Part 6: Why did LEDs become so popular?

Surprisingly old history of LED

LED (Light Emitting Diode) is also called light emitting diode in Japanese.
LED is a lighting technology that has become rapidly popular in recent years, but it actually has a long history and was first developed in 1962.
Since then, technological innovations have continued to improve efficiency and brightness.

Early LEDs were limited to red and green light.
However, advances in technology have made it possible to emit light in a variety of colors, including blue and white.
As a result, LEDs have gained attention as a lighting option that can replace traditional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

LEDs open up new possibilities in lighting, contributing to energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
LED technology will continue to evolve, creating more efficient and higher quality light sources.

Why did LEDs become so popular?

There are several reasons why LEDs have become widely used in the lighting field.

The biggest factor behind the rapid evolution of LEDs in recent years is advances in digital technology.
The LED lights are controlled by digital signals, making it easy to adjust the color and brightness.
As a result, LEDs have come to be used in a variety of fields such as architecture, automobiles, and displays.

LEDs are characterized by lower power consumption and higher energy efficiency than traditional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.
The power consumption of LEDs is approximately two-thirds that of conventional fluorescent lights and one-eighth that of incandescent bulbs.
This makes it possible to save energy and reduce the burden on the environment.

They also have a long lifespan, which improves energy efficiency and reduces maintenance costs.
One of the main reasons why LEDs have become so popular is that they can be made into small, thin designs and flexible shapes.
This increases the degree of freedom in the design of lighting fixtures, making it possible to design them to suit a variety of lighting styles and uses.

LED not only has a great design, but also allows for easy adjustment of the emitted color, colorful light, and dimming function, making it possible to create a variety of lighting effects.
LEDs operate at low voltages, making them safer and suitable for use outdoors and in dark areas.
These benefits have made LEDs widely used in lighting, improving energy efficiency and revolutionizing lighting design.

Latest LED technology

LED technology is rapidly evolving, and the latest trends are focused on high efficiency, high brightness, and improved color rendering.
[*] Color rendering: An index that indicates the accuracy of color reproduction of natural light when an object is illuminated with light, and the average color rendering index (Ra) is generally used.

High efficiency

Recent research and development has improved the luminous efficiency of LED chips, making it possible to generate more light with less power.
In addition, new materials and design improvements reduce light scattering and reflection losses, increasing efficiency.
In addition, the efficiency of light use has also been improved by developing highly efficient photon emitters and implementing effective light capture technology that utilizes nanostructures.
This has led to the spread of brighter, more energy-efficient LED lighting, contributing to energy savings and the realization of sustainable lighting solutions.

high brightness

High-efficiency LEDs use far less power to achieve the same brightness than traditional light sources like incandescent and fluorescent lights, reducing energy consumption.
High-brightness LEDs also emit more powerful light and meet a wide range of lighting needs.

Currently, the brightness of LED chips is increasing dramatically due to the adoption of new materials and improved designs.
Higher brightness LEDs are being developed, making it possible to emit brighter, more concentrated light than traditional light sources.

In addition, by applying light-capturing technologies such as microlenses and photonic crystals, we minimize light scattering and loss, achieving more efficient light emission.
Furthermore, advances in microfabrication technology have made it possible to arrange LEDs more densely, improving light concentration and brightness uniformity.

For these reasons, brighter and more powerful LED displays and lighting are being realized and used in a wide range of applications.

color rendering

Improved color rendering allows LEDs to deliver more natural color reproduction, improving lighting texture and visual experience.

Conventional LEDs tend to be biased toward a specific color gamut, and there are problems with the reproducibility of red and blue in particular.
However, the latest technological developments have resulted in a wider color gamut and higher Color Rendering Index (CRI).
The adoption of new phosphors and materials has made it possible to reproduce a wider range of colors, making it possible to express natural skin tones and rich colors.

Furthermore, improvements in multi-chip technology and color mixing have made it possible to combine multiple colors to create a variety of tones.
Improvements in LED color rendering are contributing to the expansion of creativity.

LEDs used in various fields

The widespread use of LED in the lighting field has brought great potential to various areas such as residential, commercial, and public facilities.

housing environment

The widespread use of LEDs in homes has led to cost reductions and reduced environmental impact due to their energy efficiency and long lifespan.
Compared to traditional incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen lamps, LEDs consume less power and emit light more efficiently, leading to savings on electricity bills.
Additionally, their long lifespan reduces the frequency of replacement, reducing maintenance costs.
Furthermore, the LED can be easily dimmed and toned, creating a comfortable lighting environment.

