All about LED Modules

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LED Modules

Welcome to International Light Technologies lens about power LED modules. Looking to use LED modules in your latest product? Need some information or module sources? This lens is full of great information about the newer high-power, high efficiency LED modules available today for a wide array of applications. We hope that you find this information useful. We also have links back to our website directly to our LED module products.

 

Who we are....

International Light Technologies represents the combined resources of Gilway Technical Lamp and International Light Corporations.

Gilway and International Light have long and proud reputations for customer service, on- time delivery, and technical expertise. Formed in 1969, Gilway Technical Lamp has provided customers with off-the-shelf and customized solutions for a full spectrum of light sources. Since 1965, International Light has been solving the inherent difficulties in light measurement through the design and manufacture of a wide range of light measuring instruments, including the most accurate light meters on the market. Their combination as International Light Technologies ensures that our customers enjoy even better light measurement, technical lighting solutions, product innovation, and unsurpassed customer support.

Are you an engineer, developer, or consumer interested in the newest LED lighting technology? Click here to visit our LED development blog for the latest insider information.

Do you work in the Architectural Lighting Industry? Are you a lighting designer, artist, engineer, or consumer interested in keeping up with and discussing the latest industry news, hot topics, and related projects from around the world? Click here to check out the Architectural Lighting Blog!

Brief LED Module Primer

LEDs are rapidly replacing traditional light sources in applications where their unique characteristics can be best put to use such as their small size, low power consumption, low self-heating, high reliability, rapid on/off cycling or dimming capabilities, and they are resistant to shock and vibration. Some LED features can also be considered disadvantages depending on the application are the narrow viewing angle, near monochromatic light, limited wavelength selection, and they require a limiting resistor with a voltage drive.

Grouping individual LEDs into modules that in turn can be grouped into larger assemblies to create high-output, flexible configuration lighting systems has revolutionized LED lighting by expanding the breadth of applications they can be adapted to. Let's get into Led modules a bit more:

What are LED modules?

LED modules typically are constructed of a series of surface-mount LEDs soldered to a copper circuit layer that is separated from the rigid base (frequently aluminum) by an electrically isolating, heat conductive dielectric material making for a very compact, durable light assembly. A dielectric is used to isolate the LED from the conductive base material because, in most cases, the back of the LED which is the heatsink area is often electrically connected to the LEDs anode or cathode. Generally, electrical interconnection is made via a removable wire connector soldered to the LED module's conductive copper layer or via wire leads. High-power LED modules, that is, LED modules made up of surface-mount LEDs with a power consumption of 1 watt or more, are the latest thing in lighting today.

What are the advantages of using LED modules?

LED modules, like the discrete LEDs they are made from, offer cool lighting with a very long life expectancy (10,000+ hours) as compared to traditional lighting like halogen bulbs. The sheer variety of available LEDs, their exceptionally small size, and the ability to widely vary the base layer shapes and sizes offers designers and engineers alike a degree of freedom when designing high-power LED modules and systems not typically available when working with more traditional lighting technologies.

Heat is a major LED module design consideration

Many people think of LED lighting as "cool" technology, both figuratively and literally and while the light output itself is thermally cool, the LED itself does, in fact, produce heat during normal operation although typically a lot less than a comparable light bulb. Color temperature-wise, LED output can be warm or cool depending on the LEDs used which is also another feature of their use over traditional lighting which tends to be warm, fluorescents excepted. All LEDs produce some amount of heat and some LEDs produce quite a bit of heat, especially true of today's high-power surface mount LEDs. Grouping today's hi-power LEDs together to increase a module's light output also increases the amount of heat that must be dealt with. Often in LED modules, the dielectric material used to insulate the conductive copper circuit layer from the aluminum base also helps to conduct heat from the back of the LEDs to the aluminum base which in these cases, acts as a heat sink. Active cooling of the base/heatsink may be employed depending on the amount of heat that must be conducted away from the heatsink. Heat management is a major concern when choosing the LEDs , dielectric properties, and base layer materials that go into LED modules.

LED Modules = Design Freedom

LED modules may be configured in a myriad of shapes and sizes including pucks (circles), rectangles, squares, flexible strips, and more dictated by the types of LEDs used, the light output characteristics required (such as lumen output, beam width, etc%u2026), and the intended applications. Lenses, light pipes, and other optics may be employed on top of the LEDs to produce particular lighting effects depending on the application. Individual LED modules can be connected together along cable either as off the shelf system with precut cable lengths or in the field during installation with specific cable sizes between modules to create a very flexible custom system of lights. LED modules can also be built with flexible base layers instead of rigid aluminum, making bendable strips of high-powered LEDs capable of being utilized in a host of low-profile, high light output requirement applications such as architectural lighting, display lighting, accent lighting, or safety lighting.

