UV LEDs - The Teenage Years: 'Doveryai, no Proveryai' (Trust but Verify)

摘要

UV LEDs are teenagers. Commercially available UV LEDs - that by today's standards were relatively low power - first appeared somewhere around 2003. By 2008, power levels had increased and unit costs had dropped, making UV LEDs a viable alternative for some types of curing applications. As UV LEDs enter their teenage years, their increased power and bandwidths have made them a viable alternative for new uses and applications. Based on my early career experience teaching middle and high school science and coaching teenagers, I can unequivocally state that the Russian proverb popularized by President Reagan - "Doveryai, no Proveryai" ("Trust but Verify") - applies to both teenagers and UV LEDs. Full Disclosure: I consider myself lucky that cell phones and social media were not around to document my teenage misadventures. This issue's column starts with a look at UV LED technologies and finishes with an interview with GEW (EC) Limited's Robert Rae, managing director - sales, and Jennifer Heathcote, business development manager.