LED, more properly called a light-emitting diode, is a light source using semiconductor material. More popularly used is indicator lighting in a great deal of devices, they are gaining ground in being accepted as full-on light sources. They started out in 1962 as a low-intensity red light, but are now being seen across the board on most electronic devices, and in many sizes, shapes and colors.
When turning on an LED, the electrons within get back together with the electron holes in whatever device they are part of, and this action kicks out energy in what is known as photons. This entire process is named electroluminescence. The color of the LED is based upon how much energy gap present in its semiconductor material, reliant upon the energy amount kicked out by the photon.
The average size of most LEDs is less than a millimeter squared, and introducing other optical components allow for multiple shapes and sizes, by playing around with its radiation pattern. This gives the LED lighting an advantage over its cousin, the incandescent light. Some advantages are that they use up less energy, they last longer, they are more sturdy, they can be made in a smaller size, and they are more reliable. Quite a list of achievements. The downside is that if you want to light up an entire room using LEDs, you are going to see a sizeable chunk of change pass hands. Not only this, but their currents and heat management must be more precise in their layout than fluorescent or incandescent lighting of similar lighting output.
You see LEDs in many applications these days, from aviation and car lighting, but also in traffic lights. With its small sized capabilities and other positive traits (narrow bandwith, switching speeds and reliability), LEDs are responsible for new video displays and advances in communications technology. Infrared LEDs are seen in remote controls for TVs, DVD players and other appliances. LED is everywhere.
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