to vibration and damage because they do not have filaments or glass enclosures. Standard sginaling lamps may be affected by vibration in certain applications unless specialized vibration-resistant devices are implemented.

Other light and signaling sources are all based on glass or quartz envelopes. Product breakage is a fact of life during transport, storage, handling, and installation. LED devices usually do not use any glass. LED devices mounted on a circuit board are connected with soldered leads that may be vulnerable to a direct impact, but are significantly more stable than other lighting types.

Cold temperature operation

Cold temperatures present a challenge for other signal lamps. Many lamps will require higher voltages to start during colder temperatures, this is not true for LEDs lamps. LED performance actually increases as operating temperatures drop. This makes LEDs a natural fit for refrigeration product, cold storage facilities, and outdoor applications.

Instant on

Lamp types that are not LED based often requires additional time after system initiation before the full brightness level is reached. In contrast, come on at full brightness almost instantly, with no re-strike delay. This ‘Instant-On’ feature is desirable both for convenience and safety reasons.

Rapid cycling capability

Traditional light and signaling devices will burn out sooner if switched on and off frequently. In many cases, a timer is designed into the circuit for protection of the circuitry when the device has been in use that prevents further use until a cooling period has been met. LED life and lumen life cycles are unaffected by rapid cycling. In addition to flashing light displays, this rapid cycling capability makes LEDs Articles the perfect device to integrate into your circuitry and with other electronic devices such as occupancy sensors or daylight sensors.

Controllability

Traditional, lighting and signaling sources present a number of challenges with regard to lighting controls. Dimming of the system lighting is readily available and effective, although at a substantial cost premium. LEDs offer benefits in terms of controlling light levels (dimming) and color appearance. As LED driver and control technology continues to evolve, this is expected to be an area of great innovation in a large variety of applications.

No IR or UV emissions

Today’s manufacturing and regulatory commissions are increasingly concerned about IR and UV emissions. The trend is to implement restrictions on power usage and circuitry Ir and UV emissions. LEDs emit virtually no IR or UV. This not only helps reduce carbon footprints but lowers circuit power requirements. In addition, it eliminates excessive heat (IR) from lighting that presents a burn hazard and also the UV rays that can be damaging to any unshielded devices.

Where can I get more information?

The experts at VCC  are available daily to help with your design requirements and also selection of the best LEDs for your project. Contact us today for advice, information, design assistance and superior LED devices.