Commercial facility

In commercial facilities, the benefits of LED are becoming more apparent.
High-efficiency, high-brightness LEDs can evenly illuminate large spaces, making the colors of your products stand out and making them look clear.
Additionally, the color temperature of LED lighting can be adjusted, so it is possible to create a lighting effect that matches the atmosphere of the store and brand image.
Furthermore, their long lifespan and low maintenance properties reduce operating costs for commercial facilities and enable environmentally friendly management.

public facility

The benefits of LEDs are also attracting attention as a sustainable lighting solution in public facilities.
High energy efficiency and long life are essential requirements for public lighting.
The adoption of LEDs has made it possible to reduce energy consumption and simplify maintenance in public places such as street lights, road lighting, park and plaza lighting, etc.
In addition, the excellent control performance of LEDs allows the illuminance and color temperature of lighting to be adjusted according to the time and environment, providing safer and more comfortable public spaces.

automotive industry

Particularly in the automotive industry, LEDs are rapidly being introduced and are playing a major role in improving the performance and safety of lighting systems.
The introduction of LEDs has improved the brightness of automobile headlights and taillights.

LEDs are capable of high brightness output and can illuminate farther.
This allows drivers to accurately identify obstacles and other vehicles on the road, even in darkness or in bad weather.
Furthermore, the high-speed lighting and precision of LED blinking control improves the visibility of signals and warnings to other drivers, helping to prevent traffic accidents.

LEDs also offer greater freedom in vehicle design.
Compact and thin compared to traditional halogen lamps, LEDs are enabling automakers to create innovative designs and lighting signatures.
It can be said that the diverse color variations and display functions of LEDs help express the individuality of a car and enhance its brand image.

Furthermore, the low power consumption and long life of LEDs also contribute to improving vehicle fuel efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.
Reduces the load on the battery and improves fuel efficiency. Additionally, their long lifespan reduces the frequency of replacement, reducing vehicle downtime.

The introduction of LEDs in the automotive industry has brought significant advances in terms of safety, design, energy efficiency, and more.
LED technology will continue to evolve and continue to contribute to improved vehicle safety and sustainability.

Smart home & smart city

LED light plays an important role in smart homes and smart cities.
First, it is highly energy efficient.
Since LEDs consume less power than conventional lighting equipment, they can be expected to contribute to an eco-friendly environment through energy-saving effects.

Since the color and brightness of LEDs can be adjusted, the atmosphere of the lighting can be changed depending on the user's preference and situation.
Smart homes can also automate these adjustments to provide a comfortable living space.

Another important factor is the long lifespan of LEDs.
LEDs generally have a longer lifespan than incandescent or fluorescent lights, which reduces the need for regular replacement and maintenance.
Smart cities are implementing large-scale LED lighting systems, with long-life LEDs offering significant cost and efficiency benefits.

Controllability of LEDs is also important in smart homes and smart cities.
By digitally controlling LEDs and linking them with the smart home's central control system, we are able to automate lighting, link with sensors, and set timings. This makes it possible to realize a variety of functions such as power savings and enhanced security.

The role of LEDs is becoming increasingly important in smart homes and smart cities.
By taking full advantage of the benefits of LEDs, such as energy savings, customizability, long life, and controllability, we can create a more comfortable and sustainable future.

design

LEDs are also seeing innovative evolution in design.
Traditional LEDs were large and awkwardly shaped, but modern technology has made LEDs more compact and slim.
This allows designers to pursue designs with greater freedom.

In addition, by applying flexible materials and curved surfaces, LEDs with shapes that follow curves and surfaces have been developed, making more sophisticated designs possible.
The evolution of customization and modularization of LEDs has also made it possible to combine LEDs of different shapes and sizes.

This has made it possible to create more individually adjustable designs for lighting fixtures, displays, etc., and to pursue uniqueness and creativity.

The evolution of LEDs has also expanded the diversity of lighting designs.

LEDs are small and thin, making them suitable for flexible design and integration.
It also provides an excellent solution in architecture and interior design, where lighting is used as part of the atmosphere and art of a space.
You can expand your range of creative expression by changing colors and shapes, producing light, etc.

The evolution of LEDs offers design versatility that combines functionality and aesthetics, expanding design possibilities in the field of lighting and display technology.


summary

The spread of LEDs is expected to continue accelerating in the future.
Continuous technological innovation is expected to further improve efficiency and open up new application areas.
Examples include the development of smart lighting systems and the evolution of automatic dimming and control systems in conjunction with artificial intelligence (AI).

The spread and evolution of LEDs is having a major impact on our lives and the environment.
The benefits of LEDs are wide-ranging, including energy savings, high-quality light, diverse design possibilities, and contributions to sustainability.
As LED technology continues to advance and become more widespread, we are sure to realize even higher quality lighting environments.




Written by: BARREL Editorial Department
Supervised by: Yuki Oe (Lecturer, Department of Lifestyle Design, Faculty of Human Culture, University of Shiga Prefecture)
Lecturer at the University of Shiga Prefecture, Faculty of Human Culture (Department of Lifestyle Design).
She specializes in architectural environments, light environments, lighting environments, and color environments.
She is a member of the Architectural Institute of Japan/Illumination Institute of Japan.
After completing her doctoral course at Nara Women's University Graduate School of Humanities, she worked in technology planning at Sharp.
She worked as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Science and Technology at Tokyo University of Science and as a part-time lecturer at Osaka Jonan Women's Junior College before reaching her current position.