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LED |
LED stands for "Light Emitting Diode". An LED is a semi-conductor made of a combination of substrates that emit light when charged with a low DC current at 20 milliamps (mA). Charging above 20mA for greater brightness will dramatically decrease the life of the LED.
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AllnGaP |
The ideal LED chip technology containing Aluminum, Indium, Gallium, and phosphorous to produce red, orange and amber colors.
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Ampere (AMP) |
The unit for measuring the electrical current's rate of flow within the LED. Current (Amps) = Power (Watts) / Voltage (Volts).
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Bin |
The systematic dividing of distribution of performance parameters (Flux, Color or CCT, and Vf) into smaller groups that meet aesthetic requirements of the LED's assembly.
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Binning |
Subdivision of the manufactured distribution into bins common operating parts (Color, flux, forward voltage).
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Candela (cd) |
Candela is a unit of brightness used specifically for LED's. This measurement is based on a 0 degree axis and varies with the half-intensity viewing angle of the LED. (See Half Intensity Angle for more information).
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CIE |
Chromaticity Diagram (CIE) A U-shaped line connecting the chromaticities of the spectrum of colors.
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Color Definition |
The color uniformity is described using three terms:
Hue: Describes the situation when the appearance of different
colors is similar.
Lightness: Describes a range of grayness between black and white.
Chroma: Chroma: Describes the degree of departure from gray of the same lightness and increasing color.
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Color Gamut |
The range of colors within the CIE that is included when combining different color sources.
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Color Spectrum |
All wavelengths that are perceived by human sight, measured in nanometers (nm).
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Color Temperature |
The description used to describe the effect of heating an object until it glows incandescently. The emitted radiation and apparent color changes according to temperature.
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Constant Current |
The Constant Current Design refers to the charge of the LED. Constant Current ensures consistent and high quality LED brightness. The Constant Voltage design allows its user the option of driving the LED above the 20mA rating. However, the user should be aware that this will shorten the average life of the LED.
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Correlated Color Temperature |
CCT describes the temperature at which a Planckian Black Body Radiator and an illumination's source appear to match, usually specified in Kelvin.
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Die-Chip |
The computing heart of the LED.
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Diffuser |
An optical element used to mix light rays to improve uniformity
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Driver |
Electronics used to power the illumination source.
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Flux |
The sum of all lumens (lm) emitted by a source. (See Lumens for more information)
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Full Matrix |
Full Matrix LED displays allow the user to combine the entire display's pixels to produce larger characters and graphics.
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Half Intensity Angle |
Half Intensity Angle refers to the viewing angle rating of an LED. This means that at X degrees the LED intensity will be 1/2 as intense as it would be at 0 degrees.
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InGaN LED |
The ideal LED semiconductor technology containing Indium, Gallium, and Nitrogen to produce green, blue, and white colored LED light.
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Kelvin Temperature |
Used to indicate the comparative color appearance of a light source when compared to a theoretical blackbody. (e.g. yellowish incandescent lamps are 3000K. Fluorescent Light sources range from 3000K to 7500K.).
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LED Life |
Since LED's do not rely on replaceable bulbs, the LED Life refers to the number hours an LED can be used before needing to be replaced. Typically, LED life reaches 100,000 hours.
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Lumen(lm) |
The international unit of luminous flux or quantity of light that equals the amount of light that is spread over a square foot of surface by one candle-power when the surface is exactly one foot away from the light source.
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Luminous Efficacy |
The light output of a light source divided by the total electrical power input to that source, typically expressed in lumens per watt (lm/W)
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Lux |
The international unit of luminous flux on a unit area. Typically measured as one lumen per square meter (lm/m2)
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Nits |
Measurement of display screen brightness. The more Nits the greater the brightness
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P-N Junction |
Area on an LED chip where the positively and negatively charged regions meet. When Voltage is applied and current begins to flow, the electrons move across the n region and into the p region. This process releases energy, the dispersion of which creates visible wavelengths. More simply, the area on the chip which produces light.
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Pixel |
A pixel is a single point of light, capable of producing all of the colors of the LED display.
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Solid-State Lighting |
A description of the devices that do not contain parts that may break, shatter, leak, or rupture and contaminate the environment.
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Thermal Management |
Controlling the operating temperature of the product through designs such as heat sinks, and improved airflow.
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Volt |
The term used to describe the electrical potential difference between oppositely charged conductors.
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Watt |
The unit of electrical power as used by an electrical device during its operation. Light sources with a higher lumen per watt rating are more efficient
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