White LEDs from Lumileds improve functionality of phone flashes

Lumileds Lighting has introduced two new Luxeon Flash LEDs that provide up to 80 lumens of white light for camera flash-lamp applications in mobile phones. The company claims that conventional LEDs produce just 6-7 lumens.

Luxeon Flash The LXCL-PWF1 delivers 40 lumens when driven at 1A, and has dimensions of 2.0 x 1.6 x 1.0 mm high. The larger LXCL-PWF2 delivers 80 lumens from 1A current, and measures 3.2 x 1.6 x 1.0 mm.

The products are rated for 100,000 flashes at 1A, and for 168 hours of flashlight/torch (DC) mode operation, a function which provides a safety feature for phone users.

Lumileds says that the products are capable of illuminating subjects at a distance of 1-2 m, and provide excellent color illumination resulting in high quality images.

As cameras in mobile phones become more sophisticated, higher-performance flashes are required to meet the lighting demands of megapixel CMOS image sensors now being employed.

"Although some camera phones have conventional LEDs that operate as a 'fun' flash, these don't provide sufficient light for picture-taking in dimly lit environments such as clubs and restaurants," said Julian Carey, Lumileds business development manager.

Lumileds says that it expects phone models using Luxeon Flash to be available in time for the 2004 holiday season.