Types of LED

Introduction:

LED (light-emitting diode) is a semiconductor light source that emits light when current flows through it. Their various types of LED are made of semiconductors and are classified into different categories. It is used due to its effectiveness in terms of lower power consumption, longer service life, better illumination.

LEDs are very widely used in today’s electronics equipment, and they are one of the major display technologies in use today. There are various types of LEDs which are discussed in the points below.

Classification of LED-based on sizes:

• Miniature
  1. Low-current
  2. Standard
  3. Ultra-high output

Classification of LED-based on power delivered:

• High-Power

Classification of LED-based on their application:

• Flash
• Bi and Tri-Colour
• RGB LEDs
• Alphanumeric
• Lighting LEDs

Different Types of LED (Light-Emitting Diode)

Miniature LEDs

• These are mostly used now these days. These are available in single shape and colour and are available in small sizes. It can be directly placed into a circuit board without the use of a heating or cooling device.
• These are classified into low-current, standard and ultra-high output depending upon various factors such as voltage, total watts, current, and manufacturer type.
• Miniature LEDs are used in small appliances such as remote controls, calculators and cell phones.

High-Power LEDs

• These uses of LED results in high output compared to normal LEDs. The light emitted is measured in terms of lumens. These are again categorised based on luminous intensity, wavelength and voltage.
• These have a danger of overheating hence a heat-absorbing material is used to cool it down.
• High-Power LEDs are used in high-powered lamps, automobile headlights, in various industrial and mechanical equipment.

Flash LED

With a normal LED, it contains an integrated circuit which flashes the light at a particular frequency. These are directly connected to a power supply without the help of series resistors. It is used in signboards, vehicles etc.

Bi and Tri-Colour

• Bi-colour LED lights consist of two light-emitting dies in a single case. The wiring is inversely parallel which means one is in the forward direction and another in backward which makes one die lit at one time. The flow of current alternates between two dies which results in colour variation.
• Tri-Colour LED lights design lets the two dies to lit separately or together producing a third colour.

Red Green Blue LEDs

These emit red, green and blue light and also allows to combine these three primary colours and produce a new colour. These are used in accent lighting, lights shows and status indicators.

Alphanumeric LED

• These consists of segments which offer greater flexibility and lesser power consumption. In it, it has various types of LEDs such as:
• 14 and 16 segment- they cover full 26 characters of the Roman alphabet in uppercase and with numerals 0-9
• 7 segment- covers all numbers and limited set of letters
• Matrix segment- covers full alphabets (upper and lower), all number and a full variety of symbols.

Lighting LED

These LEDs use aluminium/ceramic body which provides heat dissipation. One example is the Edison light bulb design.

Does light behave like a wave?