LIGHT EMITTING DIODES

Presentation by V.S.ARJUN

A light emitting diode (LED) is essentially a PN junction opto-semiconductor that emits a monochromatic (single color) light when operated in a forward biased direction. LEDs convert electrical energy into light energy. They are frequently used as "pilot" lights in electronic appliances to indicate whether the circuit is closed or not.

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How Does A LED Work? (1/2)

When sufficient voltage is applied to the chip across the leads of the LED, electrons can move easily in only one direction across the junction between the p and n regions. In the p region there are many more positive than negative charges. When a voltage is applied and the current starts to flow, electrons in the n region have sufficient energy to move across the junction into the p region.
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How Does A LED Work? (2/2)

Each time an electron recombines with a positive charge, electric potential energy is converted into electromagnetic energy.
For each recombination of a negative and a positive charge, a quantum of electromagnetic energy is emitted in the form of a photon of light with a frequency characteristic of the semi-conductor material (usually a combination of the chemical elements gallium, arsenic and phosphorus)..

About LEDs (1/2)

The most important part of a light emitting diode (LED) is the semi-conductor chip located in the center of the bulb as shown at the right. The chip has two regions separated by a junction. The p region is dominated by positive electric charges, and the n region is dominated by negative electric charges. The junction acts as a barrier to the flow of electrons between the p and the n regions. Only when sufficient voltage is applied to the semi-conductor chip, can the current flow, and the electrons cross the junction into the p region.

Light-emitting diodes

Testing LEDs
Never connect an LED directly to a battery or power supply! It will be destroyed almost instantly because too much current will pass through and burn it out. LEDs must have a resistor in series to limit the current to a safe value, for quick testing purposes a 1k resistor is suitable for most LEDs if your supply voltage is 12V or less. Remember to connect the LED the correct way round!

How Much Energy Does an LED Emit?

The energy (E) of the light emitted by an LED is related to the electric charge (q) of an electron and the voltage (V) required to light the LED by the expression: E = qV Joules.

This expression simply says that the voltage is proportional to the electric energy, and is a general statement which applies to any circuit, as well as to LED's. The constant q is the electric charge of a single electron, -1.6 x 10-19 Coulomb.

When the electron falls down from conduction band and fills in a hole in valence band, there is an obvious loss of energy.

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The question is; where does that energy go?

In order to achieve a reasonable efficiency for photon emission, the semiconductor must have a direct band gap.

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The question is; what is the mechanism behind photon emission in LEDs?

For example; Silicon is known as an indirect band-gap material.

What this means is that as an electron goes from the bottom of the conduction band to the top of the valence band; it must also undergo a significant change in momentum.

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 As we all know, whenever something changes state, one must conserve not only energy, but also momentum. In the case of an electron going from conduction band to the valence band in silicon, both of these things can only be conserved: The transition also creates a quantized set of lattice vibrations, called phoTons, or "heat .

 Photons possess both energy and momentum. Their creation upon the recombination of an electron and hole allows for complete conservation of both energy and momentum. All of the energy which the electron gives up in going from the conduction band to the valence band (1.1 eV) ends up in photons, which is another way of saying that the electron heats up the crystal.

 Thus, for a direct band gap material, the excess energy of the electron-hole recombination can either be taken away as heat, or more likely, as a photon of light. This radiative transition then conserves energy and momentum by giving off light whenever an CB electron and hole recombine.

This gives rise to (for us) a new type of device; the light emitting diode (LED).

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Mechanism behind photon emission in LEDs?

Mechanism is injection Electroluminescence. Luminescence part tells us that we are producing photons. Electro part tells us that the photons are being produced by an electric current. Injection tells us that photon production is by the injection of current carriers.
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Producing photon
Electrons recombine with holes.
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Energy of photon is the energy of band gap.

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What is LED?
LED - Light Emitting Diode A semiconductor component similar to transistor or integrated circuit Electrical current through the semiconductor chip produces light Semiconductor materials used, define the colour of light produced

Benefits of LED
Shock and vibration proof Small dimensions Lightweight Virtually no heat generation Accurate and well controlled beam spread

Key features of LED

Longer lasting Reduced maintenance cost More energy efficient

Better design flexibility

Vivid colors High reliability Environmentally friendly They are suitable at high operating speeds

LED vs. CFL vs. Incandescent Lamps

Incandescent Lamps 90% of electricity used is spent producing heat, not light Rapidly being replaced by CFLs for lesser bills and environment friendliness Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) 75% less electricity needed to produce same amount of light as an incandescent lamp Current estimated sale, of one brand just in Gurgaon, is around one lakh units per month Light-emitting Diodes (LED) 15-20% less electricity needed to produce same amount of light as a CFL Making a slow but steady entry in the market of lighting Opportunities exist in way too many industries Currently hot for home decor; Corporate office lighting space hugely untapped More environment friendly than CFLs

