Solid-state lighting (SSL) is an innovation in lighting that utilizes light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), or polymer light-emitting diodes (PLED) as sources of illumination rather than electrical filaments or gas.
Solid-state lighting has the potential to revolutionize the lighting industry. The most widely used sources of artificial illumination are incandescent and fluorescent lamps, but this is about to change: Solid-state lighting (SSL) devices promise to replace conventional light sources, with impressive economic and environmental savings. By the year 2020, electricity used for lighting may be cut by 50%, sparing the atmosphere 28 million metric tons of carbon emission annually.
Not only will SSL lead to energy and environmental savings, but it will change the way we think about lighting. SSL devices are vibration and shock resistant, and exceptionally long-lived. They will allow for a wide variety of lighting, including artificial lighting similar to natural daylight. Moreover, with appropriate circuitry, the color and intensity of the lighting can be controlled. Because SSL devices can be coupled to light pipes, light may be flexibly and efficiently distributed. SSL devices also offer interesting design possibilities--they can be manufactured as flat packages of any shape that can be placed on floors, walls, ceilings, or even furniture.
SSL devices for white lighting are already being used in certain cost-insensitive jobs. Examples of such uses include illumination for equipment subject to strong accelerations and lighting of objects where space is at a premium, like glove compartments. White LEDs are also used for such special applications as providing nighttime lighting for the text frieze inside the dome of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.
Illuminated channel letters and light box signs have become the most commonly used type of electrical signs. Channel letters have deep sidewalls with recessed light sources. Box signs utilize a recessed light source to illuminate a translucent front surface made of plastic or glass.
Channel letters and light box signs commonly use Neon, fluorescent or LEDs as their light
source. Unlike neon and fluorescent light sources, LEDs are solid state devices that have no filaments and glass parts to break. LED assemblies provide sign companies a versatile ready-to-use light source, reducing sign installation and maintenance cost. LED lit signs provide longer product life and increase efficiency of brightness, minimizing long term maintenance cost.
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