Light-Emitting Diodes
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) succeed the incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps of previous centuries as the world’s light-source of choice.
About the Light-Emitting Diodes:
- A diode is an electronic component which has two points of contact, or terminals, called its anode and cathode.
- A diode’s primary purpose is to allow current to flow in only one direction.
- An LED is a semiconductor device which emits light when electric current flows through it.
- It can produce all three primary colours – red, green, and blue – different LEDs can be combined on a display board to produce a large variety of colours.
Advantages of LED:
- Energy Efficiency: It requires far less electricity to produce the same light as incandescent bulbs. LEDs use approximately 75-80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.
- Durability: LED bulbs are highly durable and resistant to shocks, vibrations, and temperature fluctuations.
- Instant Illumination: It provides instant illumination without the warm-up period required by incandescent bulbs.
- Heat Generation: LED bulbs generate very little heat, making them safer to handle and more efficient in terms of energy utilisation.
- Environmental Impact: LEDs have a significantly lower environmental impact compared to incandescent. The energy efficiency and longer lifespan result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less waste.
What are the Applications of LEDs?
- LEDs have several applications in industry, consumer electronics, and household appliances: from smartphones to TV screens, from signboards to ‘feeding’ plants light in greenhouses, from barcode scanners to monitoring air quality.