UV-LEDs and Curing Applications: Technology and Market Developments

摘要

Visible and UV-LED technology has improved tremendously in recent years, with improvements in the performance and value of white LEDs for lighting applications now allowing LEDs to challenge conventional lighting sources. Improvements in the performance of UV-LEDs has been slower because the UV-curing market is much smaller than the display and lighting markets requiring white LEDs, but even now UV-LEDs are being considered for some specialized curing applications. Thernhistory of LED development strongly suggests that UV-LEDs will continue to develop, offering higher irradiance and new, shorter wavelengths. Combined with improved energy efficiency, cool operation and much longer lifetimes, the evolution of UV-LED curing systems will track the development of LED lighting, following the technical progress at the chip, package and system level, as well as emulating the business models now being developed in the lighting industry to replace the incumbent incandescent, fluorescent and UV-curing bulbs used today.