The future appears bright for LED lighting as cur-

rent trends support the numerous advantages LED

holds over other lighting technologies. Today’s

highly competitive global lighting market is driven

by demand for energy-eciency, advanced con-

trols, cost savings, and potential health beneﬁts, all

of which are oered by light-emitting diode (LED)

technology. LED adapts to a wide range of appli-

cations, including commercial, industrial, and resi-

dential uses. As demand for LED continues to

grow, individual lighting manufacturers will need to

distinguish their products’ reputation for superior

quality and safety through industry standard tests.

To better understand the nature of the LED

market and the need for product testing, it

helps to know the parts that go into each LED

product. Each LED product begins as a semi-

conductor wafer. Metal contacts are added to

the wafer, as well as an LED driver, which regu-

lates power to an LED or series of LEDs. Heat

sinks are typically added to dissipate heat cre-

ated by the light-generating semiconductor.

Finally, an LED reﬂector located over the LED

alters the beam.

Testing of LEDs is carried out on both individual

components (e.g., substrates, drivers, ballast,

shells) and ﬁnished goods. Testing takes place

at various stages throughout the production

process, from the research and development

(R&D) stage to product manufacturing. Testing

parameters vary for each stage of the process,

with the strictest parameters applied during the

manufacturing stage. Finally, every LED lighting

product is stress-tested before it reaches the

customer.

Illuminating the Trend in

Lighting

LED Product Anatomy

TIME

TRADITIONAL

LIGHTING

LED

LIGHTING

GROWTH

Heat Sink

Driver

LED Substrates

Lens

eecextech.com