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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
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LEDsmagazine.com
Strategically
speaking
UV LEDs P. 19
LED flicker
Characteristics
and metrics P. 35
SSL mega
TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS OF LIGHT EMITTING DIODES
disruptor
Power over
Tech toys
Ethernet P. 47
LED-enabled
innovation P. 59
ISSUE 83
2015
November/December Cover Story
LEDs and SSL technology take consumer
and luxury products to new levels of
innovation (see p. 59; cover concept by
Chris Hipp).
features
19 STRATEGICALLY SPEAKING
Emerging applications for UV LEDs drive broad columns/departments
interest Martin Shih, Strategies Unlimited
3 COMMENTARY Maury Wright
25 CONFERENCE
Connected LED lighting dominates SALC, but focus
Alternative LED substrate options
head in opposite directions
is services Maury Wright
7 NEWS +ANALYSIS
35 FLICKER
Understand the lighting flicker frustration
New York's Walker Tower gets
LED façade lighting from Erco
Ethan Biery, Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. Dutch soccer champs turn
on LED sports lighting
41 STANDARDS LG Innotek announces 3.5-mm

LEDs that hit 180 lm/W efficacy
ANSI continues advancements on SSL chromaticity
LEDs and sources: Osram
standard Jianzhong Jiao, Consultant Opto, Cree, Lumileds
Round Rock smart street light pilot
47 LIGHTING
Digital SSL’s mega disruptor will be Power over
includes video and emergency beacons
Ethernet Mark Halper

15 FUNDING + PROGRAMS
Zhaga publishes Book 11 for
53 REGULATIONS
Risk group determination characterizes
35-mm spotlight LED modules
Detroit exceeds 48,000 LED street lights
photobiological safety in LED lighting installed in DOE-assisted program
Leslie Lyons, Bentham Instruments Limited, UK
72 LAST WORD
59 TECH TOYS
LED- and SSL-centric products shine in a techno-
Keeping the existing lighting can do harm
Stan Walerczyk, Lighting Wizards
savvy gift list Maury Wright and Carrie Meadows
68 DEVELOPER FORUM
Digital control in LED drivers delivers better dimming
in lamps Scott Brown, Dialog Semiconductor
LEDsmagazine.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 1

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commentary
Alternative LED substrate options head in

opposite directions
W
e have long watched structure of GaN epitaxial layers and sil- luminaires to retrofit its own facility in the
the interest in alterna- icon substrates equates to more defects UK (http://bit.ly/1LSOdLp). It’s also actively
tive substrates to sap- and lower performance in terms of lumen expanding its fab capacity, receiving assis-
phire and silicon carbide in terms output and efficacy. tance from the government as well, although
of an LED technology and man- Most recently, there have been three pri- not near the level of the New York investment
ufacturing platform. You have mary supporters of GaN-on-Si technology in Soraa (http://bit.ly/1HdjrOE).
Soraa touting gallium-nitride- — Plessey, Lattice Power, and Toshiba. Still, it’s no secret that Plessey has sought
on-gallium-nitride (GaN-on- That short list acknowledges the depar- an exit strategy through acquisition by a
GaN) and numerous players try- ture of TSMC SSL early this year (http:// larger company. Perhaps the company will
ing to harness GaN-on-Silicon (GaN-on-Si). bit.ly/1Q7r7oy). TSMC’s GaN-on-Si assets yet succeed on its own or find an acquisi-
Recent business news, however, would seem were sold to Epistar, but there is no evi- tion partner. To date, however, we are still
to indicate that the two alternative paths dence of advancement or commercializa- waiting to see commercialized LED-based
are diverging and the GaN-on-Si alternative tion of the technology by Epistar. lighting products using the GaN-on-Si LEDs
may be gasping for air. Now the short list has dropped to two ship from lighting manufacturers.
Without question, Soraa offers some of with Toshiba announcing its exit from the I think that the silicon play may be los-
the most well-received directional LED LED business as a part of a larger restructur- ing its luster. On the other hand, the GaN
lamps based on its homogeneous GaN- ing (http://bit.ly/1StcH0b). Arguably, Toshiba proponents will always be able to carve out
on-GaN LEDs, and apparently demand for had made the most progress of the GaN-on- a specialty niche at the high end. And in
the GaN-based LEDs is growing. The com- Si proponents with efficacy approaching the future, new semi-polar GaN-substrate
pany is building a new fabrication facility that of mainstream white LEDs (http://bit. technology may make GaN-based LEDs
(fab) in Syracuse, NY, albeit with signifi- ly/1RzwFFP), but perhaps the yields were cost competitive. If you missed it, our cov-
cant financial assistance from the State of never sufficient for commercialization. In erage on the Strategies in Light keynotes
New York (http://bit.ly/1WzNGX7). any case, I would think that Toshiba could from earlier this year offers great insight
Support for GaN-on-Si has been driven have sold their silicon-centric assets were the on the benefits and challenges of alterna-
by cost with silicon wafers being cheaper technology ready for primetime. tive substrates (http://bit.ly/1F76zF5).
and the potential of handling the back end Plessey has shown signs of success and
of the manufacturing process in depreci- is going to great lengths to demonstrate Maury Wright,
ated fabs previously used for digital ICs. the viability of its GaN-on-Si platform. The EDITOR
But significant differences in the crystal company even designed and built custom mauryw@pennwell.com
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ADVERTISERS index
Autec Power Systems..................................38 Future Lighting Solutions................ 61, 63, 65 Mitsubishi International...............................12
Bayer Material Science, LLC ........................23 Graftech International .................................16 Orb Optronix................................................22
Bergquist, A Henkel Company ............... 37, 57 Hangzhou Hpwinner Opto Corporation ...........5 Proto Labs Inc. ............................................39
Buerklin GmbH & Co. KG ...............................8 IIDEX/Neocon Canada ..............................CV3 Seoul Semiconductor Co. Ltd. .....................24
Carclo Optics ..............................................70 Instrument Systems GmbH .........................43 Shenzhen Ledfriend
Optoelectronics Co. Ltd. ...........................49
Citizen Electronics Co. Ltd. ..........................14 Inventronics (Hangzhou) Inc.........................11
Shenzhen Okt Lighting Co. Ltd.....................18
Cree, Inc. ..................................................CV4 Yuyang Dnu (Korea) .........................10, 20, 51
Shenzhen Refond
Dongguan Thailight Ledlink Optics Inc........................................46
Optoelectronics Co. Ltd. ...........................40
Semiconductor Lighting Co. Ltd. .................9
LTF LLC .......................................................17
TDK Corporation .........................................67
Evergreen International Corp. ......................21
Lumens Co. Ltd.............................................6
Thomas Research Products & Norlux ..........13
Flip Chip Opto .............................................69
Lumileds .......................................................2
Underwriters Laboratories .....................34, 71
Future Lighting Solutions...........27, 29, 31, 33
Mean Well USA Inc. ...................................CV2
4 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 LEDsmagazine.com

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news views
ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING
New York’s Walker

Tower gets LED façade
lighting from Erco
Erco has announced a new LED façade lighting project
involving the Walker Tower located near Ground Zero in
the Tribeca section in the Manhattan Borough of New York
City. The outdoor solid-state lighting (SSL) project reveals
the architectural details on the façades and spires of the
building while not spilling light beyond the target via the
use of more than 100 Erco projectors.
The Walker Tower has long stood prominent in the famed
New York skyline. The building dates to 1929 and was building was renovated and converted into luxury apart-
designed by architect Ralph Thomas Walker. The design is ments. Now those residents will have subtle but impactful
unique in that the asymmetrical structure narrows in steps LED façade lighting on their structure. The design did not
with altitude. The design was intended to allow more sun- intend to compete with dynamic colored lighting such as
light to reach the ground to meet New York regulations at we covered on the Miami Tower (http://bit.ly/1onVQ0J), but
the time of construction. rather to simply reveal the architectural details.
The 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York left the Walker New York-based Kugler Ning handled the new LED
Tower damaged and subsequently the once commercial façade lighting design and specified the 7W » page 8
ARENA LIGHTING PACKAGED LEDS
Dutch soccer champs turn LG Innotek announces

on LED sports lighting 3.5-mm LEDs that hit
The reigning champions of the Dutch professional soccer league have 180 lm/W efficacy
become the latest major sports team to start playing under LED flood- LG Innotek has announced the H35C4 LED Series
lights, as PSV Eindhoven kicked off in October with new LED sports with what the company claims is the highest effi-
lighting supplied by its longtime sponsor Philips. cacy on the market. The 3.5×3.5-mm high-power
The Philips ArenaVision LED lights at Philips Stadium are expected LEDs can be driven at up to 5W and are squarely tar-
to save 30% in energy and 33% in maintenance costs compared to geted at high-output general SSL applications such
previous high-intensity as street lights and high-bay fixtures. LG said that
discharge (HID) lights, the LEDs would begin to ship in volume production
Philips said. during October.
The new LED sports The new packaged LEDs arrive with a maximum
l ig ht i ng w i l l a lso efficacy claim of 180 lm/W when driven at 350 mA
improve visibility for and forward voltage rated in the 2.7V to 3V range. The
spectators and sup- company stated the maximum efficacy is 10% higher
port superslow-motion than any competitive high-power LED products from
replays and high-defi- other manufacturers and 13% better than its prior
nition television, bet- offerings in a similar form factor. At 700 mA, the effi-
ter than the » page 10 cacy drops to a still respectable 152 lm/W at a » page 8

news+views
Erco from page 7 as the US where low and high
Erco Grasshopper luminaires with a nar- beams are required, a single
row 6° beam pattern. The narrow spot beam packaged LED can implement
places the lights precisely on the architec- both (http://bit.ly/1JjD5n x).
tural details while eliminating light pollu- In regions that allow adaptive
tion that could spoil skyline views. headlamps and functionality
The building also features a crown struc- such as the Audi Matrix design
ture that includes four spires that were dam- (http://bit.ly/1qtZK7k), the indi-
aged but replaced when the building was on Automotive Lighting (ISAL) 2015 event vidual control of the emitters will enable
refurbished using the original drawings of in Darmstadt, Germany. The five-emitter such designs.
the architect. Kugler Ning installed 20W packaged LED can be the sole component MORE: http://bit.ly/1MCsdSq
Erco Lightscan projectors with a 6° beam in combined low- and high-beam headlamp
pattern for the spire lighting. systems delivering up to 2000 lm, and can
The result of the design is a building that be used to achieve glare-free adaptive head- LG from page 7
Erco says appears “sculptural.” The lighting lamp designs with each emitter being inde- junction temperature of 85°C.
creates an interplay of light and shadows with pendently driven. The LED will be commer- LG said it achieved the performance
subtle grazing. And the design team specified cially available next year. of the H35C4 through a vertical LED
the project with the mandate of creating no The new prototype LED demonstrates architecture and an optimized mix-
glare. The projectors do not spill light onto the performance upgrade path of the Oslon ing process in the phosphor materials
balconies or into windows. Moreover, the Black Flat family and the advancements are that create the white light. The ver-
small luminaires are attached to the build- coming primarily in the thermal area. tical characterization implies a flip-
ing walls but blend into the architecture. ◀ Osram said the new version will use a chip approach in which the emitting
MORE: http://bit.ly/1XTFvSL slightly larger surface-mount device (SMD) surface was originally adjacent to the
package that measures 3.75×7.0 mm. The growth sapphire.
LEDS & SOURCES thermal connection has been enhanced by The new LG packaged LEDs also
larger contact pads that will enable passive come with LM-80 test data and long
Osram Opto demonstrates cooling of the LED. The thermal design will rated lifetimes. The company said
five-emitter LED for thereby reduce the system cost and make the test data suggest a life of 150,000
automotive headlamps LED-based headlamps more cost competi- hours and that the phosphor formula-
Osram Opto Semiconductors has demon- tive with HID options. tion and application technology is also
strated a prototype of a new Oslon Black The five emitters provide many options key to the long life. ◀
Flat S LED for automotive headlamp appli- for product developers in realizing com- MORE: http://bit.ly/1kdT3tT
cations at the International Symposium pelling headlamp designs. In cases such
The energy saving lamp will go extinct.

Change to LED now!
Make an appointment for your free initial consultation: www.buerklin.com/led-competence

A WORLD OF ELECTRONICS
news+views
Cree upgrades color LED
family to SC5 technology continued from page 8 HIDs — which It joins a growing list of venues around
and adds new optic Philips had also provided — the com- the world to switch to LED lighting, such
Cree has announced an upgraded XLamp pany noted. LED stadium lights offer as the University of Phoenix football sta-
XQ-E packaged LED product family apply- stadium operators “instant on,” rather dium in Arizona, which hosted last Feb-
ing its High Intensity (HI) feature set to color than having to warm up to full bright- ruary’s Super Bowl under its new LED
LEDs and a new white LED. The new prod- ness; and they can be programmed to lighting from Ephesus Lighting, a Syr-
provide light shows that could flash acuse, NY company (http://bit.ly/1Kqh-
in selected colors when a team scores VrQ). Some of the many others include
a goal, or provide a matching mood for Stamford Bridge Stadium, the home
an entertainment show. ground of London’s Chelsea Football
Philips Stadium, owned by PSV Eind- (soccer) Club, lit by Philips (http://bit.
hoven, is the first in Holland’s top soc- ly/1mbCuP1) — which also provided LED
cer division (called the Eredivisie) to use lighting for nine of the 2014 World Cup
LEDs to light the playing field. It is the soccer venues in Brazil. ◀
country’s third largest soccer arena. MORE: http://bit.ly/1iGEn50
ucts are based on the SC5 (silicon carbide product family (http://bit.ly/1EExWmA). The product development and simplify manufac-
5) technology platform and are offered in LEDs use a relatively flat primary optic that turing efforts. Indeed, the strips need only
white, red, red-orange, phosphor-converted ultimately enables a tighter beam and better a 24V constant-voltage power supply to
amber, green, blue, and royal-blue versions punch or center beam candle power (CBCP). operate.
for SSL applications such as architectural MORE: http://bit.ly/1QhVyY7 The Matrix products are what Lumileds
façade lighting. and others refer to as a Level 2 type of product
The new Cree XQ-E HI white LEDs deliver Lumileds delivers flexible LED
334 lm at 1A of drive current and 3W. The strips in Matrix modular family
original XQ-E family was launched back in Lumileds has announced the Luxeon
2013 based on the SC3 platform (http://bit. XF-3014 family of f lexible LED strips
ly/1Q7yGLT). And the original XQ-E white intended to serve as building-block modu-
LED delivered 287 lm. lar light engines for products such as cove or customer engagement. Such modular light
Still, the performance improvement is lighting and other linear applications. The engines are especially important to manu-
more significant than evident strictly from new flexible strips are part of the Lumileds facturers who lack the automated assembly
a luminous flux comparison. The HI concept Matrix platform of modular light engines equipment needed to manufacture flexible or
came to market earlier this year in the XP-L that enable SSL manufacturers to accelerate rigid printed-circuit boards (PCBs) using sur-

news+views
face-mount device (SMD) LEDs. lizes standard flip-chip technology.
Lumileds first launched the Matrix fam- MORE: http://bit.ly/1iGFXUd
ily a little more than a year ago (http://bit.
ly/1MLKrHh). There are both rigid and flex- STREET LIGHTING
ible products in the Matrix family. The new
XF-3014 family includes three basic models Round Rock smart street
with each also being available in a choice of light pilot includes video
2700K, 3000K, or 4000K CCTs — all at a CRI and emergency beacons
of 80. Developers can buy long strips that can The city of Round Rock, TX, located near
be cut into 96-mm segments and each seg- Austin, has announced an LED street and
ment has 6 LEDs. Alternatively, Lumileds area lighting trial that includes networked
offers 96-mm segments with connectors luminaires, video cameras for security in
installed. And the family includes a 480- two locations, and red LED lighting on the
mm segment with 30 LEDs and connectors. roadway poles for emergency signaling.
MORE: http://bit.ly/1kxyWX4 Planled, US-based partner of Gigatera, led
the project that also included energy ser-
Osram launches new RGBW LED
for entertainment applications
Osram Opto has announced a new 30W
multi-emitter LED in the Ostar Stage fam-
ily of products. The company says the model
LED RTDUW S2WN RGBW (red, green, blue,
and white) offers double the light output of
previous products in the 4.68×5.75×1.26-mm
form factor.
Remote Lighting: The performance improvements come pri-
marily from an enhanced thermal design that
ᣫ End light ᣫ Side Light ᣫ Accent Lighting
delivers thermal resistance of 0.9 K/W. The
Applications: good thermal conductivity enables each of the
ᣫ Medical ᣫ Critical site lighting vices company (ESCO) Opterra as a partici-
ᣫ Automotive ᣫ Displays & signage pant. The pilot will allow the city and its cit-
izens to experience outdoor SSL while also
providing a test bed for additional emer-
gency and security services enabled by a net-
worked street light infrastructure.
The system can use different flashing pat-
terns, or potentially even different colors
down the road, to convey specific dangers
to citizens. The lighting control is based on
1×1-mm chips to be driven at 2.5A. The new the Gigatera Ecology Service System (GESS)
LED gives SSL product developers two options. that includes support for sensors, controllable
Existing products can be updated with the new luminaires, and wired and wireless networks.
LED for greater output. Or developers can The SSL will deliver significant savings to
deliver smaller products or models that main- the citizens in terms of energy usage while
tain prior output levels but use fewer LEDs. improving the light quality. The existing
The LED features a 120° beam. The green, 250W HPS lights were replaced by 150W LED
blue, and white LEDs are based on the com- street lights. The retrofit raised the CCT from
pany’s UX:3 LED technology platform 1800K to 4000K and CRI from 18 to 81.
www.fiberopticpof.com (http://bit.ly/1XTHVAF). UX:3 is essentially The project also includes the afore-
a flip-chip architecture with the n-layer on mentioned poles equipped with video
the top side of the chips and an array of con- cameras located in a couple of so-called
ductive vias that connect with the n-layer Safety Exchange Zones near the Police
655 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 contact on the underside of the chip. The Department. In those areas, 150W

architecture provides uniform current LED lights replaced 1000W lamps.
spreading and emission. The red LED uti- MORE: http://bit.ly/1GNURUD

High Performance LED driver for comfort and critical applications.
Designed for use with lighting controls and dimmers
to achieve a natural lighting environment.
• No flicker from full output

to dimmed levels*
• Deep dimming to 1%.

LED configuration
affects performance.
• Fully isolated 0-10V leads

with low 500µA source
current, compatible with
a wide variety controls.
1225 Bowes Rd. Elgin, IL 60123 USA T 847-515-3057, F 847-515-3047 trpssl.com

© 2015 Thomas Research Products. All rights reserved. Subject to change without notice.
“SSL Solutions Faster Than The Speed Of Light” is a registered trademark. Trademarks are property of their respective owners.
*Output has no perceivable flicker as defined by the Very Acceptable range of Stroboscopic Effects, per LRC ASSIST Program recommendations
+ funding
programs
Zhaga publishes Book 11 for
Detroit exceeds
48,000 LED street
lights installed in
DOE-assisted program
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has
published a new report — “Restoring
Detroit’s Street Lighting System” —
that provides an update on an LED
street light project announced last year
and that the DOE has assisted with in
a hands-on manner (http://bit.ly/1xik
35-mm spotlight LED modules GWu). The project is about two-thirds
complete and will ultimately include
The Zhaga Consortium has announced publication of Book 11 covering 35-mm-diameter installation of 65,000 SSL luminaires.
LED modules intended for applications such as spotlights and similar luminaires. Book 11 The project was intended to restore
becomes a part of a set of related specifications for round modules with Book 3 describing street lighting in Detroit, save energy,
50-mm modules and Book 10 describing 75-mm modules. and boost the local economy.
Zhaga is an industry organization that is seeking to simplify the supply chain for sol- The project began in earnest back in
id-state lighting (SSL) manufacturers by establishing standards for interchangeable LED 2013 as the city declared bankruptcy. The
light engines (LLEs) (http://bit.ly/1cv3aCX). The organization refers to its specifications city had 88,000 legacy lights at the time
as Books and defines different Books for spe- and around half were operational. The
Book 11 cific applications. Book 3, for example, was the failed lights in some cases just had failed
first Book published for spotlights (http://bit. HID lamps or ballasts, but in others van-
ly/16unBAQ). dals had stolen wire and transformers
While Books 11, 3, and 10 all define a fixed from the poles in the cash-strapped city.
mechanical size for LED modules, the Books Michigan’s governor appointed an
also offer options in terms of the size of the Emergency Manager who created a Pub-
light-emitting surface (LES) or source size lic Lighting Authority (PLA) that began
35 mm × 3.5-mm height characterized by category. Book 11 includes to consider how to address the problem.
LES 6.3 (4.5 to 6.3 mm), LES 9 (6.3 to 9 mm), Indeed, the financial burden was even
Book 3
and LES 13.5 (9 to 13.5 mm). bigger on the city than it might seem
Book 11 differs in two ways from the earlier because based on an unmetered tariff,
Zhaga books. The organization said it is the it was paying for energy on the working
first Book “to describe an LED module, rather and non-working lights in the inventory.
than a complete LED light engine.” That is a With so many lights out, projections
subtle distinction because Book 3 and Book 10 of the cost of new lighting and a com-
both require an external driver, or what Zhaga parison with the existing system had
calls electronic control gear (ECG), to combine to be based on an assumed scenario
with an LED module to compose an LLE. Books in which all of the lights were working
50 mm × 7.2-mm height 3 and 10 define the required ECG via references properly. The PLA and DOE speculated
to form factors. in the analysis that LED installation
Modules defined by Book 11 will also require an external ECG, but Book 11 doesn’t spe- would save almost $3 million in elec-
cifically cover drivers. Zhaga is also working on a new Book 13 to define drivers that can be tricity annually and more than 45 mil-
used with Book 11 modules. And developers working with Book 11 can rely on the drivers lion kWh of electricity.
defined in Book 1 while Book 13 is under development. The PLA knew from the start that a
Book 11, meanwhile, is also the first Zhaga Book to require that the modules comply with couple of aspects of the project would
the LEDset specification that has been developed by another industry organization, the Mod- be unique. The street light system infra-
ule-Driver Interface – Special Interest Group (MD-SIG). Member of the MD-SIG include BAG, structure would have to be as much a
Helvar, Osram, Panasonic/Vossloh Schwabe, Philips, TCI, and Zumtobel/Tridonic. The LED- part of the project as the luminaires
set specification defines the electrical interface between the driver and module, including because of deterioration and vandalism.
the ability to set the current level produced by the driver either by an external current-set Moreover, the city would » page 16
resistor or a resistor that can be optionally integrated in the module. ◀
funding programs +
Detroit from page 15 take into account the ultimate fact that lamps will save $2.4 million annually.
not need a one-for-one retrofit for two LED-based products enabled the city to Funding for the project came from
reasons. The original lighting had been install lower-cost aluminum wiring. a short-term loan and issuance of lon-
installed on an ad hoc basis and the new Still, the project was a compromise. In ger-term bonds. The PLA worked with the
system would use a lighting design. And some residential neighborhoods on a typ- Michigan Finance Authority on the bonds.
some areas of the city have simply been ical 600-ft block, the city installed a light The debt service is being covered in part
abandoned due to the financial crisis. on each corner and one in the middle of by a $12 million annual allocation from a
Initially, the PLA settled on 50,000 lights the block. That design provided excellent utility user tax.
but knew that plan would not be sufficient light levels in intersections but does not Citizen response has been mostly pos-
to safely light the city. Ultimately, the num- meet IES RP-8 guidelines in the middle of itive, especially given that many of the
ber was raised to 65,000, although as we the spans between poles. But the PLA cor- older lights didn’t work at all. But the lon-
will see, that number is also shy of ideal. rectly moved forward under the presump- ger pole spacing has been at the center of
The consideration of LEDs compared tion that the wider pole spacing would be some complaints.
to legacy sources resulted in a simple a huge improvement relative to the system Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan addressed
quick conclusion that more-efficient with half the lights out. those complaints at a DOE Workshop held
SSL was the correct route. The compar- As of August 2015, the city had com- in Detroit in November 2014. Duggan said
ison of strictly the two luminaire types, pleted installation of 48,000 LED street some residents would say, “I had a light
ignoring pole, wiring, and other costs, lights and expects to complete all neigh- in front of my house. As far as I was con-
was projected to payback in 2.3 years just borhood lighting by the end of the year. The cerned, Detroit didn’t have a lighting
for the LED luminaires and assuming the upgrade on thoroughfares will be handled problem.” Duggan pointed out that such
remainder of the project would be under- in 2016. The use of LEDs in 65,000 lights complaints came primarily from people
taken regardless. That projection did not compared to high-pressure sodium (HPS) who had not attended widely-promoted
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funding programs+
ence, held Oct. 5–7, 2015, Crystal McDonald
from the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy provided an update and
said there are now 20 active participants in
the OLA program installing LED street lights,
Source: The Public Lighting Authority of Detroit .

with nine months remaining in the program
as presently defined.
At the aforementioned DOE workshop last
year, the interest from the DOE and the Fed-
eral Government in the Detroit project was
clear. Byron Auguste, who at the time was
the deputy director of the National Economic
Council and a member of President Obama’s
staff, spoke at the workshop and said the
Detroit project would lift the local economy
with the DOE and the lighting suppliers train-
meetings on the street light project to which Outdoor Lighting Accelerator (OLA) program ing local citizens to do the work. Auguste also
citizens were invited. The attendees of those that was announced by US President Barack said the lighting was needed so school kids
meetings learned about the level of problem Obama in the summer of 2014. Early in 2015, would feel safer and vandals in general would
the city faced and the justifications behind President Obama tripled the goal of the OLA be deterred by the new lighting.
the decisions made. calling for 1.5 million lights to be converted You can download a complete copy of the
The Detroit project was one in which the to SSL by May of 2016 (http://bit.ly/1xTPOxu). DOE report on the Detroit project at the DOE
DOE was deeply involved as it was part of the At the IES Street and Area Lighting Confer- SSL website (http://1.usa.gov/1X6NVWj).
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strategically speaking | UV LEDS
Emerging applications for UV

LEDs drive broad interest
MARTIN SHIH reports that while technology barriers remain in manufacturing UV LEDs, especially
at shorter wavelengths, a number of potential high-volume applications are driving interest among
packaged LED manufacturers.
W
hile visible-spectrum LEDs have on aluminum nitride (AlN) substrates. UV ry-vapor sources, which require time to
penetrated into TV and mobile LEDs can be divided into UV-A, UV-B, and warm up, can easily create ozone, and use
backlighting, auto- UV-C spectral bands. The UV-A toxic materials to create the light. As the
motive, general lighting, sig- spectrum ranges from 315–400 industry is becoming more widely aware of
nage, and other markets, ultravi- nm; UV-B ranges approximately these concerns, UV LEDs appear to be per-
olet (UV) LEDs are just beginning from 280–315 nm; and UV-C fect replacements: They start up immedi-
to replace incumbent UV sources ranges approximately from 100– ately, will save energy as they do not have to
in diverse applications, including 280 nm (Fig. 1). be kept on, don’t contain toxic materials like
curing, counterfeit detection, For the production of UV mercury, and have greater design flexibility.
medical, sensing, printing, and LEDs, lower wavelengths gener- All of these factors make UV LED luminaires
water/air disinfection. The cost ally equate to the need for more better suited for the current market.
of UV LEDs has dropped significantly during aluminum content in the epitaxial (epi) lay- That being said, the replacement of tradi-
the past several years through improve- ers grown on the substrate. The standard tional UV lamps with UV LED technologies is
ments in architectures and manufacturing metal-organic chemical vapor deposition only the tip of the iceberg with regard to the
technologies. However, when compared to (MOCVD) tools used
the price of white LEDs, UV prices are still for epi growth in visi-
much higher and fewer manufacturers sup- ble LEDs can be used
ply UV LEDs — although volumes are high to produce U V-A
for these suppliers. As a result, more and LEDs. But UV-B and
more white-light LED manufacturers are UV-C LEDs require
Ultraviolet Visible Infrared
attempting to enter this field. specialized tools for
production, which UVC UVB UVA
UV LED production greatly raises barriers
Strategies Unlimited has just released its for entry when com- 100 280 315 400 700
new market research report, “The World pared to their UV-A Wavelength (nm)
Market for UV LEDs and Modules: Market counterpart. This lat-
FIG. 1. UV LEDs cover a broad radiometric spectral band and
Review and Forecast 2015” (http://bit. est report covers all
are general broken into UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C segments.
ly/1LZPfqu). This report looks at pack- wavelengths and ana-
aged UV LEDs and modules using LEDs lyzes the current mar-
with wavelengths ranging from 100 nm ket landscape of all UV LEDs, projecting how potential for the UV LED market. New appli-
to 400 nm. Unlike visible-light LEDs, UV the market will grow over the next five years. cations where UV could be used include UV-A
LEDs that have wavelengths less than 350 integration in smartphone/handheld devices
nm are not grown on gallium nitride (GaN) Forces behind different types of UV LEDs for counterfeit detection or analysis, and UV-C
substrates but rather are usually produced A few years ago, it was almost unheard of for integration in refrigerators or other medical
visible-spectrum packaged LED manufac- devices for disinfection. Fig. 2 illustrates more
MARTIN SHIH is responsible for LED supply turers to consider the UV market. There was application examples across the bands.
chain and market trends in Taiwan/China more money to be made in visible LEDs and The highest penetration and usage of UV
for Strategies Unlimited (strategies-u.com). the barrier to entry in UV was high. But the LEDs today is in curing applications (http://
He has more than a decade of experience UV market was ripe for this LED alternative. bit.ly/1gKflPU), but other applications such
in the electronics industry, mainly covering Most applications where UV light is as water and air disinfection are increasing
semiconductor and hardware technology. needed have relied on traditional mercu- their reliance on UV LEDs as the technology
evolves. This growth is expected to continue in the next five years UV LED sources
and new potential applications will emerge.
The largest growth opportunities, however, will stem from new
applications such as the aforementioned UV-A integration into every-
day items like smartphones/handheld devices for counterfeit detec- UV-A: 315–400 nm UV-B: 280–315 nm UV-C: 100–280 nm
tion or analysis. Likewise, UV-C integration into refrigerators for dis-
infection has huge potential. Still, these new applications are in the UV curing Medical Water/air
disinfection
very early stages of R&D, so it is difficult to forecast these markets.
Counterfeit Sensing
Global market for UV LED applications detection Sensing
Now let’s consider the market potential. Fig. 3 projects the revenue
breakdown by type of UV LED: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. In general, Printing Medical
UV-A LEDs have higher penetration rates among all applications
because of lower prices. UV-A is a very good entry point for these FIG. 2. There are established applications for UV light across
packaged LED manufacturers that produce white-light LEDs since the UV bands, but LEDs will also enable new high-potential
they can use their current MOCVD tools. It is forecasted that the applications.
market for UV-A packaged LEDs will grow by approximately a 45%
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over five years through 2020. US$M
Fig. 4 projects the global potential for UV LED package by appli- 800
cations. As previously mentioned, the curing industry has had the
700
greatest usage and penetration of UV LEDs. That being said, other
600 UV-C
applications are beginning to increase their usage of UV LEDs as the
technology evolves, with printing being the other main category in UV-B
500
the UV-A market. In general, a large printer needs a UV light engine UV-A
with approximately three to four rows of LEDs comprising hundreds 400
of 1W UV LED die. 300
Although water/air disinfection has a lower penetration rate
200
compared to other applications, we still forecast that the mar-
ket has great potential and this is the main driver for UV-C LEDs. 100
From our research, we found the major market regions to be in 0
North America and Japan. Although the usage of UV LEDs is rela- 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
tively limited in countries such as China and other emerging global FIG. 3. Global UV LED package revenue is broken down by type
markets, it is expected that these regions are poised to undergo (spectral band).

US$M US$M
Others
800 Medical 800
700 Water/air disinfection 700 Medical

600 Sensing
600 Water/air disinfection
Printing
500 Sensing
Counterfeit detection 500
400
Curing
300 400
200 300
100
200
0
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
100
FIG. 4. The UV LED package revenue forecast by applications 0
from 2014–2020 shows that UV LEDs for the printing 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
application are expected to increase considerably.
FIG. 5. The UV LED module revenue forecast by applications
significant growth in the next five years as well. from 2014–2020 anticipates growth in UV LEDs for disinfection.
Fig. 5 projects the global market for UV-B and UV-C modules by
application. UV-B and UV-C LEDs are usually sold as modules because Suppliers and obstacles
their manufacturers want to have more quality control over their As mentioned before, both UV-B and UV-C need specialized manu-
products, as well as more control over their intellectual property (IP). facturing tools, and as a result, the entry barrier in those bands can
As water/air disinfection, sensing, and medical markets expand, the be higher. In terms of LED chip manufacturing, epi layers of InGaN
market for UV-B/UV-C modules is expected to experience tremendous (indium gallium nitride) and GaN, grown by MOCVD, are used for
growth as well, with a forecasted 49% CAGR from 2014 through 2020. most UV-A LEDs. With the shorter wavelengths of UV-B and UV-C
LEDs, the processes require the use of AlGaN
(aluminum gallium nitride) for the added alu-
minum required.
It is easier to grow AlGaN-based materi-
als on AlN substrates rather than sapphire.
However, AlN substrates are only available in
small sizes and that fact plays a part in the
LEDs being much more expensive.
Indeed, the manufacturing obstacles
described will produce more of a barrier to the
UV-C band when it comes to some makers of
visible-light LEDs. We expect big LED players to
merge with or acquire UV-C manufacturers in
order to obtain the technology in a short time.
Still, according to our global top 10 pack-
aged-LED manufacturers in the “Worldwide
Market for LEDs: Market Review and Fore-
cast,” 4 of the top 5 UV LED suppliers in 2015
are visible-LED makers. It is interesting that
Cree has almost no established presence in UV
LEDs in 2015. But we have heard rumors from
Cree peers discussing their UV LEDs. For other
major packaged-LED makers dabbling in UV
LEDs, the UV products typically account for
less than 1% of total revenue.
As the demand for UV-B and UV-C prod-
ucts increases and their prices decrease, we
expect to see more competition and prod-
uct options. This enthusiasm will further
expand the market for these goods, as is the
case with UV-A LEDs.
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conference | STREET & AREA LIGHTING
Connected LED lighting dominates

SALC, but focus is services
The annual IES Street and Area Lighting Conference featured a comprehensive set of presentations
on topics ranging from new recommended practices to dirt depreciation, but as MAURY WRIGHT
reports, the major theme was networked street lights with services supplanting energy efficiency as
the driving factor.
T
he Illuminating Engineering Society
(IES) Street and Area Lighting
Conference convened Oct. 4–7, 2015
in Savannah, GA, and as has been the case
in several previous years, connected outdoor
lighting was the hottest topic on the program.
The driving force behind network adoption,
however, has shifted from increased energy
efficiency to networks as a way to enable new
applications and services — for instance, in
areas such as public safety. The conference
also delivered on a broad set of more mun-
Source: Photographer Sam Koerbel.

dane but important topics such as the impact
of dirt depreciation, operational characteris-
tics of solid-state lighting (SSL) in harsh envi-
ronments, and new ideas in LED-based area
lighting design (Fig. 1). Moreover, attendees
got to hear about coming advancements in
LED technology and other key enablers such
as driver electronics.
Let’s start with the focus on networked
FIG. 1. Area lighting in a Boulder, CO, pedestrian underpass was designed by Clanton
lighting. Utility Georgia Power played a
& Associates and the lighting invites pedestrians into the transit area, according to
key role at SALC this year, given the loca-
Susanne Seitinger of Philips Lighting.
tion, and has become one of the fastest mov-
ers in the US adopting new SSL and related • Asset management including location discussed extensively before, but some are
technology. Kevin Fitzmaurice, lighting spe- and type (all operating characteristics) quite new. For example, GE Lighting (now to
cialist at Georgia Power, said the utility has • Time-of-use metering and associated be part of the new Current, Powered by GE
made installation of LED-based luminaires control such as turning lights on during — http://bit.ly/1MWxzsa) had announced
with controls its standard course of action the day in a storm a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
on new and retrofit projects. • Gunshot detection and triangulation with SST Inc in the weeks leading up to SALC
for public safety using acoustical sen- involving the latter’ s ShotSpotter technology
Network applications sors and software that can enable real-time detection and
Fitzmaurice identified seven important • Video monitoring for security and other location of gunshots (Fig. 2). And Mark
applications for controls, some of which are analytics Wilbur, senior global applications engineer
realizable now and some of which are still • Chemical and radiation detection for at GE Lighting, shared the stage with
to come: public safety Fitzmaurice. The two did not suggest that
• Operational monitoring and control • Automatic luminaire registration and ShotSpotter would be on every street light,
including on, off, dimming, and the abil- commissioning enabled with integrated but Fitzmaurice said Georgia Power plans
ity to monitor power usage and status GPS technology to use it in select locations where crime is a
of fixtures Some of the ideas above have been known issue. The ShotSpotter platform can
automatically summon police and provide a IES roadway lighting committee, said when system to measure street lights when we
precise location of shots. the 50,000-light project was planned the could use a much more precise system?”
We will discuss using internal meters in municipality made a bold decision to install Ultimately, the proponents of the meters
street lights to determine billable energy a controls. The primary mission at the time were able to win support for trialing the
bit more, but Fitzmaurice did comment on it, was not metering the energy used by each technology with the promise that if it didn’t
saying that with LEDs and controls “you may light, but that capability was a side thought work the municipality would return to the
save energy, but you won’t save money” if you in the planning. The metering idea met old system. Moreover, Enersource installed
stick with dusk-to-dawn energy-use tariffs. immediate resistance, however, and took utility- or revenue-grade meters sporadically
And the final application area in the list
When a shot is fired, the sound
received special emphasis from Fitzmaurice 1
Sensors is picked up by sensors that
and Wilbur. Fitzmaurice compared the sit- triangulate the origin of the noise.
uation to installing a printer on a PC before
and after the advent of plug-and-play tech-
nology. He said plug-and-play technology
with street lights eliminates errors and lets
the line crews do what they do best — install
lights rather than use a tablet or smartphone
to record data and perhaps take a photo of
the installed luminaire. He said commis- Sound
waves
sioning takes longer than installation. Geor-
Police
gia Power is using integrated GPS capabili- station
ties and three codes stored in the luminaire
at manufacturing to allow its central man-
agement system (CMS) to know everything
required about a newly installed luminaire
and to commission it automatically. Note
that GE has been touting the GPS feature in Police dispatchers and patrol officers in Police
2 3
squad cars receive GPS data pinpointing respond
recent case studies (http://bit.ly/1DYT3GK). the location and a recording of the sounds. to the scene
Fitzmaurice said Georgia Power has
installed 500,000 LED fixtures over the last FIG. 2. GE Lighting will offer ShotSpotter technology for installation with networked
four years. The company uses a mix of star- street lights, enabling triangulation of gunshots and automatic notification of police
and mesh-topology wireless networks and for high crime areas.
DALI (digital addressable lighting inter-
face)-compatible drivers integrated in the time and personnel changes before all of the throughout the system to check the accuracy
luminaires. The aforementioned codes are stakeholders agreed to evaluate the poten- of the luminaire meters (within a particular
stored in the driver. Upon power-up, the net- tial of metering. tolerance, noted in the following paragraph).
work controller reads the GPS, reads the three The old method of billing for street lights, The revenue-grade meters are rated at
codes, and transmits that data to the CMS. according to Bloomfield, is based on a cal- ±0.5% accuracy while the luminaire meters
culation involving the wattage of the lamps are rated at ±2% accuracy. But Bloomfield
Metering street lights for billing and the ballast factor applied to a projected said the results have been largely correlated.
Andrew Bloomfield, director of business load curve (on/off times) that varies by He said you can add a 5–6% premium on the
development at Enersource Power Services, month of the year. Tongue in cheek, he said, metered energy to cover other energy use in
dug deeper into the concept of metering “The methodology lacks precision.” the network, including the energy used by
integrated into luminaires. Enersource the meters themselves, and derive a square
Corp. is a municipally-owned utility that Precision and promises deal for all stakeholders. Furthermore, he
serves the community of Mississauga, The Mississauga lights can report voltage said with 85% of the planned installation
ON, Canada near Toronto, and Enersource and current level, and power factor over complete, the municipality is paying for a
Power Services is a subsidiary that special- time — everything needed for accurate bill- 3-MW load as opposed to a 9-MW load.
izes in street-light design and installation ing, according to Bloomfield. But he added, Of course, negotiation of an LED-centric
for municipal and commercial customers. “Regulatory has not been as fast moving as tariff could have delivered some savings as
Moreover, Mississauga was one of the first technology.” Regulatory opposition to inte- well, but now Mississauga’s bills are accu-
North American municipalities to contem- grated metering has been based on a red her- rate. Moreover, there are subtle savings
plate a complete conversion to SSL back in ring, according to Bloomfield — the idea enabled by the metering. The old and new
2011 (http://bit.ly/1XBBJNy). that such meters are not accurate. He coun- load curves in Fig. 3 show that under the
Bloomfield, who is also vice chair of the tered, “Why are we using such an imprecise unmetered scenario the municipality was
We Accelerate Time to Revenue by Providing

The Most Comprehensive
System-Level Product Portfolio
Our complete, well balanced product portfolio enables customers to attain
all their product needs in one environment, including LEDS, Integrated LED
Light Modules, Power Supplies, Optics, Thermals, and Lighting Control Systems.
paying for full load for 90 minutes more than notification of failures before the customer off inappropriately and the one that is sup-
in the case with metering and controls. calls and to automate the service process. posed to be off but is still on. The CMS will
When FPL retrofits a pole with the net- ultimately fully automate that process.
Florida Power and Light work controller, the crew uses an iPad to Despite what was a mostly optimistic pre-
As you quickly learn at a conference like SALC, enter all of the pertinent data about the sentation, there was a caveat brought for-
however, every utility or municipality has a luminaire and the pole, including the type of ward by Hancock. He said analysis shows that
slightly different idea about the value of net- pole, underground or overhead wiring, type nothing the city is doing or is planning to do
works and even LEDs. For Florida Power and of armature, and more. Moreover, the crew with the lighting network can generate finan-
Light (FPL), the motivation of their controls photographs the installed luminaire and cial savings or new revenue that can pay for
project is primarily automating the main- uses the iPad to record the GPS coordinates the installation of a network infrastructure.
tenance process and proactively preventing of the pole. Hancock said each retrofit takes Fortunately, FPL had already installed a mesh
the impact of failed street lights. Joe Hancock, 3–5 minutes, although Fitzmaurice of Geor- network that covers 5 million meters of road-
streetlight restoration leader and a lighting gia Power would later question that timing. way when it installed wireless power meters.
products engineer at FPL, said, “We’ve got Thus far, FPL has installed 75,000 network The utility was able to piggyback the light-
the largest controls initiative in the world nodes. Hancock said FPL is realizing the auto- ing onto that network; otherwise, it would not
today.” The Miami-area project has been matic detection and failures, and even uses have been able to proceed.
Hancock did offer other advice to utilities
Daily profile – Old versus new facing such a project. He said proponents
7000 should remind company executives about
6000 Old method the value of good customer relationships. In
New method Florida, customer dissatisfaction with the
5000
street-light performance was the biggest
4000 Old method of using complaint to municipalities in the area. The
sun up/down would mean FPL executives supported the network proj-
3000
full load as of 19:30.
Using monitoring the full ect in the face of the costs, believing that it
2000
load comes on at 21:00. would build customer relationships.
1000
0 Dirt depreciation
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Moving beyond SSL networks, let’s get
down and dirty and discuss the prevailing
FIG. 3. Meters integrated into networked LED street lights can enable more accurate
thoughts at SALC that LED luminaires will
electricity billing for street-light owners, saving money even relative to situations require periodic service, even if the LEDs
where there is an LED-specific, fixed-rate tariff, according to Enersource. and driver electronics are working per-
fectly. Indeed, dirt depreciation will require
expanded to eventually cover 500,000 lights voltage and power monitoring to discover some street and roadway lighting owners to clean
(http://bit.ly/1SIdTkj). But Hancock made problems before the luminaire goes fully dark. the accumulated dirt and grime. Professor
it clear that it was not an LED project but For now, FPL is using GIS (geographic infor- Ron Gibbons, director of the Center for
rather restoration with an HID embedded mation system) technology to store the data. Infrastructure Based Safety Systems at
infrastructure. The utility has yet to build out a CMS. FPL is the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
FPL is installing LEDs in some instances, planning a CMS based on the TALQ Consor- (VTTI), has been conducting research
especially when a customer requests them. tium protocols. See our feature on TALQ for focused on studying dirt depreciation over
But the announced networking project more information on that protocol (http://bit. time and on luminaire cleaning methods.
involves installing a network controller on ly/1IE0Xkp). The FPL CMS will be required for Gibbons said lumen dirt depreciation
the existing lights that span ownership by remote on and off control and dimming. (LDD) is the most significant element that
private customers, multiple municipalities, contributes to light loss factor (LLF) over
and the utility. And Hancock said emphati- Environmental forces time. Other elements, including lumen
cally dimming is off in the future and will be The drive for a CMS is in part coming from depreciation and exposure to temperature
driven by regulations. a unique perspective. Hitendra Savdas, IT swings, contribute far less to LLF during the
project manager for the FPL smart light ini- rated operational life of an LED luminaire
Goals and expectations tiative, joined Hancock on stage. Savadas deployed outdoors.
The near-term goal is the automatic detec- said FPL has more than 700 lights that have The street-lighting technology sector
tion of failed lights. Hancock said, “Street to be turned off for turtle nesting areas. At developed LLF curves for high-pressure
lights are the last piece of equipment that a minimum, that operation would require sodium (HPS) long ago. But Gibbons said
we own that people have to tell us is not 1500 crew visits annually, and if a mistake those old rules no longer apply to LED-
working.” The goal is getting an automatic is made it impacts two poles: the one turned based products. Gibbon said, “We’re look-

Solid-State Lighting Expertise

solutions to the market; solid-state specialists provide Marketing,
Sales, Technical Solutions, and Supply Chain expertise.
ing at much longer maintenance cycles” with Pressure washing worked equally well, but nailed down the cause. Wilkerson quipped,
LEDs. The implication was that with HPS resulted in several damaged luminaires and “It’s hard to imagine that all being from dirt.”
re-lamping cycles the lens was also cleaned. also requires far more equipment. The pattern shift is especially difficult to
Moreover, most HPS luminaires use a sim- Gibbons reported that it takes 1 to 2 min- understand as depicted in Fig. 4. The light
ilar oval dome optic whereas LED-based utes to clean each luminaire. Models with output has actually gotten brighter closely
designs vary from luminaires with individ- individual TIR lenses represent the high end around the base of the pole while overall
ual LEDs covered by total internal reflec- lumens produced
tion (TIR) lenses to designs with a flat optic Horizontal illuminance (lx) have dropped. And
Initial
to designs more like the legacy HPS fixture. 60 the lumen degra-
2500
Gibbons studied five luminaires with dation escalates as
50 5000
different optic designs in a parking lot at distance from the
7000
VTTI. In two years LDD ranged from 2% to 40 pole increases. The
5%. Gibbons also evaluated the luminaires DOE has two-di-
30
installed on the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis, mensional maps
MN, a US Department of Energy (DOE) Gate- 20 that detail the pat-
way project that we have reported on previ- tern on its web-
ously (http://bit.ly/1Oa61W4). Those fixtures 10 site (http://1.usa.
have been in place for more than seven years 0
gov/1JBQyIR).
with no cleaning. Gibbons said LDD was as W90 W60 W30 Pole E30 E60 E90 Possibilities for
Measurement point
great as 20% in Minneapolis. the depreciation
For now, unfortunately, there is no clear- FIG. 4. The DOE Gateway test of LED lighting along the US– and beam shift that
cut recommendation in place in terms of Mexican border has revealed surprising results about luminaire the DOE is studying
how to generally apply an LLF with LED- performance in a harsh environment with light levels dropping include issues in
based products. Ultimately, Gibbons said over time, especially away from the pole. the driver electron-
lighting manufacturers will need to docu- ics; orientation of
ment the depreciation for their own prod- of the range because dirt and grime gather the luminaires that may have shifted in the
ucts. And he lamented that there is no way around the edges of such optics and require wind, causing the pattern change; electrical
to accelerate testing for such characteriza- more diligence to clean. Still, the 10-minute anomalies (power usage wasn’t monitored
tion. Street-light owners will clearly need to setup of the bucket truck looms as the larger early on); compromise of the optics; and even
establish some cleaning cycle that may be time sink in the cleaning process. measurement error in the data gathering.
longer than the HPS re-lamp cycle but far The DOE does not think the culprit is
shorter than LED luminaire lifetime. Temperature extremes lumen depreciation in the LEDs. Wilker-
While Gibbons dismissed temperature son said, “LM-80 data suggest that it should
Cleaning the dirt swings as a critical factor in lumen depreci- have gone up.” The PNNL has removed two
Turning to cleaning methods, Gibbons stud- ation, such a conclusion may not hold true of the luminaires to study in the lab and
ied the following options: in an extreme environment. Indeed, repre- replaced them with two new ones. The new
• Wipe the optic with a dry microfiber rag senting the DOE’s Pacific Northwest National ones have thermocouples installed to mon-
• Wipe with a microfiber rag wetted with Laboratory (PNNL), lighting research engineer itor temperature in the driver, the lumi-
water Andrea Wilkerson and senior research engi- naire housing, at the LEDs, and the ambi-
• Wipe with a microfiber rag wetted with neer Jeff McCullough recounted the data being ent temperature.
isopropyl alcohol collected at an extreme project site along the
• Pressure-wash optic/optics from a US–Mexican border near Yuma, AZ. As we Dark sky
bucket truck reported previously, the DOE project was spe- Despite the undetermined issues with the
• Pressure-wash optics and the heat sink cifically intended to evaluate LED luminaire Yuma SSL project, the DOE is generally
on the top of luminaires performance in a setting with high winds, happy with the LED performance. Lower-
Gibbons said lighting manufacturers blowing dust and dirt, and both high tempera- power LED fixtures replaced metal-ha-
have widely varying recommendations for ture and wide swings (http://bit.ly/20daOtC). lide (MH) lamps and delivered more uni-
cleaning their products. Some recommend Even after six months, the light levels dropped form light on the border fence. Moreover,
the use of alcohol while others sternly warn far more than expected and the distribution the PNNL installed the LEDs at much lower
that alcohol can damage lenses. While the pattern changed unexpectedly as well. mounting heights and that would equate to
potential for damage is real were you to soak Wilkerson said the DOE now has data lower installation and maintenance costs.
an optic or lens in alcohol, Gibbons said his recorded after 2500, 5000, and 7000 hours of And displaying Fig. 5, Wilkerson said the
team found cleaning quickly with the alco- use. The rate of depreciation has slowed rela- LEDs are creating less light pollution. You
hol-wetted rag did no damage and over- tive to the first six months of use but remains can see the three LED poles at the far left
all proved to be the best cleaning method. a concern. Moreover, the PNNL has still not of the photo that was taken from a bluff a

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FIG. 5. This photo from the DOE Yuma site shows the LED fixtures at the far left of the pole line create less light pollution than the
HID incumbents.
few miles from the installation. presentation on outdoor area lighting deliv- & Associates (Fig. 1). Seitinger said that such
Of course, light pollution and dark sky ered by Susanne Seitinger, global sub-seg- a lighting treatment can invite pedestrians
concerns were prevalent topics through- ment manager at Philips Lighting. And again into a transit space or corridor. The layered
out SALC. Moreover, there have been more the focus was on lighting for humans or what materials on the walls create visual interest
frequent reports in the popular press of she called “people-centric lighting.” Seitinger while the indirect lighting flows down the
late where citizens are unhappy with new asked, “How engaged are people when they walls in a dynamic fashion. Pedestrians have
LED street lights, complaining about lights are in an environment?” The talk covered plenty of light to feel safe without the lumi-
that are too bright and about cooler color area lighting where pedestrians are promi- naires being directed to the ground.
temperatures. nent and was based on Seitinger’s study of 90 Seitinger also presented examples of instal-
Rick Kauffman of Kauffman Consulting global projects in urban settings. lations with responsive and interactive ele-
and a member of the IES roadway light- Seitinger challenged the outdoor lighting ments. She said that the New York, NY 34th
ing committee reminded the crowd, how- industry to revisit some assumptions. She Street Ferry Terminal has a floating bubble
ever, that we have street lighting because asserted that streets should be lit for peo- structure that adds a responsive element based
it increases public safety. Kauffman pre- ple rather than cars. Rather than uniformly on the flow and tides of the river. And she cited
sented alongside Nancy Clanton of Clan- lighting or blanketing the ground, Seitinger the Banco de Crédito del Peru (BCP) building
ton & Associates, who is a Dark Sky advo- suggested that we curate lightscapes. And in Lima, Peru for its interactive elements that
cate. Clanton has been deeply involved in rather than assuming brighter is better, we we covered last year (http://bit.ly/1KI4xuH).
the Model Lighting Ordinance to help con- should make better use of contrast. There was, of course, far more at SALC than
trol light pollution through regulated lev- Answering her question about how people we can cover here, but here are some parting
els relating to zones. engage, Seitinger said layered area lighting thoughts presented by Greg Ortt, manager
The main SALC message was that the can encompass elements such as ambient, of the Lighting Solutions Center of Hubbell
industry can provide high-quality outdoor dynamic, responsive, and interactive. An Lighting, when he addressed future trends.
lighting with LEDs, which can provide a ambient layer delivers orientation, while a He suggested control may not be needed for
safer environment than HPS lamps while dynamic layer can provide a narrative and dimming given the efficiency march of LED
also meeting the approval of Dark Sky advo- surprise pedestrians. A responsive layer sources and he is on an ASHRAE commit-
cates. Indeed, slightly cooler color tempera- might change based on the pedestrian flow, tee that might eliminate controls require-
tures can allow municipalities to reduce while an interactive layer might allow citi- ments in buildings in the future. Ortt sug-
outdoor light levels because we see better zens to control some aspect of the lighting. gested that outdoor SSL will move to warmer
under such lights. We won’t cover this topic Not all layers will be in every area appli- CCTs. In design, Ortt thinks the industry may
further here because we will have dedicated cation, but Seitinger believes citizens and have moved too aggressively in optics that
feature articles upcoming in that area. municipalities will benefit from more than sharply cut off the light, say, on the border
Also, you may want to peruse our article just stark functional lighting. of a street. Such design can create what he
on CCT and sky glow from the October issue called a cave-like effect and even prove dan-
(http://bit.ly/1PWNpZ5). Transit corridors gerous for pedestrians. As you can clearly dis-
One of the first examples that Seitinger cern, there is plenty more to cover at SALC
Designing for people presented was the Euclid Underpass in next year when the event goes to Hollywood,
We’ll close our SALC coverage with a Boulder, CO, that was designed by Clanton CA from Sept. 18–21.

