Lumileds targets automotive sector

04 Mar 2005

Lumileds and Agilent have developed a range of mid-power devices that combines both parties' LED technology.

Agilent Technologies and Lumileds Lighting have launched a new range of low-cost, mid-power LEDs designed primarily for exterior lighting of automobiles.

The red, red-orange and amber surface-mount LEDs, dubbed the “Envisium” range, combine high-performance transparent-substrate (TS) AlInGaP chips from Lumileds with standard plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC) packages from Agilent.

Agilent’s existing PLCC LEDs typically emit up to 200 mW power, while Lumileds’ devices operate at 1 W and above.

In the Envisium range, the LED die is attached within the reflector cavity, and this cavity is encapsulated by a proprietary epoxy blend developed by Agilent.

Red LEDs in the new range emitting at 630 nm produce 630-1000 mcd luminous intensity and 2.6 lm total flux. The 617 nm red-orange devices emit 1000-1580 mcd and have a total flux of 4.3 lm, while the 592 nm amber LEDs are rated at 630-100 mcd and 3.0 lm.

As well as being useful for exterior lighting applications in cars, such as center high-mounted stoplights, front turn signals and rear combination lamps, the LEDs could also be used in interior automotive lights and general lighting and signage applications.

Agilent and Lumileds announced that they had begun working together on mid-power LED technology in July last year, and had initially expected to release the first products from the collaboration in the final quarter of 2004.

From Compound Semiconductor magazine.