Why LED?
Energy Efficient, up to 90% more efficient than traditional lighting sources Long life span, up to 100,000 hours Variety of color options Low operation costs No UV radiation No mercury Instant on, no start-up time Silent operation Reduces Carbon Footprint

Carbon Footprint: comparison chart

Lamp Incandescent Fluorescent Halogen HID LED Wattage 100W 30W 50W 300W 3W Operation 12hr./day 12hr./day 12hr./day 12hr./day 12hr./day kWh/year 400kWh 113kWh 187kWh 800kWh 12kWh

CO2 emissions

840 lbs

237 lbs

393 lbs

1,680 lbs

26 lbs

Materials for visible wavelength LEDs

We see them almost everyday, either on calculator displays or indicator panels. Red LED use as power on indicator Yellow, green and amber LEDs are also widely available but very few of you will have seen a blue LED.

Sample Applications
Street Lighting Gas Station Lighting Parking Garage Parking Lots Site Lighting High-bays Low-bays Wall packs Decorative Fixtures Historical Fixtures Security Lighting

Security Lighting: Bank drive up

Street Lighting

Parking Lot Lights

Applications

Sensor Applications
Mobile Applications Sign Applications

Automative Uses
LED Signals Illuminations Indicators

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Sensor Applications
Medical Instrumentation Bar Code Readers Color & Money Sensors Encoders Optical Switches Fiber Optic Communication

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Mobile Applications
Mobile Phone PDA's Digital Cameras Lap Tops General Backlighting

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Sign Applications
Full Color Video Monochrome Message Boards Traffic/VMS Transportation - Passenger Information

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Automative Applications
Interior Lighting - Instrument Panels & Switches, Courtesy Lighting Exterior Lighting - CHMSL, Rear Stop/Turn/Tail Truck/Bus Lighting - Retrofits, New Turn/Tail/Marker Lights

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Signal Appications
Traffic Rail Aviation Tower Lights Runway Lights Emergency/Police Vehicle Lighting

LEDs offer enormous benefits over traditional incandescent lamps including: Energy savings (up to 85% less power than incandescent) Reduction in maintenance costs Increased visibility in daylight and adverse weather conditions

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Indication
Household appliances VCR/ DVD/ Stereo and other audio and video devices Toys/Games Instrumentation Security Equipment Switches

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Driving LEDs

Analog LED Drive Circuits Digital LED Drive Circuits

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Colours of LEDs (1/3)

LEDs are made from gallium-based crystals that contain one or more additional materials such as phosphorous to produce a distinct color. Different LED chip technologies emit light in specific regions of the visible light spectrum and produce different intensity levels. LEDs are available in red, orange, amber, yellow, green, blue and white. Blue and white LEDs are much more expensive than the other colours. The colour of an LED is determined by the semiconductor material, not by the colouring of the 'package' (the plastic body). LEDs of all colours are available in uncoloured packages which may be diffused (milky) or clear (often described as 'water clear'). The coloured packages are also available as diffused (the standard type) or transparent.
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Colours of LEDs (2/3)

Tri-colour LEDs The most popular type of tri-colour LED has a red and a green LED combined in one package with three leads. They are called tricolour because mixed red and green light appears to be yellow and this is produced when both the red and green LEDs are on. The diagram shows the construction of a tri - colour LED. Note the different lengths of the three leads. The centre lead (k) is the common cathode for both LEDs, the outer leads (a1 and a2) are the anodes to the LEDs allowing each one to be lit separately, or both together to give the third colour.

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Colours of LEDs (3/3)

Bi-colour LEDs A bi-colour LED has two LEDs wired in 'inverse parallel' (one forwards, one backwards) combined in one package with two leads. Only one of the LEDs can be lit at one time and they are less useful than the tricolour LEDs described above.

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LED Performance (1/8)

LED performance is based on a few primary characteristics:

Color White light Intensity Eye safety information Visibility Operating Life Voltage/Design Current

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LED Performance (2/8)

Colour Peak wavelength is a function of the LED chip material. Although process variations are 10 NM, the 565 to 600 NM wavelength spectral region is where the sensitivity level of the human eye is highest. Therefore, it is easier to perceive color variations in yellow and amber LEDs than other colors.

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Some Types of LEDs

Bargraph

7-segment

Starburst

Dot matrix

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Disadvantages:
1.Output power gets affected due to change in temperature 2.Overcurrent damages the LED 3.Large power required for operation 4.Luminous efficiency is low

::The END::
Thank you for your Attention!