LEDworks: Your Premier Provider of Lighting Solutions

Light Emitting Diodes (LED) are semiconductor diodes that are used in a wide variety of lights. The first LED was manufactured in 1962, and since then many variations have been created, from high intensity LEDs to multi-colored LEDs. 

A simplistic approach to trace the development of LEDs is to consider the various generations of LEDs. 1st generation LEDs are grain-sized semiconductors encapsulated in a small lens, with an anode and cathode protruding from the back. These LEDs have been used as Indicator Lighting for at least the past 20-30 years. In recent years, 2nd generation LEDs have been developed, these 2G LEDs make use of Surface Mount Technology (SMT) to mechanically solder them onto printed circuit boards (PCBs). There are also the "Generation 2.5" LEDs, which are essentially 2G LEDs which come presoldered onto PCBs. This makes them highly suitable for single LED applications. Most quality LED products are manufactured using 2G or 2.5G LED components. 

LEDworks uses 2G (and 2.5G) LEDs from reputable manufacturers such as Nichia, Philips Lumileds and Seoul Semiconductor. We also have the next-generation of LEDs from Illumitex, our LED partner for ultra high-brightness LEDs.

The applications of LED are wide and varied and goes beyond the common person's perception of it's limited use in lights and signboards. Besides visual purposes, LEDs are also used in communication, sensors and light matter interaction. For example, LEDs are used in mobile phones, laptops, PDAs, and many electronic applications. It is also used in optic fibres for communication, optical computer mouses as movement sensors, encoders etc. More abstract uses for LED would include increasing photosynthesis in plants and destroying bacteria and viruses in water (by utilising UV LED).

The continuous research in LEDs have been largely attributed to and fuelled by the many benfits of LEDs and it's applications. In. lighting, LED lamps have significant advantages over their incandescent and fluorescent counterpartsBesides having a longer life-span of over 20000 hours (which equates to 20 years if used 3 hours a day), LED-based lights are more efficient, and hence use less electricity and produce less heat. LEDs can be dimmed at will and the colour of light produced by LEDs will not fade as easily as other types of lighting. LED lights are solid in state and hence are also more durable and shock resistant as compared to it's substitutes. Another added advantage is the fact that LED lights will not attract insects.

In summary, the benefits and advantages of using LED lights over incandescent and fluorescent lights include the following:

1. Long life span (up to 20 years)
2. Up to 80% less electricity usage
3. Less heat generated reduces air-conditioning requirements
4. Color will not fade as there are no UV rays
5. Insects will also not be attracted to LED lights as there are no UV rays
6. Durability as there are no filaments or glass components
7. Shock and impact resistance