Talk about the light-emitting diode (LED) is on the lips of most electronic manufacturers these days. In fact, LEDs were the main focus of LIGHTFAIR International 2008 – the premier conference in the lighting industry – due to the many advances made in LED lighting and technology in recent years.

With progress made in the areas of affordability, efficiency and color output, the light emitting diode is being utilized in considerably more applications than was possible just a short time ago. Manufacturers have realized the possibilities the extremely long-lasting, durable and energy-efficient LED lamps open up and are devoting considerable time and research into improving LED technology and developing advanced LED products in areas such as:

1. Healthcare, where the effects of LED lights are being tested for healing and anti-aging benefits.

2. Residential and commercial lighting, where the initial higher cost of LED lighting is regained through savings in energy efficiency and a lamp life up to 10 times that of a compact fluorescent bulb.

3. Interior design, which is exploring unique uses of the organic light-emitting diode (LED) in LED display artwork and even wallpaper.

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Keep up to date with the latest light-emitting diode (LED) news and trends articles available online

Science, technology and lighting websites are all great sources for the latest information on LED devices. Even national news websites carry general interest articles on new uses for light emitting diodes.

I recommend: ScienceDaily and Electronicstalk both provide free access to numerous fascinating articles on LED technology. Better yet, CompoundSemi Online's solid state lighting website, LIGHTimes Online, is entirely focused on LED industry news. Finally, Maximum PC's LED articles are slanted toward creative applications in consumer electronics.

Get the latest news on LED displays and more by subscribing to industry magazines

It's easy to stay current on advances in LED products by subscribing to an industry magazine. While it may slip your mind to visit websites, a magazine subscription will ensure you get the news in front of you so you don't miss out on important stories.

I recommend: Technology Review offers a bimonthly print magazine you can order by clicking on the Subscribe link at the bottom of any page on its website. Upon subscribing to the New Scientist magazine, you'll also receive full access to online articles and archives. LEDs Magazine offers PDF versions of its bimonthly print magazine completely free.

Attend conferences and events with a focus on LED signs, lighting, LED displays or technology

If you really want to be one of the first to see what's up and coming in the world of LED lamps, attend an industry conference or event. You'll see the most awe-inspiring applications at lighting shows, in particular. Plus, if you work in the electronics industry, you'll have a jump on competitive research.

I recommend: If you're interested in LED lighting, the place to be each year is LIGHTFAIR International, the world's largest lighting conference. Register early at the LIGHTFAIR International website by clicking the Register link at the top of the home page. IntertechPira hosts numerous conferences, including LED Asia and its annual LEDs event.

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• •  Many of the websites in this article offer free email newsletters containing light-emitting diode (LED) news and trends. Take advantage of these by registering your email address with your favorite websites.

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a device with exactly two electrodes that emits a narrow spectrum of incoherent light. LED displays were first used for electronic displays, but they are now becoming more common in high power applications such as area lighting and flashlights.

LED devices are more efficient than traditional sources of lighting such as incandescent bulbs. They produce more light per watt than incandescent lighting, making them especially useful for battery powered devices that need to be energy efficient. A LED display also can be more useful for colored lighting because it can emit light of the desired color without using filters. LED displays can be designed to focus their light because of the solid packaging whereas fluorescent and incandescent sources may require an external reflector to direct their light.

Three advantages of LEDs are:

1. LED lighting saves energy;
2. LED signage reduces maintenance cost;
3. LED signs have better color than neon.
   

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Buy LED lighting from approved government sources

Government purchasers must source their LED lighting needs from companies that have completed a rigorous process to become a government purchase vehicle.

I recommend: Buy flashlights from LED display vendors such as Night Vision Planet. They are a Department of Defense vendor and are listed in the Central Contractor Registration with Cage Code 41HJ0.

Reduce carbon dioxide emissions with LED displays

The reduction in energy consumption means that power plants produce less carbon dioxide, making the light-emitting diode an environmentally friendly source of lighting.

I recommend: Find a variety of environment-friendly bulbs from Earth Easy, which specializes in LED lighting. Doctor LED has multiple product lines of LED lighting for battery-powered devices.

Replace neon signs with LED signs

A comparison of the lifetime cost of ownership including initial cost, power consumption, maintenance costs and life expectancy shows that LED signage offers a significant savings over neon.

I recommend: Their precise electronic control provides an energy-efficient means of promoting a corporate identity. LED Streetlight sells LED street lights, a lighting area where these longer-lasting lights are especially useful. Signs Plus LED has a large selection of LED signs, as well as information about installation, permits and zoning. The LED Sign Company has outdoor LED lights, as well as an ROI calculator to help you determine your long-term savings over neon lights.

