What Color Is My LED?

Scott Jennato and Greg McKee

Just about everyone is familiar with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) from their use as indicator lights and numeric displays on consumer electronic devices. Beyond that, low light output and lack of color options have limited the application of LED lamps for some time.

Recent advances in the development of LEDs, however, have resulted in greater intensities and a broader selection of available colors, including "white light." Combining these advantages with luminous efficacies greater than incandescent and fluorescent lamps, durability, and small size and weight, LED lamps have become an ideal source for many new applications…