LED technology is driving the future of lighting with the developments made in the efficacy of white LEDs in the past few years,
As white light is the main driver for general illumination, there is a particularly strong focus on improving the efficiency of white LEDs, which currently outperform tungsten halogen lamps with efficacies from 45-55lm.
Manufacturing methods have allowed for significant progress to be made in increasing the efficiency of LEDs. Previously, the only way to produce white LED light was by the additive colour mixing of the three basic colours using so-called “multi-LED”, ie, three semiconductor chips (red, green and blue LEDs) had to be combined.
Today it is possible to produce white LED light with a single chip.
In luminescence conversion, only a blue LED is used, whose light stimulates a luminescent substance that emits yellow light. With interaction, the system produces the colour white.
White light is generated on the basis of a principle similar to that used in luminescent substance lighting. Depending on the composition of the luminescent substance, various white tones can be realised. White LED versions of traditional luminaires are already available from several manufacturers, particularly in the MR11 spotlight style.
LED headlights for cars are in the pipeline is producing a range of multi-die packages that are close to producing enough light for road illumination. LED bicycle headlights are already available.