Technology of white leds for general lighting, architectural, and design applications

Recent progress in semiconductor technology for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) opens up markets for general lighting as well as architectural and design applications. With the advent of a new generation of high brightness LEDs especially in the blue spectral range, white light technology based on phosphor conversion is gaining maturity for a successful market penetration within the next years. The flexibility of colour temperature achievable with the patented silicate phosphor system of TridonicAtco, Litec, LWB and Toyoda Gosei was also extended to achieve certain tones of comparatively broadband colours, such as yellow white or a specific green. This includes the advantage of the zerobinning concept for the LED modules. There are still major challenges ahead which on one hand originate from the specific demands of the markets on small emission areas, highest possible intensities, long-term colour stability, and spatial homogeneity of colour coordinates. On the other hand, the mutual challenge of market pull and technology push provides a highly interesting and promising environment that strives for new efficiency and light output records.