Quantum leap in the brightness and efficiency of white LEDs

By improving all the technologies involved in the manufacture of LEDs, OSRAM development engineers have achieved new records for the brightness and efficiency of white LEDs in the laboratory. Under standard conditions with an operating current of 350mA, brightness peaked at a value of 155lm, and efficacy at 136lm/W. White prototype LEDs with 1mm² chips were used. The light produced had a color temperature of 5,000K, with color coordinates at 0.349/0.393 (cx/cy). Potential applications include general illumination, the automotive sector and any applications that call for large high-power LEDs. The key to success was the efficient interplay between all the advances made in materials and technologies. A perfectly matched system of optimized chip technology, a highly advanced and extremely efficient light converter and a special high-performance package combined to produce the world records - 155lm for brightness and 136lm/W for efficacy. The semiconductor light sources are also suitable for high operating currents. At 1.4A they can produce up to 500lm of white light. This means that the LEDs can later be used not only for general lighting tasks and automotive applications but also for LED projection as blue and green chip versions.