Looking for Information on Discrete LEDs?

Check out our All about Thru-hole and Surface-mount LEDs lens for a terrific primer on discrete (individual) thru-hole and surface-mount LEDs with links to our discrete LED products.

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Looking to buy LED modules?

Review our wide selection of high-quality Osram LED modules including linear lights in flexible, rigid, and dynamic RGB, hi-power, effects, and coin LED modules capable of meeting a broad range of lighting application requirements.
Backlight LED Modules
High-quality Osram LED modules excellent for backlighting applications particularly signage. Available in amber-re, yellow, true-green, blue, and orange.
Effect LED Modules
These high-quality Osram 5x2 (10 LED) colored arrays have special optics attached to narrow the viewing angle (beam size) to 4 degrees and a particularly well suited to architectural lighting applications such as facade illumination. Available in yellow-amber, blue-green, and blue.
Marker LED Modules
These high-quality Osram LED modules designed for many general illumination applications are available in various square, circular, and rectangular sizes in a variety of colors such as red-orange, yellow-amber, green, blue, and white (phosphor on blue).
Linear Lights, Rigid LED Modules
These very popular, high-quality Osram LED modules are a rigid-based, rectangular array that is field trimmable to fit almost any lighting application. These high-flux LED modules are available in amber-red, yellow, true green, blue, orange, and white (phosphor on blue). Effects optics are also available to increase intensity and narrow the viewing angle.
Linear Lights, Flexible Top-View LED Modules
These high-quality Osram LED modules are built on a flexible base and consist of 600 high-flux top-view LEDs. These field-trimmable LED modules are perfect for cove lighting, pathway marking, display case lighting, edge lighting, and many other linear lighting applications. Available in red, green, blue, tru green, white (phosphor on blue), and yellow. Also available in shorter, precut strips (10 LEDs).
Linear Lights, Flexible Side-View LED Modules
These high-quality Osram LED modules are built on a flexible base and consist of 600 high-flux side-view LEDs. These field-trimmable LED modules are perfect for cove lighting, pathway marking, display case lighting, edge lighting, and many other linear lighting applications. Available in red, green, blue, tru green, white (phosphor on blue), and yellow. Also available in shorter, precut strips (10 LEDs).
Linear Lights, RGB Rigid & Flex
These innovative rectangular LED modules from Osram contain individual LEDs that are made up of separately powered red, green, and blue chips in one package. This allows an almost infinite choice of colors including white! Colors may be automatically cycled for dramatic lighting effects through the use of an available sequencer. Available in a 30 LED rigid and 200 LED flexible module.
Coin, Top-view LED Modules
These small high-quality Osram circular LED modules consist of 9 high-flux, top-view LEDs and are particularly well suited to machine luminaire, spot lighting, and path marking applications.Available in red-orange, yellow-amber, green, and blue. Approximately 33 mm in diameter.
Coin, Side-view LED Modules
These small high-quality Osram circular LED modules consist of 9 high-flux, side-view LEDs and are particularly well suited to machine luminaire, spot lighting, and path marking applications.Available in red-orange, yellow-amber, green, and blue. Approximately 33 mm in diameter.
High-Power LED Modules
These high-quality circular or rectangular Osram LED modules are made of high-power, bright white (5400 and 6500 K) LEDs. Rectangular "tape" modules can be field trimmed to suite almost any linear lighting application requiring low-profile, high-output fixtures. Circular "puck" modules are perfect for spotlighting applications.

Want more information on...?

Miniature Lamps
Need a light source the size of an LED but with higher output? Miniature Lamp lighting from International Light Technologies.
Halogen Lamps
Bright Halogen Lamps from ILT. Wide spectral output range; UV, Visible, and IR available.
LED Lighting
High efficiency LED lighting from ILT. Available in many sizes and colors.
NDIR Gas Sensors
Visible Infrared lamps from International Light Technologies are perfect for use with Infrared Gas Sensors. Several options of leads, life hours, and sizes.
Neon Lamps
Standard and high brightness neon lamps from International Light Technologies. Several colors and sizes available.
Illumaled Under Cabinet Lighting
Sleek new LED under cabinet lighting from International Light Technologies. Thinner and more efficient than halogen with a 50,000 hour lifetime.

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