CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

LIST OF FIGURES
1. INTRODUCTION .... …………………………………………………………….1-2
2. LED AS LIGHTING SOURCE .................................................... 3-15
2.1 Principle of operation 3
2.2 Recent developments in led lighting 3
2.3 Comparison of leds with other type of light sources 4
2.4 Types of LED 5
2.5 Considerations for use 13
2.6 IP Activity Across Past 60 years 14
3. Blue LED Technology ............................................................. 16-26
3.1 LED Technology 16
3.2 A Brief History Of Light Emitting Diode 17
(LED) Technology
3.3 Discoveries And Early Devices 19
3.4 Gallium Arsenide LED Construction 20
3.5 Commercial Development 21
3.6 Blue and White LED 23
3.7 Key Companies in LED Technology 25

ADVANTAGES OF LED’S .................................................... 27-28

DISADVANTAGES OF LED’S............................................... 29-31
APPLICATIONS OF LED’S……………………………………………….32-31
CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………….32-33
 LIST OF FIGURES

Fig 1 Incandescent and fluorescent lamp 1

Fig 2.1 Light emitting p-n junction diode 3

Fig 2.4.1 Blue LED 6

Fig 2.4.2 A schematic showing the production of white light using a

blue LED in combination with a yellow phosphor 8

Fig 2.4.4 Spectrum of a white LED 10

Fig 2.6 Publications over the years 15

Fig 3.1 Inside of LED 16

Fig 3.3 First LED 20

Fig 3.4 GaN LED and energy band diagrams 21

Fig 3.6 Illustration of Haitz's law. 23

Fig 3.6 The inner workings of an LED, showing circuit (top) and band

diagram 24

Fig 3.6.1 I-V diagram for a diode. 25