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flicker | METRICS & CHARACTERISTICS
Understand the lighting flicker frustration

Lighting control manufacturers are committed to reducing flicker, improving LED performance,
and providing commercial customers with comfortable, efficient lighting and control solutions,
but ETHAN BIERY explains that the lighting industry is still struggling to establish good metrics to
characterize the temporal lighting artifacts problem.
T
he evolution of LEDs in the lighting the undesirable aspects of flicker created by magnetically-ballasted fluorescent lamp. In
market has not always been smooth, electric lighting. this case, the lamp extinguishes and reig-
but the technology has come a long nites 120 times per second when dimmed.
way since the early days. As LED technol- Defining the problem Fluorescent lamps do not have a thermal
ogy matures, each generation raises the Beyond just modulation of light output, it’s mass that needs to cool, and extinguish their
bar, driving users and manufacturers to important to distinguish several classifica- light in about a millisecond (much quicker
deliver higher performance and more flexi- tions of flicker: than incandescent lamps). The flicker in
ble control options (http://bit.ly/1KIPW8C). • Visible flicker: modulation of light, whether magnetically-ballasted fluorescent lamps is
Manufacturers also continue to address cus- periodic or intermittent, which most users still noticeable, and may cause people who
tomer concerns by improving color quality, can see as a change in the
product price, lifetime, efficiency, and dim- light output, even under Normalized light output
mability. Still, flicker remains as an issue static circumstances
1.0
that the industry must fully understand, and • Stroboscopic f licker:
account for in solid-state lighting (SSL) and the periodic modulation 0.8
control products, enabling safe and comfort- of light due to an inher- Mean = 0.92
able LED-based lighting for humans. ent characteristic of the 0.6 Min = 0.85
New standards are developed (http://bit. power source being used, Max = 1.00
Percent flicker = 8.4
ly/1H4Ysbj), manufacturing processes are which is perceptible only 0.4
Flicker index = 0.03
improved, and manufacturers continue to if the light source moves
look for ways to boost product performance or the user’s head moves 0.2
and differentiate themselves from the com- Consider that while
petition. The next big performance debate complaints are usually 0.0
is now centering on flicker. Complaints associated with reactions 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
about flicker are nothing new to the lighting to visible flicker, the two Time (ms)
industry; however, the specific characteris- are not mutually exclu-
FIG. 1. Even a legacy incandescent lamp exhibits measurable
tics of LED lighting present some unique sive: Stroboscopic flicker
flicker as the AC power line crosses the 0V level.
challenges. can be visible or invisible.
The simplest definition of flicker is “mod- Even under normal
ulation of light output.” This basic concept, operation and ideal conditions, traditional work under such light to experience more
however, obscures many of the complex light sources, such as incandescent lamps, subtle effects of this stroboscopic flicker,
characteristics that ultimately make flicker exhibit stroboscopic flicker. An incandescent including headaches, eye strain, and dis-
difficult to quantify. And, while flicker in lamp operating at 60 Hz (in North America) comfort, even if it is not directly visible. For-
electric lighting is generally considered experiences a voltage decrease that reaches tunately, high-frequency electronic ballasts,
undesirable, there are situations — espe- zero 120 times a second (twice per line cycle) most of which operate around 40 kHz, have
cially with organic light — where flicker — the lamp’s filament cools, reducing the all but eliminated the issue of stroboscopic
can add a distinctive atmosphere to lighting. light output. However, the thermal mass of flicker with fluorescent lamps (Fig. 2).
Consider, for example, the flicker of a candle the filament prevents it from cooling much As you may have perceived by now,
or the reflection of sunlight off the water. For in the 8 milliseconds or so before the voltage flicker is not just an inherent property of
the purposes of this article, we will focus on begins to rise again. If measured carefully, the light source being used; it is a prop-
this flicker can be detected but is almost erty of the light source in combination with
ETHAN BIERY is the LED engineering leader at never a source of user complaints (Fig. 1). the associated electronics, such as ballasts
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. (lutron.com). Compare the incandescent lamp with the for fluorescent lamps or drivers for LEDs.
Furthermore, the addition of non-ideal All these factors start to explain why it’s Percent Flicker = 100% × (Maximum
power, caused by sources of electronic noise difficult to come up with one correct, uni- Value – Minimum Value)/
common in the real world, further contrib- versally accepted, quantifiable response to (Maximum Value + Minimum Value)
utes to the observed amount of flicker. the question: Does the light source flicker?
Adding dimming to the mix adds yet While both of these values are relatively
How are LEDs different? another variable. Not only does a dimmer easy to measure and compute, they have a
Unlike other light sources, LEDs have no reduce the light levels, creating an environ- few shortcomings. First of all, the values
inherent ability to continue to create light
once current flow stops — they have no per- The question can come down to how much
sistence. When the current flowing through
an LED goes to zero, its light output goes to flicker is acceptable, and how much is
zero — typically in mere microseconds. For
example, LEDs are often used for high-speed problematic?
fiberoptic communications because of this
particular characteristic. Flicker is a func- ment where flicker is more readily apparent, are computed independent of frequency.
tion of the light source and the stability of it adds another potential source of instabil- A light source that flickers at 10,000 Hz,
the associated electronics; therefore, any ity. Even slight variations in the stability of which is well beyond the visual acuity of
fluctuation in the power source to the LED an analog dimmer, whether phase-control or human vision, has the same value as a light
could become instantaneous fluctuation in 0–10V, can produce flicker in an LED driver. source that flickers at 10 Hz and is clearly
the light output or flicker. Poor-quality LED drivers, or drivers that are visible by all. Furthermore, these metrics
The question can come down to how not designed and tested to deliver reliable are unsuitable for trying to capture inter-
much flicker is acceptable, and how much dimmer compatibility, are especially prone mittent or transient flicker, but are instead
is problematic? Even under ideal circum- to causing LED flicker. Using dimmers spe- best used for comparing light sources with
cifically designed and rig- periodic waveforms at the same frequency.
Normalized light output
orously tested for use with Work by the US Department of Energy yields
1.0 dimmable LEDs can often more information on this topic (http://1.usa.
improve dimming per- gov/1PQckxh).
0.8 formance and minimize Because of these flaws, most testing for
or eliminate flicker to the flicker is done through subjective obser-
0.6 greatest extent allowable vation: having trained observers, who are
by the driver. known to have good visual acuity, observing
0.4 Mean = 0.82 a light source under controlled conditions.
Min = 0.56 Existing work Not surprisingly, this frequently results in
Max = 1.00 Much groundwork has differing answers to the question “does it
0.2 Percent flicker = 28.4
Flicker index = 0.07
already been laid in the area flicker?” The answers typically depend on
0.0 of flicker measurement. the observer, which makes it particularly
Most flicker measurements hard to reproduce results between different
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
start with a photodetector test locations. Another potential concern is
Time (ms)
that is capable of high-speed that stroboscopic flicker beyond the range
FIG. 2. High-frequency electronically-ballasted fluorescent measurement, and that of visible frequencies, which may contrib-
lighting essentially eliminated flicker as a problem in such closely matches the spectral ute to non-visual discomfort, is not specif-
products. sensitivity of the human eye. ically measured using these testing meth-
The photodetector is con- ods. Despite these shortcomings, subjective
stances, the amount of observable flicker nected to an oscilloscope or other instrument observation is still the method currently
in a given application can change based on that captures and records the resulting electri- available that best reflects the customer’s
many different variables: cal signal at high speed for example collecting behavior and expectations in the field.
• The frequency of the flicker, and whether thousands of samples per second. The result- Newer flicker measurement techniques
it is periodic (stroboscopic) or not ing waveform can then be processed under sev- try to overcome the shortcoming of the
• The wave-shape of the flicker eral different algorithms to create flicker met- Flicker Index and Percent Flicker methods,
• The age and visual acuity of the observer rics, currently the most common of which are while matching the practicality and useful-
• The overall light level “Flicker Index” and “Percent Flicker”, which are ness of the visual observation method. These
• Position, intensity, and possible synchro- defined in the IES Handbook. more advanced algorithms still use the same
nicity of other light sources Consider Fig. 3 to understand the metrics waveform measurement but tend to factor
• Relative motion of the observer, light that are based on the following equations: in frequency-specific measurements. They
source, and/or nearby objects Flicker Index = (Area 1)/(Area 1 + Area 2) often include taking the FFT (Fast Fourier
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9 5 2 . 8 3 5 . 2 3 2 2 f a x 9 5 2 . 8 3 5 . 0 4 3 0
1 8 9 3 0 We s t 7 8 t h S t r e e t • C h a n h a s s e n , M i n n e s o t a 5 5 3 1 7 Thermal Materials • Thermal Substrates • Fans and Blowers
Transform) of the signal, which allows a many previous studies on flicker (see prior
complex waveform, even if not periodic, to be LEDs Magazine coverage at http://bit.ly/1M
analyzed as a sum of individual frequencies. f9tYT). Like the LRC work, the IEEE recom-
This methodology allows these algorithms mendations also acknowledge the effects of
to apply specific weights, or importance, to flicker frequency. Its recommendations pro-
frequencies of interest — for example, fre- vide some application-specific guidance, giv-
quencies that are more likely to be visible, ing frequency-dependent limits for “low risk”
and “no effect” cases.
Mean = 0.72 While many previous
Min = 0.20 industry works on flicker
Max = 1.02
Normalized focused primarily on visible
light output Percent flicker = 66.5
Flicker index = 0.20 flicker, the scope of the IEEE
1.0 Max
work emphasizes poten-
Area 1
tial health risks. This subtle
0.8 Avg but important distinction
0.6 attracted the close atten-
tion of manufacturers, who
0.4
Area 2 may have feared backlash
0.2 Min if their products were asso-
One cycle ciated with adverse health
0.0
effects. Immediately follow-
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 ing the IEEE 1789 publica-
Time (ms)
tion, the National Electronic
FIG. 3. Flicker Index and Percent Flicker metrics defined Manufacturers Association
for LED lighting only partially address the potential (NEMA) published a position
issues of flicker in SSL. paper on Temporal Light
Artifacts (TLA). The TLA
or that will cause headaches and discomfort. position paper admonishes the IEEE work as
In theory, the measurements allow research- “overly strict,” and also cites how other stan-
ers to account for both stroboscopic flicker dards such as Energy Star are relying on inad-
and transient flicker, and can allow for dif- equate flicker metrics such as flicker index
fering thresholds based on application — (http://bit.ly/1kItDod). NEMA concludes the
high-performance architectural lighting paper by describing a forthcoming standard
versus street lighting, for example. being developed by the NEMA TLA working
group, which will provide application-centric
Current research recommendations and test procedures spe-
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Lighting cific to LED lighting.
Research Center (LRC) was an early advocate
of analyzing fundamental frequencies respon- Next steps
sible for causing flicker. Their Recommended While not a new problem, recent develop-
Metric for Assessing the Direct Perception of ments in the lighting industry have brought
Light Source Flicker (January 2015) utilizes the flicker issue to the forefront for many
this approach, and associates the resulting designers and manufacturers. At the same
value with a probability of whether or not time, current and nascent industry stan-
flicker will be detected by a typical observer dards do not adequately describe how to
(http://bit.ly/1WegKOp). measure and quantitatively determine
The most recent development in the area whether or not an LED light source (and its
of flicker was the publication of IEEE 1789- associated electronics, including drivers and
2015, IEEE Recommended Practices for Mod- dimmers) causes flicker. Forward-thinking
ulating Current in High-Brightness LEDs for manufacturers and regulatory bodies are
Mitigating Health Risks to Viewer (http:// committed to and actively involved with
bit.ly/1We9abN). This comprehensive, and intense efforts to develop an improved,
unexpectedly controversial, document was repeatable measurement metric. In the com-
developed over the course of several years, ing months, stay tuned for the results of this
surveying and combining the results from exciting work.
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standards | CHROMATICITY
ANSI continues advancements

on SSL chromaticity standard
JIANZHONG JIAO describes the work of a new ad hoc group within ANSI that is contemplating how to
accommodate the perceptions and preferences of humans in terms of the chromaticity of white light
relative to the black-body locus.
T
he newly published 2015 version of
the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) LED lighting chro-
maticity standard, ANIC C78.377-2015,
incorporates support for new LED lighting
products in the lower correlated color tem-
perature (CCT) range — for example, 2500K
and 2200K. The new version also provides
Source: Lighting Research Center.

guides for the LED makers and users with
higher color consistency with the recom-
mended four-step MacAdam ellipse equiv-
alent quadrangles and circles. But the ANSI
mission is based on continuous improve-
ment. And a new ad hoc group has formed
at ANSI to work toward recognition of the
perceived or preferred white colors below or
above the black-body locus. FIG. 1. At LRC, scientists conducted color rendering experiments on subjects’
The ANSI chromaticity standard is a com- perception of the whiteness of illumination when in the presence of white
munication tool used between LED makers surroundings with or without colored objects.
and users, standardizing the white color
variation and tolerance for indoor lighting logical approach to determine the targeted covers the CCT range from 2200K to 6500K.
applications. We covered the new standard CCT center-points that form a white curve The tolerance from the white curve, or the
in detail in an article published in February by connecting the black-body locus in the color consistency, is specified using the
2015 (http://bit.ly/1EniyfE). lower CCTs to the daylight of illuminant nominal CCTs, fixed or flexible, with the
During the development of the ANSI D65. So far, in the 2015 version of the ANSI deviations. The deviations are described
chromaticity standard, the experts took a chromaticity standard, the white curve by either the seven-step or four-step Mac-
Adam ellipse equivalent quadrangles or cir-
DR. JIANZHONG JIAO is an independent consultant for LEDs and lighting technologies. He cles. By using these quadrangles or circles,
is an internationally recognized lighting expert. He has been actively involved in LED and LED makers can further determine the LED
LED lighting standard development activities, technical conferences, and industry consortia. binning methods or themes that may effi-
He serves as the past chair of the SAE Lighting Committee, past chair of NGLIA, and past ciently use the yields of the LED products;
chair of the NEMA SSL Technical Committee. In IESNA he serves as the treasurer of the therefore, this standard is also widely used
Testing Procedures Committee, member of the Roadway Lighting Committee, vice chair of the for LED makers to establish the LED col-
Computer Committee, and vice chair of the Light Source Committee. He is the vice chair of or-binning basis.
the ANSI SSL Light Source Working Groups, chair of the ASABE Electromagnet Radiation for
Plants Committee, a member of the Standard Technical Panel of UL8750, and What is white?
a member of the standard committees in IEEE, CIE-USA, SEMI, and JEDEC. The quadrangle tolerances form a continu-
He is the organizer and chair for SAE World Congress Lighting Technology ous white region from 2200K to 6500K on the
Conference, a member of the Organizing Committee and chair of SPIE SSL chromaticity diagram, making the LED bin-
Symposium, and a member of the Technical Panel of Strategies in Light. He ning specification relatively easier. Within
can be reached at j_ jiao@hotmail.com. the region, the binning grids can be formed
standards | CHROMATICITY
by dividing the region with lines that are surroundings with or without colored CCT range, from 2700K to 3500K. Then the
parallel to the white curve and to the Duv objects (Fig. 1). The NIST approach was to white curve is bending upward to +0.006 of
(or Judd) lines, in which Duv is the distance ask the subjects for preferred white light in Duv in the higher CCT of 6500K. The pre-
from the black-body locus on CIE 1960 (u, illuminating surrounding colored objects. ferred white curve is approximately -0.015
v) coordinates. The grid size can be a three- of the Duv value below the black-body locus
step or smaller MacAdam ellipse equiva- Perceptions and preferences throughout 2700K to 6500K. One interpre-
lent, depending on the degree of color con- The LRC study described the results of a tation of both sets of research suggests that
sistency needed in an application. Circular series of psychophysical experiments that subjects would assume that a pink hue is
tolerances can be challenging for binning more precisely measured subjective percep- whiter, while one result suggests if the light
LEDs, but with advances in today’s technol- tions of white illumination from light sources is cool white, the subjects thought that a
ogy, LEDs can be binned in a circular fashion of different CCTs. “Generally, perceptions of green hue is whiter.
as well. In all cases when specifying the tol- untinted white illumination for sources with Color preference or perceived color is
erances, the location of the targeted or cen- high CCTs (above 4000K) are associated with subjective. It depends on the light level,
ter-points of the nominal CCTs, also known chromaticities that fall above the black-body the surrounding environment, or even the
as the white curve, has long been a debatable locus. In contrast, perceptions of untinted observer’s cultural background. The ANSI
point because we can’t answer how human white illumination for sources with low CCTs chromaticity standard is intended to be
eyes see white light, and whether or not the (below 4000K) are associated with chromatic- objective by giving the LED users a spec-
ANSI white curves are really white. ities that lie well below the black-body locus,” ification of color variation and consis-
In 2009, when ANSI started the first revi- according to the LRC (Fig. 2). tency so the white color of indoor illumi-
sion of what would be the updated 2011 The NIST study (Fig. 3) described a series nation can be communicated among LED
standards, ANSI C78.377-2011, the commit- of vision experiments that were “conducted makers and users with a simple language.
tee requested research be conducted by the with 18 subjects on their response to Duv. Over years of practice with ANSI C78.377,
human factor and vision experts to deter- The results show that Duv of approximately ANSI’s approach for defining a white curve
mine the white curve. In response to the -0.015 [below black-body locus] on aver- is accepted as the most logical approach
ANSI committee’s request, the Rensselaer age is perceived as the most natural. This and is independent of the light level.
Polytechnic Institute Lighting Research Duv level is outside the ranges specified by
Center (LRC) and the National Institute of existing [ANSI chromaticity] standards. This Accommodating the research
Standards and Technology (NIST) Optical indicates that new lighting products having Initially, the ANSI committee believed that
Radiation Group in the Sensor Science Divi- a more preferred chromaticity than the cur- the RPI and NIST results were somewhat
sion each conducted independent research rent products may be possible.” inconsistent and the ANSI white curve defi-
studies. Although the same goal was used As a result, the two research teams pub- nition should not be altered. Recently, the
in defining where the white curve is located lished their findings and each presented committee recognized that for the per-
on the chromaticity diagram, the research- a white curve — a perceived white curve ceived or preferred white, it can be beneficial
ers used two different approaches. The LRC and a preferred white curve. The perceived if ANSI chromaticity specifications provide
approach was to ask test subjects for per- white curve is about -0.01 of the Duv value guidance or recommendations. The recom-
ceived whiteness while looking at white below the black-body locus in the lower mendation for perceived or preferred white
light is the basis for the planned update to
Black-body locus Gamut area index (GAI) ANSI C78.377.
Line of minimum tint 120 In these two previous research projects,
0.48 Tolerance zones the observers’ input to the low CCTs, 2500K
2700K
3000K 100
3500K and 2200K, were not studied. Even though
0.44 4000K both sets of research results indicated a
80
5000K more pink white is common in the low CCT
0.40 range, it did not explain how human eyes
y 6500K 60
see the whiteness in very warm white or yel-
0.36 40 low-hued light illumination.
The experts in the ANSI ad hoc group
0.32 20 have agreed that fundamentals of the ANSI
C78.377 — including a defined ANSI white
0.28 0
0.28 0.32 0.36 0.40 0.44 0.48 0 20 40 60 80 100 curve, nominal CCTs, and associated tol-
x Color rendering index (CRI, Ra) erances in quadrangle or circular fashion
Source: Lighting Research Center. should remain unchanged. The update is
FIG. 2. Class A Color lighting recommendations for chromaticity tolerance (left) needed to add to the preferred or perceived
and CRI/GAI combination (right) for retail applications as designated by the LRC white center-points curves. Without giving
experiment. users the conclusively fixed targeted cen-
We bring quality to light.
0.56
CIE 1976 (u', v') diagram
0.54 2700K
s
3000K locu
kian
Nominal 3500K nc
Pla
2500K
0.52 CCT
v'
4000K DISC
DI
D SCOV
OVERIN
NG
DISCOVERING
3000
0.50
4500K stdev LIGHT
LIG
GH
HT
HT
K
5000K
400
5700K 0K
Experimental
0.48 results
50
6500K
00
K
60
00
0.46 70
K
00
K Putting LEDs
0.44
0.16 0.18 0.20 0.22 0.24 0.26 0.28
in the right light
u'
Source: Y. Ohno and M. Fein for National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST).
SSL solutions from the
FIG. 3. Results of the NIST experiment plotted on ANSI world leader in LED measurement
C78.377 chromaticity specifications for SSL products. NIST
Right from the start, we have been supporting the
results were developed according to the most preferred white
LED industries with our measurement equipment.
points in a typical interior room environment with various
You will also benefit from this expertise in the new
colored objects, when the subjects were fully adapted to the
Solid-State Lighting applications. Our solutions
illumination. combine highly precise spectroradiometers and
photometers with a complete family of goniome-
ter-points, an approach similar to the flexible nominal CCTs can
ters and integrating spheres.
be used.
In the current standard, the center-points curve is described Discover light with Instrument Systems.
by a mathematical expression of Duv. The mathematical expres- www.instrumentsystems.com/ssl
sion consists of the variable Tx — indicating CCT value, two coef-
ficients, and one constant. By varying the constant, the location
of the center-points curve can be moved to below the black-body
locus with negative Duv values, or above the black-body locus with
positive Duv values. The moving distance is measured by the Duv
value. Below the black-body locus it appears to be a pink white,
and above the black-body curve it appears to be a yellow white
for warm white and green white for cool white. The center-points
curve can be moved with a recommended increment and a defined
range. Beyond this range, the color of light is no longer accepted
as white. For any given center-points curve within the range, the
tolerance can be calculated using the existing seven-step or four-
step MacAdam ellipse equivalent quadrangles and circles. This LGS 1000
approach may be called flexible Duv, similar to the flexible CCT. Goniophotometer
The ANSI committee’s work for continuous improvement of the with new features
chromaticity standard is a great indication of how the standard
and lighting technology and applications are closely related and
how the interested parties collaborate. LED lighting is an evolv-
ing technology and user input for preferred or perceived effects,
as well as other human-centric information, is still in the stage to
be gathered, analyzed, and implemented. The standard develop-
ment community has been actively engaged in this dynamic cycle
from technology to product to standardization, and then further light measurement
improvement for the next cycle.
LEDsmagazine.com
www.instrumentsystems.com
Presenting the Second Annual
SAPPHIRE THIS PRESTIGIOUS EVENT recognizes the industry’s