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• •  A light-emitting diode (LED) is categorized by its power consumption. Low-current LEDs for use in instrumentation lighting is rated for about 4 milli-watts (mW). Standard-power LEDs average around 40 mW for orange, yellow and green with blue, violet and white LEDs consuming about 100 mW. Ultra high output LEDs require much more power and are designed for lighting small objects or use in full sunlight.
• •  Multi-color LEDs are also available. A bicolor light-emitting diode uses two dice with different colors of wire in series. One color is produced by current flow in one direction and the other color is produce by current flow in the other direction.

If you do research on a light-emitting diode (LED), you'll discover that this tiny object is quite complex in nature. Simply put, a light emitting diode is a very small semiconductor that converts an electric current into visible light or infrared radiation. It is encased in sturdy plastic and has no loose parts or filament that can burn out.

Most people's knowledge of a light-emitting diode (LED) is limited to holiday LED displays, such as Christmas tree lights and outdoor displays, and LED signs. However, LED lights are all around us and can be found in wide range of LED products including:

1. Well-known applications, such as computers, peripherals, cell phones and digital clocks with an LED display.

2. Flashlights, including those that can recharge themselves with the turn of a crank, potentially lasting a lifetime.

3. LED signage on roadways, such as traffic signals and warning signs.

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Find out light-emitting diode (LED) basics from a reliable source

Your best bet is to start with an encyclopedic explanation on the basics of LED lighting. From there, you can find a number of websites explaining how LEDs function in an easy-to-understand style.

I recommend: Two websites with excellent encyclopedic descriptions of a light emitting diode are History.com and Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. In addition, Explainthatstuff.com explains diodes and LEDs, complete with images and other resources. Molecular Expressions also has a detailed, comprehensive look at the light-emitting diode (LED) and how it works.

Understand the benefits of using the light-emitting diode (LED)

In addition to their ability to be used in small devices because of their size, LEDs are preferred over traditional compact fluorescent or incandescent lamps for a number of factors including safety, durability, and efficiency.

I recommend: Learn more about the many benefits of using LED lamps at HowStuffWorks or Eartheasy. Scroll down to the bottom of the "LED Light Emitting Diode" article at the Electronics - Theory and Practice website for a list of advantages, as well as disadvantages, of using LEDs. Lastly, don't miss Light Emitting Designs' website, offering a free LED energy savings calculator and a list of LED benefits on its home page.

Discover the many uses for LEDs, including LED signs, LED displays and much more

You could probably make a long list of familiar LED products, yet this would include just a few of many devices currently utilizing LED lights, with countless more expected to come in the near future.

I recommend: EDInformatics.com has compiled a full list of known applications for light-emitting diodes with links to further information on each item. For a more down-to-earth discussion of LED uses, read The Washington Post Company's online article, "Today, CFLs. Tomorrow, LEDs?"

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• •  Because a light-emitting diode (LED) is much more environmentally safe and energy efficient than traditional light sources, you can often get more information regarding LEDs and their uses from 'green' magazines and websites.

Light-emitting diode (LED) technology has made everything from traffic lights to flashlights more efficient. Because they burn longer using less energy, they are the environmentally friendly choice. Florescent retrofits offer the chance for consumers to switch easily to LED. Emerging technology in solid-state lighting such as organic light-emitting diodes is changing many lighting applications. LED lighting can go where traditional lighting cannot, because it's smaller and requires far less power to operate.

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LED

Light-emitting diodes are small, energy-efficient semiconductors that emit narrow-spectrum light. Their color depends on the chemical used into the bulb. LEDs give off very little heat compared with fluorescent or halogen bulbs, making them safer.

I recommend: EDInformatics.com offers a look into the design and applications of light-emitting diodes.

Solid-state lighting

Solid-state lighting refers to lighting designs using LED, organic LED or light-emitting polymers rather than incandescent lights that use filaments or gases contained in glass bulbs. This technology promises to become the new standard in lighting, because it saves energy and allows lighting flexibility.

I recommend: Read more about the many benefits of solid-state lighting at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

OLED

OLEDs, or organic light-emitting diodes, are solid-state lights that use thin films of organic molecules. Small screen devices, like cameras and PDAs, already use OLEDs, but they may soon be common in larger electronics, such as high definition televisions.

I recommend: Learn how OLED works and see its future promise at HowStuffWorks.

Color Rendering Index

Color Rendering Index, or CRI, refers to how well light sources render colors. There is much question as to the accuracy of using the CRI with LEDs and how best to measure color perception.

I recommend: The solid-state lighting page sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy offers information and recommendations for using CRI with LED lighting.

Fluorescent retrofits

Florescent retrofits are LEDs made to replace florescent bulbs. They are safer and more energy-efficient without the glare and color distortion of florescent lighting.

I recommend: Check out Light Emitting Designs for more information on the benefits of florescent retrofits.

Polarity

LEDs have polarity, meaning they use both positive and negative terminals. Always consult a diagram when hooking up an LED. If you reverse the LEDs polarity, it cannot light. At higher voltages, reversing the polarity can damage the LED.

I recommend: Check out The Wolfstone Group for more information on determining LED polarity.