LEDs

Kang Bae Material Science MEEN 3344

What is LED

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. LED is a semiconductor device that produces infrared lights when electric current is applied to the device This process is also called Electroluminescense

HISTORY OF LED

Radio Corporation of America first reported on infrared emission from gallium arsenide in 1955. Texas Instrument found Gallium Arsenide emits infrared lights when electric current were applied 1961. GE developed the first working LED in 1962.

How LED works

A LED is a semiconductor diode that consists of a chip of semiconducting material that creates a p-n junction. P-N junction is where current flows and it flows from the p-side to the n-side Charge-carriers - electrons and electron holes - flow into the junction releases energy in the form of a photon. The wavelength of the light emitted distinguishes LEDs color Examples of colors
aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) - red and infrared aluminum gallium phosphide (AlGaP) - green aluminum gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP) - high-brightness orange-red, orange, yellow, and green diamond (C) - ultraviolet

Uses of LED

flash lights. LED Display Bicycle lights Traffic signs and signals Mouse for computers Cars (Lexus tailamp)

Advantages and Disadvantage

Lasts longer than incandescent lights Extremely durable and less heat Lights up in microseconds High ambient temperature cause overheat. More efficient, lower power usage than incandescent lights.

References

Whatis June 18 2001, Nov 9 2006 http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid 9_gci213613,00.html Wikipedia Nov 9 2006, Nov 9 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED_%28Lightemitting_diode%29#Physical_function