most innovative products and services in the LED
marketplace. The awards gala will culminate
with the announcement of the winner of
the ILLUMINEER OF
THE YEAR award.
SAVE THE DATE

Sapphire Awards Gala Dinner
March 2, 2016
Santa Clara Convention Center
Santa Clara, CA
The event will take place during

Strategies in Light co-located with
The LED Show.
To purchase your Sapphire Awards ticket, go to:

ledsmagazine.com/sapphireawards
AWARDS
AWARD CATEGORIES EXPERT
JUDGING PANEL
Packaged LEDs and OLED panels
Modular SSL light engines
LED drivers David Cox WPG Americas
ICs and electronic components Steve Paolini Telelumens
SSL enabling technologies Terry Clark Finelite
SSL tools and test Dave Neal Seoul Semiconductor
SSL lamp design Ray Chock Philips Lumileds
Indoor SSL luminaire design Brad Koerner Philips Lighting
Industrial SSL luminaire design Duncan Jackson Billings Jackson Design
Outdoor SSL luminaire design Stan Walerczyk Lighting Wizards
Specialty SSL luminaire Design Nancy Clanton Clanton & Associates
Smart SSL technology Derry Berrigan Derry Berrigan Lighting Design

Therese Lahaie Apparatus Design
Milena Simeonova Light4Health
Howard Yaphe Axis Lighting
Philip Smallwood Strategies Unlimited
Stephanie Pruitt Strategies Unlimited
Shonika Vijay Strategies Unlimited
James Highgate The LED Show
Robert Steele Strategies Unlimited
Maury Wright LEDs Magazine
(Additional judges to be added)
Formal attire is required.

We’ll see you on the red carpet.
lighting | NETWORKS & POWER
Digital SSL’s mega disruptor will

be Power over Ethernet
Power over Ethernet distributes DC power over inexpensive data cables instead of costly
conventional lines, threatening utilities, electricians, and contracting firms, explains MARK HALPER.
Meanwhile, the technology turns LED luminaires into data nodes, allowing IT companies to muscle
into the lighting sector.
A
re you ready for a rumble? The
advent of Power over Ethernet
(PoE) technology is setting up
a heavyweight title fight between Big
Lighting and Big Networking for control of
future indoor commercial lighting products
and infrastructure. Indeed, PoE can replace
the AC electrical grid in buildings, deliver
energy efficiency beyond what inherently
efficient LEDs already offer, and enable
networking for further savings and adap-
Source: Photographer Ronald Tilleman, tilleman.nl.

tive controls. It’s really no surprise that the
evolution of smart solid-state lighting (SSL)
has garnered the attention of companies
such as networking and Ethernet stalwart
Cisco. But even companies known tradition-
ally for their lighting have begun to realize
the potential of PoE — for example, Philips,
with its involvement in a large PoE-based
commercial project in Amsterdam (Fig. 1).
Consider that when teachers go for their
information technology training at Miami- FIG. 1. A new Amsterdam building called The Edge features the largest Power over
Dade County Public Schools, a big lesson Ethernet (PoE) installation that is used to power and connect SSL fixtures, enabling
immediately stares them in the face even if workers individual control of light in their space.
they don’t realize it: The ceiling lights that
illuminate the classroom draw electricity ments, presentations, administrative instruc- cal wires and all the cost, regulations, and
from modern Ethernet data switches and tions, coursework, and the like (Fig. 2). infrastructure that go with them greatly
cables instead of from a conventional 120V The moral of the story: Miami-Dade is exceed what LED lights need. LED lumi-
electrical grid. on the cusp of PoE LED lighting, a technol- naires contain electronics that knock those
What’s more, the same Ethernet doubles as ogy in its infancy, and one that many people levels down, typically to 12V DC. Ethernet
an information conduit carrying instructions believe will become the standard method of cable, which is already present in offices,
straight to the lights, turning them on and off, lighting buildings as it replaces expensive, safely carries lower DC voltages — which
and making them shine at desired brightness electrician-reliant, century-old ways. “It’s in turn do not require electricians and all
levels, correlated color temperature (CCT), the future,” said Debbie Karcher, Miami- their trappings.
and color. It’s all linked into the same net- Dade’s chief information officer. “I don’t And because LED lighting is based on
work that does all the other things a school know why it wouldn’t be.” diodes combined with other semiconduc-
IT system does —carrying emails, announce- PoE takes advantage of two LED lighting tors in a driver circuit, they are ready-
attributes: low power requirements and made to become members of the Internet
MARK HALPER is a contributing editor with affinity for digital connectivity and con- of Things (IoT), serving as data network
LEDs Magazine (markhalper@aol.com). trol. The world’s 120V and 240V AC electri- nodes to receive and collect information
using sensors embedded in LED housings LED lighting to reduce voltage and to con- compete. It’s reminiscent of the ongoing
and luminaires (Fig. 3). “The possibilities vert main-line AC to DC. incursions that Internet companies have
are endless,” Karcher observed. Emerging products also include the Eth- made on traditional big media, as compa-
ernet switches such as those that Cisco is nies like Google, Comcast, Netflix, YouTube
It has happened before refining with greater PoE capabilities and et al. work sometimes with and sometimes
The idea of using Ethernet as an electrical power capacity (Fig. 4). For Cisco, PoE light-against each other in a rock ‘em–sock ‘em
pathway is not new. A lot of data-connected ing is vital to its overarching “Internet of environment that can feel like the on-again,
office equipment such as phones and print- Everything” strategy. Also part of the mix off-again wars and alliances in old Anglo-
ers already use it, tapping into the same is software that helps tie it all together, French relations.
twin benefits of power and data that are provided by companies such as UK-based So far, Big Networking and Big Light-
set to take hold in lighting. For more than a Philips spinoff amBX. ing seem to have a checkered relationship.
decade, PoE has worked hand-in-glove with Cisco is nowhere to be seen in Philips’ proj-
voice over IP (VoIP) to transform the office Whose industry is it? ect at The Edge (as shown in Fig. 1; http://
telecommunications model from the his- And while that all plays out, a good old bit.ly/1LYGKbw), the largest publicly known
torically used clunky phone exchanges sup- “co-opetition” scenario is unfolding as PoE installation, where Philips provided not
ported by costly contracts with big incum- conventional lighting companies like only the lighting but also supplied the Ether-
bent telco providers, to one that routes calls Philips go after a market that also keenly net switches through either a third party or,
inexpensively over VoIP data networks, han- interests info tech giants such as Cisco according to one source, by custom building
dling voice as packets of data. The same sort and Google. The two sides will have to fig- them. Likewise, Philips is not supplying the
of technology upheaval and convergence ure out how and when to collaborate or luminaires at the Cisco C-suite in San Jose.
could soon start to shake things up Those come from NuLEDs.
in the lighting industry. But all is not lost between the
But while PoE may well be, as two big companies. For instance,
Karcher noted, lighting’s future, it Philips has installed a PoE system
is not yet its present. PoE lighting across five floors at Cisco’s Cana-
installations today are character- dian corporate headquarters at
ized either by a few vendor-driven an office tower in Toronto, Can-
showcase installations such as at the ada (http://bit.ly/1LC7nVR). Both
14-floor office building in Amster- Philips and Cisco told LEDs Maga-
dam led by Dutch lighting giant zine that they expect to announce
Philips, and at the C-suite in the major partnerships in the near
San Jose, CA headquarters of Cisco; future related to connected lighting
or by small pioneer projects such as and PoE. Whether that means they
Miami-Dade, the country’s fourth will be partnering with each other
largest school district, which has remains to be seen.
been using the technology since April Both industry representatives
in four classrooms and two lecture have the same goal: to make full use
rooms dedicated to training teach- of the digital aspect of LED light-
ers and staff in the use of IT systems. ing, such that they control lights in
Miami-Dade uses luminaires from a imaginative ways and use them as
PoE specialist called NuLEDs, a small valuable information points for col-
husband-and-wife startup company lecting and disseminating informa-
located in Carlsbad, CA. tion. Both The Edge in Amsterdam
For the concept to truly take off, — where anchor tenant Deloitte is
more products and services must hit a principle user — and Cisco’s five
Source: NuLEDs, Inc.
the market. They include luminaires floors in Toronto allow office work-
such as those already available from ers to manage overhead lights using
NuLEDs and from other PoE enthu- computer controls and in some
siasts like Innovative Lighting of instances via smartphones; similar
Roland, IA. The PoE-tailored lights FIG. 2. Miami-Dade Public Schools simply switched controls of task lamps should soon
use diode strips rather than conven- off their old lights — the dark troffers in these photos be available. The Edge also deploys a
tional tube or bulb form factors, and — and installed new PoE fixtures without having to newfangled lighting-based location
house them in standard-size ceiling wire them to electrical cable. The lights can also be technology called visible light com-
fixtures. They also eliminate the controlled via the PoE system for brightness and color munication (VLC). For more info
electronics typically used today by temperature changes. on VLC, see our article on a Philips
Lighting pilot project in France (http://bit.

ly/1GJqnTc).
Networked
The contenders
It’s not yet clear who will own this brave
new lighting world. “One of the big ques-
tions is: Does lighting co-op networking,
or does network co-op lighting?” noted
Wendell Strong, PoE lighting manager at Low voltage
Iowa’s Innovative Lighting. “There’s going to
be a battle.” However it comes out, he added,
“The traditional lighting industry is going Dimmers,
to have to radically change.” Innovative has sensors, and
been making LED lighting products since Software control
controlled
the 1990s and now has a strong PoE focus.
Like NuLEDs, it has a few small pilot instal- Source: Maxim Integrated; published in LEDs Magazine, September 2015.
lations with a product line it calls Genisys, FIG. 3. PoE offers an integrated power and connectivity grid for LED-based lighting,
such as at a couple of Waterloo, IA outlets enabling programmatic and adaptive control of lighting as well as control by
of the high-tech laundromat chain Clean individual employees of their personal work space.
Laundry (Fig. 5).
“There will be newcomers who are not unresolved “go to market” question is one Going to school
current players in the lighting market, and that is holding PoE somewhat at bay. “The The Miami-Dade installation illustrates
that could be very disruptive,” said John lighting industry has been pretty established how PoE combines the worlds of light-
Niebel, CEO of amBX, the Philips software in the way lighting gets sold in the building and computer networking. The school
spinout. As amBX knows, partnerships ings,” Isaacson noted. “So it’s kind of chang- is using NuLEDs luminaires and controls,
between lighting and networking coming who does the sale, who does the instal- along with Cisco switches to adjust biody-
panies will be key. amBX has just lit up a lation, who does the follow up. If the light namic lighting in the classrooms, experi-
small pilot PoE deployment at the Univer- fixture goes out, who gets called? Is it an IT menting with the scientific findings in the
sity of Strathclyde in Glasgow, working with issue? Is it an electrical issue? It’s a new set of area of human-centric lighting (HCL), which
Cisco on the IT side and with NuLEDs as the skills that need to be used when you’re doing show that different energy spectra in light
luminaire provider. the troubleshooting. It’s going to be pinging can stimulate behaviors such as learning,
NuLEDs’ chief business development the light fixture. It’s working on the IT net- attentiveness, and relaxation. In general,
officer Lisa Isaacson added that the as-yet work side of the issue. So it’s very disruptive.” white and blue-tinged light with cooler

color temperatures is meant to trigger alert- aiming at significantly reducing its electric- naire less power is used, both saving energy
ness, while light in the warmer color tem- ity bill, he said. and potentially doubling the lifetime of the
peratures — the reds and oranges — pro- Another NuLEDs PoE lighting user, Inde- luminaire and avoiding replacement costs.
motes relaxation. pendence Blue Cross, is also eyeing big The disconnection from conventional
“I would really like to trial it after lunch, energy reductions from the LED ceiling electrical lines, added Martin from Inde-
when people are tired,” noted Karcher, who lights at its disaster-recovery data center in pendence Blue Cross, is one of PoE’s big-
added that it’s too early to tell yet whether Reading, 70 miles west of its Philadelphia, gest advantages. “You’re sticking a 2×2
the color fluctuations are having an effect PA headquarters, where it has replaced luminaire in a space once occupied by an
on the teachers and staff in the training about 60 fluorescent fixtures with 15 2×2- electrically wired AC outlet,” he said. “The
only thing I’m doing is providing
a piece of Ethernet network cable
into the top of this lighting fixture.
We didn’t have to install any elec-
trical power.”
Source: Cisco Systems, Inc.

