Light emitting diode (LED) technology has developed quickly over the last decade. Once only the familiar red dot indicating power was “on,” LEDs can now replace traditional incandescent and fluorescent lighting as our primary source of illumination.
In this role, energy efficiency and extremely long life are the key attributes. Additionally, LED’s high light output, compact size, and color variety can enable artistic expression formerly impossible with other light sources.
Looking beyond the more traditional uses, their unique spectral properties are providing research opportunities ranging from the plant growth systems being studied as part of NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems, to compact ultraviolet disinfection, and the treatment of seasonal affect disorder. But with ever-increasing device capabilities comes an accompanying need for more complex controls, drive electronics, and heat management solutions. New LED technology requires a system perspective to maximize performance and utilize its full potential.
Control possibilities
Control of LED systems often centers on the human perception of light and color. We perceive color through the combined stimulation of the cone cells in our eyes. The three types of cells present (sometimes referred to as red, green and blue receptors) are each sensitive to a particular range of colors (i.e. wavelengths of light energy). The perception of virtually any color can be achieved through the individually controlled emission of red, green and blue light (as from LEDs). This is the same principle used by each pixel in a television or monitor to display color images. When all three colors are present in the proper ratios, the perception of white light can be created. Smart control electronics can dynamically change the intensity of a system’s LED elements to create a variety of effects, moods, intensities and illumination colors.
Electronics may also control less obvious, and often invisible, aspects of system performance. Pulsed patterns of infrared LED light provide the data communication in most television remote controls and many short-distance fiber optic communication links. System interlocks may turn off ultraviolet emissions during certain operations to prevent human exposure to potentially harmful light output. A system could also actively monitor the temperature of a high-powered LED to prevent damage to the device.

More light, more power
A major trend in LED evolution has been the development of devices with increasingly higher light output. With increased output comes the need for correspondingly higher power input. To maintain system energy efficiency, an important advantage of LED-based lighting, more sophisticated switching converter drive electronics are often used to deliver the power required. This carries with it greater electronics size, complexity and cost, as well as the potential for product-level radio frequency emissions which must be controlled to meet FCC or European standards. 
Unlike incandescent light sources, which operate by literally heating a filament white hot, LEDs emit light through the recombination of charges within a semiconductor junction which is easily damaged when subjected to high temperatures. LEDs are more energy efficient than many sources, but still only a portion of the power applied is converted to light (on the order of 20 percent). The rest becomes heat which, if not managed, can destroy the device. In a large LED panel, this can amount to hundreds of watts of heat that must be removed. The cooling task is made more challenging by the small semiconductor volume in which the heat is being generated. Thermal system design will generally involve heat sinks utilizing convection, forced air, or sometimes even fluid cooling, to keep the LEDs within safe operating temperatures. Additionally, heat management solutions must also consider the power dissipated in the circuitry used to drive the higher-intensity devices. 
Iterate early and often
Prototyping of the product design in the early stages of development is strongly encouraged. Testing can confirm analyses or uncover problems while still relatively easy to fix in the many nuts-and-bolts electrical and thermal design details previously discussed. More importantly, early evaluations can be critical in refining other aspects of the system that may not lend themselves to the rigor of engineering calculations. Lighting system performance is often a subjective assessment, especially when related to color or other aesthetics, due to human perception and preference. Optical element design (i.e. the lenses, diffusers, light pipes and other mechanisms used to deliver and modify the light) also benefits from early prototyping and experimentation. Light can be tricky. Shadows, hot spots, light leaks, and non-uniformity are some of the common issues which might surface when the first systems are built.
LED technology continues to advance rapidly, most notably in the range of power and spectral outputs available. The design of new products striving to capitalize on these new capabilities needs to consider system integration implications far deeper than the simple selection of a new part.

Engineering

Electrical & Software Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Light emitting diode (LED) technology has developed quickly over the last decade. Once only the familiar red dot indicating power was “on,” LEDs can now replace traditional incandescent and fluorescent lighting as our primary source of illumination.
In this role, energy efficiency and extremely long life are the key attributes. Additionally, LED’s high light output, compact size, and color variety can enable artistic expression formerly impossible with other light sources.

From concept to manufacturing, our engineering services can get your products to market.

Services Page: Engineering (Text only)

Looking beyond the more traditional uses, their unique spectral properties are providing research opportunities ranging from the plant growth systems being studied as part of NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems, to compact ultraviolet disinfection, and the treatment of seasonal affect disorder. But with ever-increasing device capabilities comes an accompanying need for more complex controls, drive electronics, and heat management solutions. New LED technology requires a system perspective to maximize performance and utilize its full potential.
<h3>Control possibilities</h3>
Control of LED systems often centers on the human perception of light and color. We perceive color through the combined stimulation of the cone cells in our eyes. The three types of cells present (sometimes referred to as red, green and blue receptors) are each sensitive to a particular range of colors (i.e. wavelengths of light energy). The perception of virtually any color can be achieved through the individually controlled emission of red, green and blue light (as from LEDs). This is the same principle used by each pixel in a television or monitor to display color images. When all three colors are present in the proper ratios, the perception of white light can be created. Smart control electronics can dynamically change the intensity of a system’s LED elements to create a variety of effects, moods, intensities and illumination colors.
Electronics may also control less obvious, and often invisible, aspects of system performance. Pulsed patterns of infrared LED light provide the data communication in most television remote controls and many short-distance fiber optic communication links. System interlocks may turn off ultraviolet emissions during certain operations to prevent human exposure to potentially harmful light output. A system could also actively monitor the temperature of a high-powered LED to prevent damage to the device.
<h3>More light, more power</h3>
A major trend in LED evolution has been the development of devices with increasingly higher light output. With increased output comes the need for correspondingly higher power input. To maintain system energy efficiency, an important advantage of LED-based lighting, more sophisticated switching converter drive electronics are often used to deliver the power required. This carries with it greater electronics size, complexity and cost, as well as the potential for product-level radio frequency emissions which must be controlled to meet FCC or European standards.

Sometimes the simplest designs are the most difficult to get right. Here's how we approach the design of a low-information-density user interface.<a href="https://www.delve.com/insights/category/design"> </a>

Don't Miss: Developing a Product with an LED and Touch User Interface

Unlike incandescent light sources, which operate by literally heating a filament white hot, LEDs emit light through the recombination of charges within a semiconductor junction which is easily damaged when subjected to high temperatures. LEDs are more energy efficient than many sources, but still only a portion of the power applied is converted to light (on the order of 20 percent). The rest becomes heat which, if not managed, can destroy the device. In a large LED panel, this can amount to hundreds of watts of heat that must be removed. The cooling task is made more challenging by the small semiconductor volume in which the heat is being generated. Thermal system design will generally involve heat sinks utilizing convection, forced air, or sometimes even fluid cooling, to keep the LEDs within safe operating temperatures. Additionally, heat management solutions must also consider the power dissipated in the circuitry used to drive the higher-intensity devices.
<h3>Iterate early and often</h3>
Prototyping of the product design in the early stages of development is strongly encouraged. Testing can confirm analyses or uncover problems while still relatively easy to fix in the many nuts-and-bolts electrical and thermal design details previously discussed. More importantly, early evaluations can be critical in refining other aspects of the system that may not lend themselves to the rigor of engineering calculations. Lighting system performance is often a subjective assessment, especially when related to color or other aesthetics, due to human perception and preference. Optical element design (i.e. the lenses, diffusers, light pipes and other mechanisms used to deliver and modify the light) also benefits from early prototyping and experimentation. Light can be tricky. Shadows, hot spots, light leaks, and non-uniformity are some of the common issues which might surface when the first systems are built.
LED technology continues to advance rapidly, most notably in the range of power and spectral outputs available. The design of new products striving to capitalize on these new capabilities needs to consider system integration implications far deeper than the simple selection of a new part.

Services Page: Engineering

Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.delve.com/services/engineering" target="_blank">Product Development Engineering Services from Delve​.</a>

SEO Text: Engineering Services

Newsletter Signup (Formerly Digital-Physical Product Development, now General Newsletter)

12-Article-Emmerich-LED-H1

LED technology opens up a world of possibilities and some new considerations for product design.

Contact Us | General (Let's build something together)

Consumer Products

Home

Insights

A System Approach to Advanced LED Product Design

Breadcrumbs

A full-service product design and strategic innovation consultancy.

Delve

LED technology opens up a world of possibilities and some new considerations for product design.

description

generator

kSwNn6qD4B-4HloWnWMUBWQNpBx2_mPi3nMqgsh6ato

google-site-verification

world, possibilities, considerations, opens, product, technology, design

keywords

https://cms.delve.com/assets/images/_1200x630_crop_center-center_82_none/12-Article-Emmerich-LED-H1.jpg?mtime=1598898587

https://linkedin.com/company/delvedesign/

https://www.delve.com/insights/a-system-approach-to-advanced-led-product-design

referrer

robots

twitter:card

twitter:creator

twitter:description

https://cms.delve.com/assets/images/_800x418_crop_center-center_82_none/12-Article-Emmerich-LED-H1.jpg?mtime=1598898587

twitter:image

twitter:image:alt

twitter:image:height

twitter:image:width

twitter:site

twitter:title

{"title":{"title":"A System Approach to Advanced LED Product Design | Delve"}}

Get Technical

Privacy Policy

FCOI Policy

Services

Case Studies

Testimonials

What We Do

About Us

Our People

Join Our Team

Careers

Newsroom

Who We Are

Boston

Madison

Philadelphia

San Francisco

Our Studios

Partner with Delve

Contact Us

Sign Up for the Delve Newsletter

Newsletter

Contact

Vamsee Pamula, Founder &amp; President, Baebies

Read informative articles from Delve's team of experts. Discover innovative strategies and insights about product design, engineering, and development.

Delve Insights: Product Innovation & Development Blog

innovation, product, design, advice, development

https://cms.delve.com/assets/images/_1200x630_crop_center-center_82_none/Delve_titlecard.png?mtime=1654035558

https://cms.delve.com/assets/images/_800x418_crop_center-center_82_none/Delve_titlecard.png?mtime=1654035558

A System Approach to Advanced LED Product Design

A System Approach to Advanced LED Product Design

Related Insights