The 1.2- or 3.6-watt devices contain 1 or 3 chips respectively, in a chip-on-board configuration, and the phosphor material is applied to the hemispherical lens.
Performance options are 70 CRI or 85 CRI, and color temperatures of 3500K or 4500, with 3000K becoming available in late 2007 or early 2008. Lumination is offering a simplified, tight color binning of +/– 200 K for full distribution and +/– 100 K for sub–bins.
GE previewed its Vio LEDs at last month's Lightfair tradeshow, and technical details on the product are included in the LEDs Magazine report from the show – see LED lighting shows maturity at Lightfair.
One of its key features is a color temperature shift of less than 100 K over the rated life of 50,000 hours (70% lumen maintenance). This addresses a key concern with the standard phosphor-converted design that combines a blue chip with yellow or yellow-red phosphors.
"The availability of Lumination's Vio high-power white LED is a significant milestone on the path toward general illumination with GE–quality LEDs," comments Kraig Kasler, VP of marketing, Lumination, LLC. "Our investment in this major new product underscores the commitment we made earlier this year to pursue global distinction in the general illumination market. We think our violet-chip technology offers the best available control of color shift in white LEDs."
LEDs in fixtures often produce glare or bright spots, and the use of multiple point sources in fixtures (e.g. several LEDs grouped together) has the potential to produce multiple shadows. The 3.6-watt version of the Vio LED in particular distributes diffused light more evenly over a 180-degree beam angle.
Lumination says that the color of Lumination's Vio high-power white LED is so stable that its light can be used with confidence as a replacement for traditional general illumination light sources.
"With this new product, we're ushering in a new era for lighting fixture OEMs and designers," says Kasler. "Incorporating LEDs in a lighting scheme is more than a novel approach or smart move from an energy standpoint. Based on its performance, our Vio LED is a real alternative light source that will maintain a consistent appearance over a period of years."