Cutting the electrical cord
Just about any PoE vendor will wax
on about the benefits of the DC dis-
tribution. See our prior article on
DC grids for background (http://
bit.ly/1qYW9DC). Proponents note
FIG. 4. Components in PoE systems, such as this Ethernet switch, are continually being refined that the potential savings from
with greater capabilities and power capacity as more is demanded of networked lighting and eliminating conventional building
the Internet of Things (IoT) expands. wiring are enormous. Not only are
the wires and the various electrical
room. Still, she’s interested in expanding ft LED fixtures. The retrofit covers about boxes costly, but they require the services
the technology into other classrooms. For 40% of the 6000-ft2 facility. of certified electricians to be installed and
instance, some of the older areas of the “We quartered the physical footprint,” maintained. PoE does not and is perhaps
school do not have windows, an antiquated reported Independence data-center archi- even simpler than other proposed DC-power
design feature tied into the school’s des- tect John Martin. “And it’s all using about technologies.
ignation as a hurricane shelter. “It would 10% percent of the energy.” Martin said the In a typical PoE scenario, 120V (240V in
really make sense there,” she said. power requirement of his NuLEDs lumi- Europe) electrical wiring terminates at the
Another possible application would be naires is roughly 400W, compared to 4000W Ethernet switches — the boxes that most
to tune the light spectrum to ideal growing for the old fluorescents. offices already use to plug in computers,
conditions for plants like orchids in Miami- While energy reduction is something that phones, printers, wireless modems, and now
Dade’s biotech facilities. In another, Karcher is more germane to the LED sources than to LED lights and other devices to their local
envisions tying cameras or other sensors to the PoE — indeed, LEDs cut electricity bills area networks (LANs). The switches then
the lights that would route physical security without Power over Ethernet — the PoE can transmit 48V DC over the standard Ether-
information through the data network. “The provide additional savings in several ways. net cable — called Cat5 (category 5) or the
potential is unlimited,” said Karcher. “Any- The PoE connections inherently allow for newer Cat6 — a level considered safe and not
thing you can attach to a computer you can remote controls of lights. In Independence’s in need of an electrician’s special handling.
attach to a light.” case, that means Martin can turn lights off Cisco is all in on the concept. It keeps push-
or dim them in Reading from Philadelphia. ing the capabilities of its Ethernet switches so
Remember the energy benefit “PoE is really for that automation element,” that each 48V port — each place where a cable
The school is a living exposition of before explained Martin. “We’re able to use IT to snaps in — can now furnish 60W of power,
and after — its old lighting fixtures remain control it. We didn’t have to install any elec- double the previous 30W, and thus doubling
in the ceiling, dark, while light shines from trical power.” the number of light fixtures supported by a
the NuLEDs luminaires, which required no There are subtle advantages to that, too. single port. A recent article provides a com-
electrical work other than running Ethernet Innovative’s Wendell Strong noted that PoE plete characterization of the power that can
cable to them. Miami-Dade schools also networks can be programmed to put more be carried over PoE (http://bit.ly/1GJtqea).
had a good PoE precedent. They already power into an LED light source as it gets old Cisco calls the 60W technology “Universal
use PoE to power other operations, such as and starts to lose lumens. While that might PoE.” The 30W variety is called “PoE+.” Early
Wi-Fi, noted Javier Perez, executive direc- sound like it would clash with energy savings, PoE switches operated at 15W.
tor of infrastructure and systems. By tying Strong explained that overall operating costs Still, integrating PoE support in a lumi-
LED lighting into the PoE, the school is also go down because early in the life of a luminaire is not absent friction. It still requires
a knock down to the 12V or so that power

LED light engines. But it’s a smaller job
than that performed by the transformers
that today turn 120V and 240V into 12V in
lamps and fixtures.
Matching infrastructure and light source

Moreover, there is an added efficiency to
aggregating the AC/DC conversion in one
device as opposed to having that conver-
sion happen in each luminaire. That effi-
ciency gain can be somewhat offset by resis-
tive current losses in the small-gauge Cat5
and Cat6 cables. Still, PoE is a net win ener-
Source: Amel Ramic, Systems Technician.
gy-wise and, as mentioned, eliminates infra-

structure and the labor needed to install it.
“If I were to take a low-voltage device like
an LED and try to think up an infrastruc-
ture that I would use, I certainly wouldn’t
consider having AC line voltage as my power
source,” said NuLEDs CEO Chris Isaacson.
“That’s been my mantra for probably eight
or nine years now. If you were to develop a FIG. 5. LED lighting such as Innovative Lighting’s Genisys can enable additional
system to power and control LED lighting, benefits in drawing from PoE networking, including higher-level programmability for
it would not be a line-voltage AC system.” longer lifetime in commercial scenarios, such as the high-tech laundromat chain
Which probably points to a challenge fac- Clean Laundry.
ing lighting and networking companies alike
in their quest to spread the PoE message: con- is that you have to get the people who are convergence from the media and telecom-
vincing the conventional construction indus- building the buildings on board,” says munications world should well apply: Light-
try — with its time-honored ties to the con- Miami-Dade’s Karcher. “Your construction ing can now be digitized, portending radi-
ventional wiring — to change its ways. companies and your tradespeople, they have cally new, beneficial applications for users,
“Part of the issue with this new type of to come into it.” and potentially shaking up the status quo of
lighting and implementation right now That could take time. But the lesson of vendors. Class, pay attention.

UV LEDs amps Connected
Connected L
ng
Indoor Lighti
cast cast cast
sis and Fore sis and Fore sis and Fore
Market Analy Market Analy Market Analy
2015 2015 2015
mited mited mited

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regulations | SAFETY
Risk group determination characterizes

photobiological safety in LED lighting
Expanding on a prior series of articles focused on the photobiological safety of LED-based lighting,
LESLIE LYONS further details risk group classifications and methodologies that come into play with
extended sources such as LED arrays.
A
lthough LEDs bring many benefits While IEC TR 62778 was first published
to the world of general illumination, in 2012, the move away from implementing
solid-state lighting (SSL) manufac- IEC 62471 for lighting applications has been
turers still need to ensure that products pres- slow, but appears to be gaining momentum.
ent no photobiological hazards to humans. The complex procedure of evaluating sources
In the December 2013 edition of LEDs to IEC 62471 will be replaced by a rather sim-
Magazine, an overview was given of a new pler approach but with significant complica-
approach to the evaluation of the photobi- tions presented in the treatment of extended
ological safety of light sources intended for sources. This latter case is, to a certain extent,
lighting applications (http://bit.ly/1NW addressed by IEC TR 62778 Edition 2: 2014.
zvGK). In this article, we will take a wider A significant motivation in the writing of
view of the IEC TR 62778 document and dis- this TR document was the reduction of the
cuss in depth the challenge of the correct measurement burden for luminaire man-
treatment of extended sources such as LED ufacturers. This is achieved in two man-
arrays and linear LED light engines. ners: first, by providing conditions under
IEC TR 62778, “Application of IEC 62471 which the risk group (RG) classification of
for the assessment of blue light hazard to a primary light source may be transferred
light sources and luminaires” provides guid- to a luminaire; and second, in presenting
ance on the evaluation of the retinal blue- a choice of assessment methodologies, two
light hazard of sources of light intended of which are based on commonly available
for lighting applications. This assessment data. This TR should therefore be considered
is based on determining whether or not a from two distinct points of view: that of the
source presents, at a distance of 200 mm, primary light source (Table 1) and that of the
a retinal blue-light hazard in excess of risk luminaire (Table 2).
group one, as defined by the horizontal pho-
tobiological safety standard, IEC 62471. Cur- One TR, three assessment techniques
rently presented as a Technical Report (TR), Three techniques are proposed for the FIG. 1. A white phosphor-converted
it is implemented through new editions of assessment of the blue light hazard, an LED chip is composed of a single,
normative IEC lamp and luminaire safety overview of which is presented, in order of small blue LED emitter behind a larger
standards. At the time of writing, the major- required inputs as defined in Table 3. phosphor layer. The spectral radiance
ity of these updates have been adopted in Method A: A manufacturer can report a measurement in an 11-mrad FOV,
Europe by CENELEC as EN standards, and table of illuminance values, as a function of centered on the blue chip, will yield
harmonized to the EU low voltage directive, CCT (≤8000K), below which RG1 will result. different values of CCT and K B,v to the
2006/95/EC. Consulting the table for a source of known total spectral radiant-flux measurement
CCT, one can adopt the reported illuminance of the same source.
LESLIE LYONS is the technical support value as Ethr (threshold illuminance). This
manager of Bentham Instruments Limited, UK value may be reported in the datasheet of a reported. This method includes a safety fac-
(bentham.co.uk), and a member of BSI and IEC primary light source and converted to dthr tor of two and cannot produce a transferable
committees TC 76, Optical Radiation Safety (distance threshold) for a luminaire. Where risk group classification.
and Laser Equipment, and the Photobiological the latter process yields dthr ≤200 mm, below Method B: A manufacturer can again
Safety Panel of IEC TC 34/SC 34A - Lamps. the assessment distance, then RG1 should be report a table of luminance values, as a func-
The combination of these two will result in this area then a risk group classification can-
a blue-light radiance value to be compared not be transferred. The FOV could in this case
with the RG1 limit. be reduced to ensure the measurement of true
Since the assessment method is not radiance, but this may give rise to an overes-
reported alongside the result, the impact timation of the hazard.
of transferring data from a primary light Taking this idea further, in measuring a pri-
source, obtained through methods A or B, mary light source, and adopting the result as a
to a luminaire, should be considered. The measure of true radiance, one makes assump-
safety factor of two can be quite a high price tions about the radiance uniformity across the
to pay for simplicity. 11-mrad FOV. Such assumptions may not be
Finally, given that CCT and K B,v are typ- valid if the radiance profile included regions
ically computed from a total spectral radi- significantly higher than the average. This
ant-flux measurement of the source, one case may be considered in the future.
should consider whether or not the result-
ing spectral distribution be representative
of that obtained in the blue light radiance
measurement. In some instances, such as
that highlighted in Fig. 1, the spectral dis-
tribution obtained in the radiance measure-
ment would have a significantly higher blue RG1
peak and therefore different values of CCT
FIG. 2. Conditions differ for measurement and K B,v than that obtained in the total flux
of “true” (upper) and “physiological” measurement, encompassing emission from
(lower) radiance. the entire source. The safety factor of meth-
ods A and B ought to cover this eventuality
tion of CCT (≤8000K), below which RG1 will but the determination of K B,v does not.
result. In addition to knowledge of the CCT
Blue light radiance LB (W/m2 · sr )
of the source, a measurement of luminance Conditions for the transfer of
RG1
(cd/m2) is required. The field of view (FOV) of risk group classification
measurement employed in determining lumi- A prerequisite for the transfer of a blue-light
nance should not extend beyond the luminous hazard classification, relying upon the law
area of the source, as discussed in the follow- of conservation of radiance, is that the mea-
ing section. Where the measured luminance of surement be performed over a circular mea-
a primary light source is below that reported surement FOV that does not extend beyond
in the table, RG1 unlimited applies while for the luminous area of the source. This mea-
luminaires RG1 applies. This method includes surement is sometimes called “true” radi-
a safety factor of two. Where the measured ance to distinguish from the measurement RG1
luminance exceeds the tabulated values, one of “physiological” radiance considered in
should consider methods A or C. the photobiological safety assessment. Fig.
Method C: The implementation of this 2 depicts the two measurement conditions.
technique was discussed in detail in the According to Method C, where a source
December 2013 article. Representing the has a diameter <2.2 mm, spectral irradi-
direct spectroradiometric assessment of ance should be measured to report only Ethr,
blue light hazard, this route will in all cases whereas for sources with a diameter >2.2
yield the most accurate result. mm, spectral radiance should be measured, RG1
for which RG0 unlimited, RG1 unlimited,
A fourth option or Ethr can result. This need comes from the
In the future, a fourth method will be pro- fact that at 200 mm, the required 11-mrad Distance
posed, based on the calculation of the lumi- FOV encompasses a circular area of 2.2-mm
nance in an 11-mrad FOV from luminance diameter. To avoid confusion in determin- FIG. 3. The sequence depicts an example
distribution data of a source. A spectral ing whether a measurement of radiance or of the variation of blue light radiance
measurement of the same source allows irradiance should be performed, it would be in an 11-mrad FOV with distance. The
determination of K B,v, a parameter defined more accurate to consider if the source fully average radiance over the FOV falls
in the TR as the ratio of the blue-light haz- extends beyond a circle of 2.2-mm diameter below the RG1 limit only where the
ard quantity to the photometric quantity. or not. If a primary light source under-fills source falls entirely within the FOV.
LED
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As a final note on the transfer of classifi- TABLE 1. Possible IEC TR 62778 assessment surement field of view,
cations, since primary light-source manu- results of primary light sources. as demonstrated in
facturers have hitherto reported risk group Assessment result Definition Fig. 3. It is therefore
classifications of their products to IEC 62471, RG0 unlimited Does not exceed limit of the blue light hazard strongly dependent
the transfer of these classifications to lumi- exempt risk group in any case† on the spacing and
naires may still be sought. In consideration RG1 unlimited Does not exceed limit of the blue light hazard
the shape of the lumi-
of the blue light hazard, classifications can risk group one in any case† nous area of the source
be transferred only if a measurement of true with respect to the cir-
radiance of the primary light source was Ethr Illuminance at which upper limit of RG1 found cular FOV.
made. One should therefore consider the †Provided operating conditions in the luminaire do not increase light emission Having determined
diameter of the circular area evaluated by d N, one should eval-
each IEC 62471 risk group — RG0 (20-mm), TABLE 2. Possible IEC TR 62778 assessment results of uate whether or not
RG1 (11-mm), and RG2 (0.34-mm diameter). luminaires. the luminous area of
If, in the luminaire, more than one emit- Assessment result Definition the source extends
ter falls within the circular diameter cor- beyond the circular
Does not exceed limit of the blue light hazard
responding to the reported classification, RG0 area described by an
exempt risk group
transfer is not permitted. 11-mrad FOV at d N ,
Does not exceed limit of the blue light hazard of diameter 0.011∙d N.
RG1
Determination of dthr risk group one W here the source
Where a luminaire exceeds the limits of RG1 dthr Distance from luminaire at which Ethr found falls entirely with
at 200 mm, one should determine at which this area, then d N =
distance from the source the blue light RG1 Determination of dthr of extended sources dthr. Otherwise, as is the case in the upper
limit radiance is found. For ease in evaluat- In the 2014 edition of IEC TR 62778, guidance image in Fig. 4, d N is overly conservative
ing this parameter, the blue light radiance is provided in Annex D to address the case and can be refined using the following pro-
in 11-mrad FOV is considered through the where a source subtends >11 mrad at the ini- cess. It should be noted that Steps 3 and 4 of
irradiance geometry: The threshold illumi- tial estimate of dthr, here labeled d N for clar- Annex D approach this question from a dif-
nance, Ethr, at the RG1 blue-light limit irra- ity. Nominally applicable to arrays of LED ferent perspective, but due to ambiguity in
diance can then be computed. This has the sources, the principles of Annex D can be the definitions therein, this simple consid-
advantage of allowing the use of goniopho- applied to any extended source. eration is recommended.
tometric data (and the inverse square law) or The variation of blue light radiance The distance, d1, at which the Ethr of a sin-
an illuminance meter to determine dthr, the with distance is not easy to predict since it gle packaged LED occurs, should then be
distance at which Ethr is found. results from averaging the luminous area determined. It is presumed that this will
This does not take into account the fact with the dark background over the mea- be measured using an illuminance meter
that the measurement should be evaluated
in an 11-mrad FOV. If the luminaire under
test subtends >11 mrad at dthr, it follows
that emission from the source outside the
11-mrad FOV contributed to the measure-
ment of illuminance used to find the loca-
tion of Ethr, leading to an overestimate of dthr.
In certain circumstances this may not affect
applications, but it can impact the product
marketing since one will tend to select those
sources having a shorter dthr, with the per-
ception of being safer.
Note that application of this technique is
currently provided for white light sources
only, since for colored light sources the use of
photometric detectors may give rise to a sig-
nificant spectral mismatch error. Although
no specific guidance is given, it is reason-
able to use goniophotometric or illuminance
meter data, provided that a comparative mea- FIG. 4. The upper image depicts the source extending beyond an 11-mrad FOV at dN,
surement against a spectroradiometer be demonstrating overestimation of threshold distance. At refined estimate, d1 (lower),
made to generate a correction factor. only one emitter falls in an 11-mrad FOV and d1= dthr.
TABLE 3. Overview of IEC TR 62778

assessment techniques.
Method A Method B Method C
Source dimensions
CCT Spectral radiance/
Input(s) CCT
Luminance irradiance
(300–780 nm)
RG0 (unlimited)
RG1 (unlimited)
Result(s) Ethr RG1 (unlimited)
Ethr
Ethr
lest the luminous intensity of the single emitter be too low for mea-
surement with a (luminaire) goniophotometer. The area described
by an 11-mrad FOV at d1 of diameter 0.011∙d1 should then be con-
sidered. If only one emitter falls within this area as is the case in
the lower image in Fig. 4, then d1=dthr. Where more than one emit-
ter falls within this area, and where Ethr was taken from the LED
emitter datasheet, as opposed to resulting from the measurement Headlight assembly with a Headlight assembly with
of the luminaire, it does not necessarily follow that RG1 be exceeded standard thermal interface material Henkel Gap Filler 1500LV
at this distance. It is in this case recommended to perform a spec- *Simulated, typical lense fogging results may vary
tral radiance measurement at d1 in an 11-mrad FOV, if the result is
below the RG1 limit, d1=dthr. In all other cases the true value of dthr
lies between these extremes, so the default position is to adopt the
Keep Your Optics Clear,
worst case, d N=dthr. Gap Filler 1500LV Offers Over
Should one wish to continue the analysis, one could consider the dis-
tance, d2, at which is found the Ethr of, for example, an LED module or 10x Reduction In Outgassing.
light engine used in a luminaire. One would simply repeat the same pro- Henkel’s Gap Filler 1500LV supports greater clarity inside
cess described here. sensitive electronic applications where fogging of lenses or
To measure d1 (or d2) requires that all other emitters in the lumi- optics from outgassing is a consideration.
naire be extinguished or covered, which in many instances is nei- Control outgassing, improve thermal performance for a clearer environment.
Gap Filler 1500LV is a low volatility, two-component,
ther easily realizable nor practical. One could compute the required
liquid-dispensable thermal interface material. This
increase in the area over which the 11-mrad FOV must average to ultra conformable elastomer provides a thermal
reduce the blue light radiance (LB), to the RG1 limit. Estimating the conductivity of 1.8 W/m-K. It oFers the high
temperature resistance and low modulus of a
area (A) of a single emitter, the diameter of the FOV required to reach
silicone material, with significantly lower levels of
the RG1 limit, d=√LB×A/π×10000. If only one LED falls within the cir- outgassing. At higher temperatures, volatiles from
cle of diameter d, dthr=d/0.011. If more than one emitter falls within outgassing can create issues in enclosed fixtures
such as lighting where the clarity is crucial.
the area, the number of emitters should be included in the computa- Gap Filler 1500LV is ideal for use in these lighting
tion and an iterative method applied. Although this technique may applications or other situations where fogging of
present different challenges to that of Annex D, it can be useful for lenses or optics is a potential consideration.
the analysis of some sources, and in other cases as a screening mech- Low assembly stress on electronic components.
anism to determine where effort should lie. Gap Filler 1500LV is thixotropic and although it will remain in place after
dispensing, the material will flow easily under minimal pressure resulting in little to
no stress on fragile components during assembly. Gap Filler 1500LV cures at room
Conclusion temperature – and the curing process can be accelerated with the addition of heat.
The implementation of IEC TR 62778 and the new approach to the evalu- When cured, this material provides a soft, thermally conductive, form-in-place
elastomer that is ideal for filling unique and intricate air voids and gaps.
ation of the photobiological safety of sources intended for lighting appli-
Another innovative thermal solution for optimized dispensing.
cations will in many instances lead to a simpler assessment. In others, Henkel’s brand of Bergquist products consists of many industry leading thermal
where a refinement of dthr is sought, additional interpretation will be materials used to dissipate heat and keep electronic components cool. Gap Filler
required, yet interpretation in standardization can be problematic. This 1500LV is just one of an expanding line of liquid dispensed materials. Unlike
precured gap filling materials, liquid dispensed materials oFer infinite thickness
highlights the need for a sounder metrological approach to the deter- options and eliminate the need for specific pad thicknesses or die-cut shapes for
mination of dthr. It is expected that now, with the harmonization of the individual applications. Applying precise amounts of material directly to the target
revised editions of the majority of lamp and luminaire standards to the surface results in an eFective use of material with minimal waste.
EU low-voltage directive, IEC TR 62778 will be increasingly consulted To qualify for your FREE Gap Filler 1500LV Kit, call or visit our website:
www.bergquistcompany.com/nofog
and applied. It is also anticipated that the issue of extended sources has
not yet been laid to rest.
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cool products | LED TECH TOYS
LED- and SSL-centric products

