Now, thanks to new technologies for chip manufacturing, structural design (OSTAR) and beam shaping* the light output of the low-price, energy-saving LEDs has been vastly improved.
The new high-output LED modules are based on perfect synergy between solid-state physics and optics. The semiconductor components were built by OSRAM, while researchers in Jena took care of the optics.
OSRAM started developing thin-film LEDs in 1999.
The company took a major step forwards when it devised chip technology that permits the extraction of light in a single half sphere.
A novel platform for the
thin-film LEDs ensures efficient temperature management and allows all
colors of LEDs to be combined.
To use the light emitted by the LED chip
as fully as possible, a special optic for the respective application is
required and was accordingly designed and implemented by the Fraunhofer
researchers. It consists of two parts: a primary and a secondary lens.
- The primary lens collects the light emitted by the LED close to the
chip and combines it to form a beam.
- The secondary lens homogenizes the light beam.
Applications of LED Modules
- Battery-powered digital projectors.
- LED-based rear-projection TV
- Infrared LED light sources for pedestrian monitoring systems in cars,
- "OSTAR Lighting"
LED module for general illumination.
- OSTAR modules will be made standard equipment in car headlamps as of 2008.
German President Horst Köhler presented the team of OSRAM and Fraunhofer researchers with the German research award, worth €250,000, in recognition of their achievement.
This technology was developed by scientists at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors with the support of optics specialists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena.