The Optical Measurement Lab: An Essential Tool for a Supplier of LED Components and Assemblies

摘要

Electro-optical specifications and requirements change with the availability of materials that are constantly evolving, and are not evolving simultaneously or all at the same rate. These material changes extend beyond the chip or die made from the compound semiconductor that is the heart of the light source. The modern power LED is 'upgraded' with new lens materials and with approaches in packaging at the component level, that will not just result in a maximum amount of light but also in the certainty that a sufficient level of light output will be available after an extended time period. It is the certainty of lumen maintenance that will justify the acceleration of LED technology and solid-state lighting for both new, LED-specific designs and for 'retrofit' or replacement of sometimes century-old lighting technologies. The key to widespread adoption of LED lighting is validation of illumination equivalent to established light sources and long-term reliability. Building a comprehensive solid-state lighting lab is no small undertaking; it requires the acquisition of the latest state-of-the-art equipment and is a capital-intensive investment. For LED technology to enjoy the huge growth predicted in the solid-state lighting market, the industry must provide quantifiable and repeatable test results that establish long-term, stable reference points to fill in the unknowns in the adoption of this technology.