shine in a techno-savvy gift list
Around the world, visions of brightly colored packages and tantalizing treats run through our
minds. But in this case, MAURY WRIGHT and CARRIE MEADOWS look toward the techies, the
trend-spotters, and some folks too hip for the average gift — those whose finer sensibilities would
appreciate the superior engineering of, say, a luxury vehicle equipped with the latest LED headlamp
design, or perhaps a smart solid-state lighting (SSL) lamp with wireless speaker capabilities.
A
s the November/December issue of LEDs Magazine came (HID) and halogen alternatives. The Acura design also uses LEDs and
around, we turned our thoughts to a holiday frame of light guides for stylish daytime running lights (DRLs) and for the
mind. From mobile devices to connected lighting to pres- taillights. The company said the design adds to the aesthetics of the
ents for protecting the family pets, we’ve cruised through a cata- luxury vehicles. Of course, LEDs also deliver energy benefits. Acura
log of LED-equipped products and narrowed the wish list down to said the headlamps use 57% less energy and add to the overall oper-
technology innovations that might please even the one who seems ating efficiency of the ILX. acura.com
to have everything. CADILLAC’s 2016 Escalade sports
utility vehicle (SUV; right) comes
Techie transport equipped with all-LED lighting for
LED headlamps have evolved to serve in automotive applications both forward- and rear-facing needs
ranging from low-end sedans to work trucks (http://bit.ly/1Q6i71T), and utilizes LEDs for signature styl-
but some designs such as ACURA’s Jewel Eye stand out in the crowd ing. The headlamps use the total-inter-
(below). The technology is standard on the Acura ILX entry-level nal reflection (TIR) optics technology
luxury sedan and up the automaker’s product line. On the ILX, the that has long been used in products
Jewel Eye implementation includes five clusters of high-output LEDs such as LED street-light luminaires to
precisely control a beam (http://bit.
ly/1k4eF5T). Cadillac said the Esca-
lade marks the first use of TIR tech-
nology in the auto industry. Five LEDs
and crystal lenses create the low beam
while four additional LEDs and lenses
create the high beam. The LEDs are
stacked vertically, creating what
Cadillac called “razor-like vertical light signatures.” The theme is
carried over to the rear of the vehicle where LEDs enable tall, thin
vertical taillights. Indeed, LED lighting is utilized from the fascia
to the roof of the rear, providing what Cadillac considers signature
styling. The company said the twin-light-blade taillights recall the
company’s design heritage, and the lights feature the brand’s crest
in an array swept diagonally from the center of the grille. The outer insignia that illuminates at night. cadillac.com
three clusters are only used for low beams and the inner two are Lighting has been problematic in pleasure power boating on small
added for the high-beam setting. The design is both stylish and func- craft because while lights add convenience and safety for nighttime
tional. Acura says that with the high beams on, the design illumi- adventures, they also quickly drain batteries. LED-based lighting
nates objects 200-msec sooner at 60 MPH than conventional lights. has changed all that in boats such as the S-Series from SYLVAN
That performance equates to 17 ft of additional reaction space. The MARINE. Indeed, LEDs are used to achieve both style and safety,
5500K-CCT headlamps are intended to match the CCT of sunlight, providing clearly-visible linear lighting along the water line. The
deliver outstanding contrast, and render the full spectrum of colors LED lighting isn’t mean to supplant the required navigation light-
— a feature lacking, according to Honda, in high-intensity discharge ing, although those lights are trending to LEDs as well, but the sup-
get immediate access to the

latest Marshmallow version
of Android. The camera on
the new Nexus phones is also
top notch and with function-
ality enabled by LEDs. The
image sensor features larger
1.5-µm (micrometer) pixels
to capture more light. But
when the flash is needed, a
dual-tone LED implementa-
tion improves color tones and
enables better contrast in low
light. google.com/nexus/
Apple loves to tout the Ret-
ina displays on its iPhones
and iPads, but we know the
company would love access
to SAMSUNG’s AMOLED that
continues to allow devices
plemental LED lighting does make boats far more visible to other such as Galaxy smartphones
captains at night. There have also been reports of passengers acci- to remain a technology step
dentally falling overboard on LED-equipped boats at night and being in front of Apple. Indeed, the
thankful that the LED lighting provided immediate orientation to screens are phenomenal on
the water’s surface. Inside the cabin, LEDs provide a convenience the new Galaxy Note 5 and
factor, highlighting cup holders and illuminating storage compart- Edge 6+ (shown). Samsung brands the 5.7-in. displays Quad HD Super
ments. Prior to the advent of LED lighting, most boaters had to use AMOLED and the products feature 2560×1440-pixel (518 pixels per
restraint in turning on lights to preserve the battery while now even inch) resolution. Moreover, the Edge leverages the OLED technology
boats equipped with a single battery still start just fine in the morn- to continue the 4K-pixel display around the horizontal edges of the
ing, even if the lighting is used all night. sylvanmarine.com phones, enabling users to see activity such as an incoming call even
if the device is lying face down. The Note 5, meanwhile, comes with
Beyond-basic devices a pen for precise data input. Both products have integrated support
The original uses for LEDs were exclusively as indicator lights, so for wireless charging, dual quad-core processors, 4 Gbytes of RAM,
it should come as no surprise that the devices can still be used in and advanced Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless capabilities. The smart-
such roles even as they evolve as the dominant general light source. phones perform more like a PC than a phone from a performance
perspective and have the ability to work as a UHD (ultrahigh-defi-
nition) video camera. samsung.com
GOOGLE’S sleek and striking OnHub Wi-Fi router (below; retail
about $199.99), originally rolled out in collaboration with network-
Source: © Android Police; androidpolice.com.
Still, the latest GOOGLE Nexus smartphones, the Nexus 5X from LG

(shown) and the Nexus 6P from Huawei, include an RGB LED hid-
den in the speaker grille that could prove very functional for users.
Control of the LED is available to app developers and the fact that
the LED is capable of producing colors should enable customized
notifications. Meanwhile, the Nexus phones are state of the art in
every way with an AMOLED (active matrix OLED) 4K-pixel display,
8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and an Adreno graphics
processor. Moreover, with Google designing the phone, customers

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ing hardware provider TP-LINK, is designed to be admired out in the

open, where it can also achieve its full signal range. Operated via the
Google On app, setup is intended to be simple and the router auto-
matically installs security and feature updates. It’s Bluetooth Smart-,
Weave-, and 802.15.4-ready for linking various smart mobile devices
and network-equipped SSL in the home. An ambient light ring on
the top of the original model (shown) uses six tri-color LEDs; this
doesn’t just provide a “cool factor” with subtle illumination but dis-
plays the router’s status: blue indicates the device is ready for setup;
teal shows it is active; and amber indicates a connectivity problem.
Google has announced a second-generation development with com-
puter hardware specialist Asus that has a slightly different look and
feel, but that product was not available at press time. on.google.com
Light of your life as well as full color, with 1055-lm output (a 75W equivalent). The
Under a license agreement, JASCO PRODUCTS has developed a suite company also offers a BR30 white model and a GU10 color version.
of GE-branded Bluetooth Smart Controls for scheduling and con- LIFX lamps are controlled via a proprietary app that is available
trol of residential LED lighting. The Bluetooth-based devices, built for iOS and Android devices. What’s even more interesting is that
on a wireless mesh LIFX has gone out of its way to ensure that its lamps are compati-
platform developed ble and interactive with multiple smart-home offerings, from Ama-
by CSR and enabled zon’s voice-controlled Echo device to Google’s Nest controls, Sam-
by software from sung’s SmartThings hub, and LogiTech’s Harmony remotes, among
Avi-on (http://bit. others. Registration for a LIFX Cloud account will get users up and
ly/1FkSkQo), provide connected in a short time. lifx.com
real-time dimming, PHILIPS LIGHTING’S Hue family of wireless-enabled SSL prod-
simple setup, group- ucts remains the market and technology leader in networked res-
ing, schedules, tim- idential lighting, and now the customer base could grow with
ers, and multi-user the company adding compatibility with Apple HomeKit technol-
control from a smart-
phone or tablet app
powered by Avi-on.
CSRmesh technol-
ogy allows the lineup
of plug-in and in-wall
smart switches and
dimmers, as well as
a plug‐in outdoor
smart switch (shown), to be operated without a hub or wireless
router. Users can take control of lighting and even small appliances
with the flick of a finger across their mobile devices. The Bluetooth
Smart Control platform comprises plug-and-play firmware, iOS and
Android mobile apps, secure cloud service, and a pre-certified mod-
ule based on the CSR 1012 chipset. The controls are so flexible, the
user can set vacation modes, dawn-to-dusk scheduling, and “custom ogy. From introduction (http://bit.ly/1DkNMFH), Hue users have
countdowns” that will flash the lights or turn lighting and appli- been able to control the LED-based products through Philips-sup-
ances off after a preset amount of time. Never rush out of the house plied smartphone apps for both Apple and Android devices. Many
with the kitchen light and coffee maker on again. ezbluetooth.com third parties have also written apps. Still, the new square-shaped
Back in 2012, California-based startup LIFX introduced its first Hue Bridge (being referred to as model 2.0 by the Hue community,
Wi-Fi-enabled, color-tunable smart LED lamp. Among the many although not explicitly by Philips) will add functionality such as
available LED smart lamps (http://bit.ly/1MEJZdO), this one stands voice control via Siri on iPhones and compatibility with other Home-
out due to its color tunability not only offered in a white-light version Kit accessories. To support HomeKit, Philips had to add hardware
but a color version as well for more versatility and scene-setting in authentication technology for secure communications. But all prior
consumer applications. In standard A-lamp bases, LIFX’s White 800 Hue lamps and luminaires will work with the new bridge. New ver-
smart LED lamp outputs warm- to cool-white light at about 890 lm sions of the $200 Hue Starter Kit will include the new bridge, or the
(a 60W equivalent), and the Color 1000 lamp covers a range of white bridge will sell for $60. meethue.com/en-us/

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1511leds_REV_63 63 11/17/15 11:51 AM

Apple isn’t the only computer-centric player moving into lighting,

and Google, of course, intends to insert its technology in every facet
of our lives. GOOGLE and OSRAM recently struck a deal to make
the former’s Nest home-control platform compatible with the lat-
ter’s Lightify residential networked lighting platform. While Nest is
best known for its smart thermostat, the company is quickly usurp-
ing control of other home systems and may well become the hub
of a smart home enabling remote control and monitoring of sys-
tems. Lightify, meanwhile, is ZigBee based and includes a variety of
The WAL-DL-60LED-M-GCR50 tasklight itself measures 14 in. and is

attached to a 50-ft cord reel for general work-area lighting. The UL
white and color-tunable LED-based products. The list includes stan- listed, weather- and shock-proof light is lightweight, produces less
dard lamp form factors but also includes flexible strips and even the heat than conventional worklights, and emits a 120-lm, 5000K-CCT
outdoor RGB garden lighting pictured. Osram has also struck other flood beam. The robust housing and the low-temperature operation
interoperability deals with Lightify, for example, ensuring compat- provide attractive safety features, and the retractable cord may also
ibility with the WeMo home automation platform championed by reduce your trip-and-fall hazards if you’re anything like the average
Belkin (http://bit.ly/1KkEfza). osram.com homeowner (thus allowing you to spend the holidays injury-free in
GOAL ZERO’S Torch 250 flashlight is sure to come in handy as a your tunably-lit, smartphone-controlled space). larsonelectronics.com
part of any essential emergency kit. 4000K warm-white LEDs from
Cree provide a total output of 250 lm. Beyond its multiple functional Exciting entertainment
modes as a portable 180-lm spotlight, 70-lm floodlight, or red flash- OLED technology has been slow to fulfill its promise in lighting and
ing emergency signal, it comes equipped with a built-in in displays beyond portable devices, but LG is pushing it out to great
solar charging panel to power up the long- effect. If money is no object then you won’t find a better TV picture
life lithium battery, so there’s no than what TVs like the new 65-in. LG 65EF9500 offer. For just under
excuse to sit in the $5000 you get a 3840×2160-pixel UHD (generically called 4K) dis-
dark wherever you play. You may have a tough time finding 4K content for now, but LG
may roam. Addi- includes a feature called a Tru-4K Upscaler to make standard HD
tional solar charging content look better on the higher-resolution display. As is increas-
panels are available. A ingly the case with TVs, the LG unit is as much a computer as a TV.
built-in USB charging cable and, in
the bleakest of moments, a hand crank will
also get your area illuminated in no time. (Charge
times vary depending on the charging method used.)
Bright and half-brightness modes help to conserve power. The inte-
grated USB port will also keep phones and tablets up and running
while you wait for automotive service, or if you happen to take the
LED Torch along for a camp-out — even just to keep yourself occu-
pied should the power go out and you simply can’t live without the
latest version of Candy Crush. goalzero.com
Suitable for both weekend-warrior do-it-yourselfers and trained
industrial professionals, LARSON ELECTRONICS offers a heavy-duty
droplight (retail about $125.00) equipped with sixty 50,000-hour LEDs.

"! "
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!

lighting systems. It features a standard digital interface to enable direct connection to any suitable
RF sensor on the market. Functionality is integrated into the SR driver that ordinarily would require

!

!

Features
ï Standard digital interface based on DALI 2.0 ï Enables wireless interoperability with multiple
ï Auxiliary power for sensors sensors/network systems
ï Occupancy and accurate energy reporting ï
!

ï Dim-to-off capability inating auxiliary components ordinarily required
ï Drive current setting via SimpleSet wireless !
programming or Rset2 monitoring energy use
Applications ï 5-year limited warranty*
ï Indoor linear applications * View limited warranty at usa.lighting.philips.com/connect/tools_literature/warranties.wpd
for details and restrictions.
It includes a quad-core processor, Wi-Fi, and LG’s version of webOS factor. The lamps actually don’t have the narrow neck of a BR30 bulb
2.0 as the software basis. Users have multiple ways to control the new but still fit just fine in most cylindrical cans. Sengled says the SSL
TV including voice recognition, a standard remote, and LG’s Magic products are equivalent to 55W legacy bulbs and consume just 15W
Remote. The latter simplifies tasks such as entering passwords for to drive both the LED lamps and the integrated Bluetooth speakers
services such as Netflix and providing other computer-like user — think a portable JBL audio player integrated in the ceiling. The
interface features. Still, the display is the star. The OLED switches
pixels off to produce perfect full black and optimum contrast ratio.
Meanwhile, the OLED can also produce a full saturated color pal-
ette without the need for technologies such as quantum dots that are
used by high-end LCD-based TVs. The TV can operate in 3-D mode
and the OLED delivers extremely wide viewing angles from a panel
that is the thickness of a pencil. lg.com/us/tvs
APPLE’S improved LED-based backlight design is the key to the
most vivid PC displays. The company recently announced the Retina
4K display on the newest 21.5-in. iMac and updated the 27-in. model
with a Retina 5K display. While the model numbers would seem to
tout more pixels, it’s the backlight implementation that truly differ-
entiates the displays. Apple says the displays use red-green phosphor
LEDs. The company would not provide details on the implementa-
tion but said the new design includes red, green, and blue light and
starter kit includes a master and a slave lamp and you can add addi-
tional slave lamps that sell for $70. A smartphone app enables con-
trol of the light level and the speakers. You can link as many as eight
speakers and the wireless link between the speakers is not Bluetooth,
so speakers can be as far as 100 ft apart. You can’t install the lamps
on a circuit connected to a legacy dimmer. sengled.com
Animal amenities
SQUEAKER has taken dog safety to a new level with its Poochlight
collars, harnesses, and leashes that provide visible protection for
man’s best friend. The water-resistant (not submersible) products
use dual-pair LEDs positioned on each end of optical fiber strips to
ensure consistent, bright light all the way around each collar, har-
ness, and leash. A reflective layer of fabric next to the optical fiber
enhances the brightness of the LED-based devices. Squeaker’s found-
ers indicate that the viewing distance provided by the LEDs is up to
produces more vivid reds among other benefits. Indeed, high-end a half mile (1 km). Three
LCD TVs have used clusters of red, green, and blue LEDs to deliver f lashing modes and
similar benefits. If you read our series on color sciences, the author one static “g low”
explains that if there is little red energy in the spectral power dis- mode can be selected.
tribution (SPD) of a light source, then our eyes won’t perceive rich The USB-chargeable
reds (http://bit.ly/1N9NMud). Most LCD backlights use blue LEDs a nd C E - c e r t i f i e d
with YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) phosphor that creates white Poochlights can pro-
light from a yellow-blue mix and is absent significant energy in the vide up to 10 hours of
red spectrum. At first we thought Apple was using RGB LED clus- full-strength illumina-
ters, but apparently Apple has an LED manufacturer making a cus- tion from a one-hour
tom LED with a blue emitter and a mix of red and green phosphor, quick charge (and that,
providing energy peaks in the red, green, and blue bands of the spec- according to Squeaker’s
trum. apple.com/imac/ folks, is conservative
Does the target of your gift buying have some standard recessed since they have tested
downlight cans that could use an LED retrofit and like music? Then the lights under var-
SENGLED may have the Tech Toy for you — Pulse Bluetooth-enabled ious conditions and
LED downlights with JBL audio. The Pulse starter kit sells for $150 achieved a range of illu-
and includes a pair of 600-lm downlights that are in the BR30 form mination time results).
Poochlights have been selling in more than 40 countries for the past
18 months, with sizes for dogs from your extra-small canine pals (fea-
turing single-strip lighting) to your larger breeds, such as the burly
and handsome “Buddy” you see in the photo. squeakerdogs.com
TAIL LIGHTS were born as the positive outcome after a car col-
lision with one of owner Sami Gros’s horses during an evening ride.
The currently available Tail Lights Pro product features 250 indi-
vidual LEDs on six strands with programmable decorative color
schemes such as RWB (Patriotic), RG (Christmas), and BW (Win-
ter) as well as important safety features such as “flashing hazards”
and “directional” indicators, just like those easily recognized on
vehicles. Because the

lithium-ion recharge-
able battery is nec-
essarily large to dis-
tribute the amount of
power needed for mul-
tiple brightness and operation modes (flashing, emergency strobing,
and steady-state illumination), this equestrian safety device comes
equipped with an AC charger that can also be used with an adapter
to be charged within vehicles and horse trailers. Full battery charge
can be achieved in about 6 hours. But battery life can be as long as
200 hours depending on the brightness settings and whether flash-
ing modes are being used. A testimonial from a Nova Scotia-based
Mounted Patrol user indicates that the weatherproofing stands up
to a coastal climate and the LEDs maintain their brightness through
several shifts. The Pro model is currently undergoing CSA certifica-
tion. Now, while this particular product is geared toward profession-
als, it is certainly available to consumers who make the investment
in safety for their animals. And Gros has a smaller wireless product
that will include both a front and rear light, the Tail Lights Rider
System, under development now and expects it to be commercially
available at a lower price point. Tail Lights Pro are manufactured
and assembled in the US. tail-lights.com
Of course, this is just a sampling of what’s available for LED-
based gadgets and goodies to light up the holiday season. Keep
checking our website at ledsmagazine.com for continuous coverage
of the latest LED and SSL products, enabling technologies, design
methodologies, and more.
LEDsmagazine.com
developer forum | DIGITAL DIMMING CONTROL
Digital control in LED drivers

delivers better dimming in lamps
SCOTT BROWN describes the dimming challenge in LED lamps that are connected to phase-cut
dimmers and details the basis for digital control techniques that can enable flicker-free performance
in SSL applications.
W
hile LED-based lamps are now Dimmer operation Fig. 2 illustrates the difference in mini-
selling in large volume, the per- Standard triac-based, phase-cut dimmers mum load current required by five popular tri-
formance of such solid-state are designed to drive the resistive load pre- ac-based dimmers that are currently available
lighting (SSL) products, especially in areas sented by an incandescent bulb. The triac in the market. The spikes represent the mini-
such as dimming, can still fall short of legacy dimmer is otherwise known as a lead- mum current that the LED driver would need
bulbs. Indeed, conventional drivers designed ing-edge dimmer, because dimming is to draw from the triac in order to ensure correct
for use in LED replacement lamps are having achieved by blocking the leading edge of operation regardless of which dimmer is used.
difficulty in delivering truly satisfactory dim- the applied AC voltage signal using the triac
ming performance, energy efficiency, and reli- (Fig. 1). Delaying the firing angle of the triac LED load current
ability at an acceptable price. Digital control causes the light to dim. The challenges surrounding the operation
in the driver electronics, however, can now When the firing pulse is applied, the triac of dimmers at low load currents are exac-
eliminate the wasteful bleeder resistors often turns on,and remains turned on for the erbated when the load is an LED replace-
used to enhance operation with legacy triac remainder of the cycle, provided the cur- ment bulb. Unlike an incandescent lamp,
dimmers, while allowing flicker-free dim- rent remains above the specified holding the LED is not purely resistive. Its imped-
ming down to low lighting levels. current for the device. If the load is an incan- ance is reactive, and this can prevent the
The use of dimmers with domestic light- descent bulb, the current is
ing has become widespread, not only to save easily maintained above the
energy and reduce utility bills but also for holding current threshold,
comfort and convenience. With energy-sav- therefore allowing the triac
ing LED lighting, dimming is not so import- to remain on until the cur-
ant from an efficiency point of view. How- rent reduces at the end of
ever, the desire to influence moods with the cycle.
lighting is strong, in homes and also in Two factors can limit the
premises like restaurants, entertainment usable dimming range, how- FIG. 1. Leading-edge dimming, by a triac-based dimmer,
venues, or conference halls. This calls for ever, and can even come into delays turn-on until late in the cycle.
smooth, flicker-free dimming, covering a play with an incandescent
wide range of light levels. bulb. The dimmer circuit typically incorpo- current from rising sufficiently above the
The ideal scenario for SSL deployment rates an electromagnetic interference (EMI) triac holding current threshold to allow the
in many applications is simply to upgrade filter, which contains inductor and capaci- device to remain on after the firing pulse is
by replacing incandescent lamps with LED tor components that can introduce ringing removed. Low levels of dimming can also be
lamps of the same form factor. This is com- noise to the current waveform. If the induc- difficult to achieve, because the LED gener-
plicated by the fact that users expect the tor is a low-quality component, this ringing ally consumes less power than an incandes-
new lamps to operate perfectly with their can be sufficient to cause the current imme- cent bulb. Hence the current drawn through
existing dimmers, but results can vary diately after turn-on to spike below the triac the triac can be very low at the phase angles
depending on the type and quality of the holding current, allowing the device to turn needed for maximum dimming. The current
dimmer in place. off and therefore causing visible flickering of can drop below the minimum holding cur-
the lamp. Similarly, if a low-cost triac with rent of the triac, causing the light to flicker
SCOTT BROWN is the senior director of a relatively high holding current is used, the or suddenly stop working when dimming is
marketing for the Power Conversion Business dimmer will be unable to sustain dimming adjusted for very low light levels.
Group at Dialog Semiconductor (dialog- levels where the current is below the holding In practice, dimmers need to achieve much
semiconductor.com). current of the triac. greater levels of dimming than the casual
observer is able to appreciate. Because the ITriac Model D
human eye compensates for low light levels Model E
by dilating the iris, the relationship between Holding Model B
the electronic dimmer setting and the per- current
Model C
ceived dimming effect is not linear. If the
Model A
dimmer is adjusted to reduce the light to 10%
of its maximum measured level, the human 0 t
eye will perceive a reduction only to around
FIG. 2. Triac holding currents of five different dimmers.
30%. To achieve a perceived dimming level of
10%, the dimmer must be able to reduce the Bleeder circuits keep current flowing that must operate within the confines of
measured light level to only 1%. The Light- A common solution is to add a bleeder cir- existing industry-standard form factors.
ing Handbook, 10th Edition published by the cuit to maintain adequate current flow in the The LED emitters themselves are able to
Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) doc- triac at lower dimming levels. This may be a operate for lifetimes of 25,000 to 50,000
uments the relationship between perceived passive circuit using a resistor or an active hours at high temperatures. However, asso-
and measured light mathematically: bleeder using power transistors to block cur- ciated components such as bulk electrolytic
rent in the bleeder resistors when not needed. capacitors are more sensitive to operating
Perceived light = 100 × √(Measured light ÷ 100) Using a passive bleeder has two draw- temperature. For every 10°C rise in operat-
backs. Since current passes through the ing temperature, the lifetime of an electro-
Manufacturers of LED replacement lamps resistor continuously, the efficiency advan- lytic capacitor reduces by 50%. This degra-
need to be able to guarantee interoperability tage gained through using LED technology dation can significantly reduce the useful
with triac dimmers of varying quality and is eroded. Perhaps even more important is life of the LED lamp. To achieve an accept-
cost, and ensure flicker-free lighting down the effect of heat dissipation on the oper- able lifetime, manufacturers may need to
to low dimming levels, in order to maximize ating lifetime of the lamp. Thermal man- take steps to protect vulnerable compo-
customer satisfaction. agement is vitally important for LED lamps nents — for example, by applying potting —
Available up to 2400W
48668 Milmont Drive, Fremont

CA 94538 USA
which drives up the cost of the end product. thermal dissipation. On the other hand, Advantages of digital control
An active bleeder, as shown in Fig. 3, goes active bleeder circuits are difficult to con- A more satisfactory approach is to recircu-
some way toward mitigating efficiency loss trol and require a relatively high number of late bleeder current rather than dissipating
and temperature increase. Unlike the pas- external components that increase overall the energy as heat. This is not easy to imple-
sive bleeder, the active circuit draws current cost. Moreover, although an active bleeder ment in the analog domain. However, digital
only when the LED current is otherwise too dissipates less power than a passive circuit, technology permits complex dynamic con-
low to keep the triac turned on. This avoids the principle is the same: Deliberately dis- trol schemes that enable more intelligent use
the burden of continuous power dissipa- sipating energy detracts from the efficiency of the energy required to keep legacy dim-
tion, which is imposed by the passive circuit, advantages that are a major reason for the mers operating correctly.
thereby improving efficiency and reducing change to LED lighting. In addition to eliminating f licker or
dropout when used with a conventional
triac dimmer, a suitable LED-driver circuit
must also manage AC-cycle inrush current
to avoid momentary overloads, minimize
LED audible noise resulting from interactions
R R C driver between the line cycle and internal magnetic
components, and meet regulatory standards
for power factor and electrical noise (EMI).
They must also be compatible with the wid-
est possible range of dimmer types.
Fig. 4 shows a representative application
circuit for a non-isolated LED-driver cir-
FIG. 3. An active bleeder circuit draws current only when needed but requires extra cuit using the Dialog Semiconductor iW3688
components and is difficult to control. controller. This device features a digital core
THE 84UP ARRAY OPTIC

This is a large compact 84 freeform array built specifically
for the common 5630 and similar packages that produces an
asymmetric beam pattern for the use of an LPS (Low Pressure
Sodium) replacement system.
www.carclo-optics.com sales@carclo-optics.com www.carclo-optics.com sales@carclo-optics.com www.carclo-optics.com

In dimming or no-dimming modes, the

driver in the near future will be required to
comply to emerging guidelines governing
the flicker produced by lighting and SSL in
particular. These include the IEEE 1789 rec-
ommendations, published earlier this year.
Other bodies such as Energy Star are con-
sidering introducing flicker criteria. Among
the proposals of IEEE 1789 is a limit on max-
imum acceptable flicker (see p. 35 for more
on flicker).
End users of energy-saving lighting expect
FIG. 4. Rectifier, a completely seamless transition from exist-
current-control, and iW3688 ing lighting technologies to LED replace-
LED-driver circuitry ments. This requires replacement bulbs to
implemented meet current industry-standard form fac-
using the iW3688 tors, and to operate faultlessly with existing
controller. triac-based dimmers down to low dimming
levels and within minimum flicker guide-
and allows a low-cost solution that is compatible with a wide range lines. At the same time, the new technology must be offered at a
of triac dimmers. very competitive price, while also maximizing energy efficiency and
As the diagram shows, the circuit uses only one external MOS- reliability. Digital driver-control technology offers a superior solu-
FET. This is possible because the driver IC uses the same switch tion compared to conventional analog circuitry and resistive bleed-
to keep the triac dimmer circuits working properly and to provide ers, enabling manufacturers to meet such high expectations.
power for the control circuit itself. This design eliminates the need
for a secondary winding on the main magnetic core, which is usu-
ally needed to power the controller. This approach gives designers
the option to use low-cost, off-the-shelf inductors for non-isolated HIGH-SPEED MOVING MIRROR TYPE C
applications, or to use a standard flyback transformer if the appli- GONIOPHOTOMETER SERIES 6400T
cation requires isolation. Such an architecture helps reduce compo-
nent count, saves energy, and minimizes heat dissipation, thereby
MANUFACTURED BY UL
simplifying thermal management.
Driver operation QUICKLY

DELIVERED
The IC’s digital circuitry monitors the relevant voltages and cur- READY
rents and permits the controller to dynamically modulate the main TO SHIP UTILIZED BY
power MOSFET to achieve the required level of dimming and keep LEADING GLOBAL
the triac turned on even when the demand from the LED load is very LIGHTING
low. Any additional current needed to keep the triac operating that MANUFACTURERS
is not already being drawn by the main power-conversion stage is
EASY AND TESTING
LABORATORIES
used internally rather than being converted into heat.
IESNA TO U S E
The IC also integrates intelligent features that are capable of mak- VERSATILE
LM-79
FAST
ing dynamic impedance adjustments depending on the characteris- COMPLIANT
tics of the dimmer. The design allows the device to work with almost
any standard triac dimmer and allows LED brightness to be dimmed MEASUREMENT
down to 1% of maximum. The low dimming level enables a much FEATURES

stronger level of perceived dimming by humans compared to ear- CUSTOMIZABLE
TEST DISTANCE
lier driver circuits that were unable to support dimming below 5%
or even 10%. COLOR
FLASHING
When no dimming is to be applied, the main power converter that
delivers current to the LED load is operated in quasi-resonant mode
to provide high power efficiency and low EMI. Power factor is also FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO
optimized to enhance efficiency and minimize current harmonic GET A QUOTE CONTACT ULGONI@UL.COM
DISCOVER MORE AT UL.COM/LIGHTTESTEQUIPMENT
distortion on the AC line as well as to meet regulatory requirements
around the world.
last word
Keeping the existing lighting

can do harm
We may not fully understand the impact of blue-rich light on humans, states
STAN WALERCZYK, principal of Lighting Wizards, but we know it can be beneficial and
ignoring that benefit could be the act that does harm.
In the October issue of LEDs Magazine, Also, blue-enriched light can be better the main troffers on at 6500K all day long.
Deborah Burnett shared her opinions on than caffeine. I believe whether morning lark And if the teacher forgets to also turn on the
blue-rich LED light in “First do no harm” or night owl, people have an innate sense of 10,000K troffers in the morning for math, the
(http://bit.ly/1l9Xc2d). Burnett brought the best light dosing at different times of the students remind her and state they can learn
up some valid points, including that there day for different tasks without knowing any better with those lights also on.
is a strong interaction with various medi- of the neuroscience. Now we finally Some people blame certain
cations and light, and that people need to have cost-effective tunable (dim- types of interior and exterior
be careful about that. I believe, however, ming and Kelvin or color chang- electric light for cancer and other
that there are many benefits of cooler-CCT ing) LED lights that individuals problems of third-shift workers
lighting, and not leveraging those benefits can adjust as they want. Hopefully and others. The problem seems
could do harm. somebody can get funding to scien- to be being up during the night,
Since Burnett used the HCL (human-cen- tifically research this. not the light. There are more med-
tric lighting) term and it’s an area of great There are some American light- ical errors in hospitals during
interest, I felt obligated to write this column. ing professionals who think that the graveyard shift than the two
Although I am the vice-chair of the Human incandescent light is the holy grail and who other shifts put together. Currently Dr.
Centric Lighting Society (HCLS), I wrote this do not like any high-CCT source. Some point Steven Lockley, Rod Heller, and the Mid-
as an individual. Still, the HCLS has some of to the Kruithof Effect, even if good science has west Lighting Institute are doing a project,
the best neuroscientists and other experts shown it is not valid and the IES has stopped which includes blue-enriched light, at a hos-
around the world. Following are my opin- referring to it. pital to reduce those errors.
ions based on what I have learned over the Some existing top-down research, bot- If you are not already aware, Europe is
last four years from people inside and out tom-up research, and case studies on blue way ahead of the United States regarding
of the HCLS. light exist. We need all of them. My focus HCL, and that seems to be based on good
It is true that not everything is known is case studies, and my goal is to get many science (http://bit.ly/1gOTF6L).
about optimal light dosing for the non-vi- HCL projects installed in the United States, Okay, readers, you are aware of two opin-
sual part of the human physiological system. excluding applications with certain medi- ions. Now you should get information direct
Dosing is the amount, spectrum, time of day, cations and other critical factors. We need from real experts, such as top-tier PhDs in
and duration of light. But enough is known to comprehensive evaluations that will help neuroscience, specialized MDs, and others.
significantly improve a lot of existing light- the users and improve upcoming products A great start is the non-profit HCLS library
ing. Keeping the existing lighting can often and future lighting design. (http://humancentriclighting.org/).
cause harm. A common example is office I recently completed an
workers exposed to fluorescent or LED light HCL project in an elementary LINKS
at 3000K or 3500K all day long. Such work- school classroom with tun-
Research assesses the value of human-centric lighting
ers do not get very much daylight, and they able 2700–6500K troffers and
http://bit.ly/1euA1vx
do not take sufficient breaks outside during fixed 10,000K troffers. Despite
Potential exists for SSL to positively impact health and
the day. Even fixed 5000K LED lighting would the fact that some profession-
wellbeing, but science lags http://bit.ly/1q7GM4G
be much better for both short- and long-term als think that people do not
alertness. Such light should not be used one like high CCTs, the teacher Questions abound about whether a blue-light hazard exists
http://bit.ly/1KyJ1cI
to two hours before going to bed. and students typically have

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41 STANDARDS LG Innotek announces 3.5-mm

Ethernet Mark Halper

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©2015 Lumileds Holding B.V. All Rights Reserved.

Alternative LED substrate options head in

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