Focus on the basic concepts of LED lamps and LED light sources

Lighting fixtures are an indispensable appliance in people's daily life. Their function is to provide artificial lighting to meet the lighting needs of various places. Its traditional definition is to include all the zeros, components, and wiring accessories necessary to connect and disconnect the power source, except for the light source. The light source refers to an object that is itself emitting light and can continuously emit light.

Currently in the global "energy saving" background, LED as a new light source in various fields have a very wide range of applications, development of standards, quality assessment performance LED lighting products are currently the focus of Lighting Industry. LEDs come in a variety of forms, including LED packages, LED arrays, LED modules, LED lights, etc., which are combined with luminaires, including standard lamp heads, built-in, stand-alone and monolithic, which also result in different maintenance. Types such as light source replaceable and non-replaceable, maintainable and non-maintainable. In addition, the dazzling design and style are difficult to define by traditional methods. Especially in the definition of LED lamps and LED lights, some vague and even wrong concepts have caused confusion in the industry. It will have an adverse impact on the development of the LED lighting industry and the development and testing of standards.

In June 2010, IEC TC34 held an LED seminar in Helsinki, Finland. While discussing many technical issues, LED lighting and LED lighting issues also became the focus of experts at the conference. This paper mainly introduces the latest standard information from abroad, analyzes the concept of lamps and lamps, and discusses the definition of LED lamps and LED lamps.

First, the relevant definition

1. The definition of the light source associated with the LED is the light source regardless of the LED array, LED module or LED light.

(1) Lamp: A light source made to produce optical radiation (usually visible).
Note: This term is also sometimes used for certain types of illuminators.

(2) Light Emitting Diode (LED): A pn junction semiconductor device that emits incoherent light radiation when forward biased. The emitted spectrum may be in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared wavelength region.

(3) LED die: A small piece of luminescent semiconductor material that is mounted on a given functional LED line.

(4) LED array or module: LED package (component) or wafer component on a printed circuit board or substrate, possibly with optical components, additional thermal, mechanical, and intended connection to the LED driver load Side electrical interface. The unit does not contain a power supply and a standard base. The device cannot be directly connected to the branch circuit. As shown in Figure 1.

(5) LED package: A component of one or more LED wafers including wire bonds or other types of electrical connectors, possibly with optical components, thermal, mechanical, and electrical interfaces. The unit does not include a power supply and a standard base. The device cannot be directly connected to the branch circuit. as shown in picture 2.

(6) LED driver: A device containing a power supply and an LED control circuit for the purpose of operating an LED package (component), or an LED array (module) or LED.

(7) LED lamp (non-integrated): A component containing an LED array (module) or an LED package (component) and a standard lamp cap. The unit is intended to be connected to the LED driver of the luminaire via a standard lamp holder. The device cannot be directly connected to the branch circuit. As shown in Figure 3.

(8) LED lamp (integrated): Contains an LED package (component) or LED array (module), LED driver, standard lamp holder and other integral combinations of luminosity, thermal, mechanical and electrical components. The device is intended to be directly connected to the branch circuit by a standardized lamp holder. As shown in Figure 4.

(9) LED light engine: Contains an overall combination of LED packages (components) or LED arrays (modules), LED drivers, and other luminosity, thermal, mechanical, and electrical components. The device is connected directly to the branch circuit through a conventional connector that matches the LED luminaire, which is designed to not use a standard lamp holder.

2. Definition of lamps and LED lamps

(1) The luminaire given in GB 7000.1-2007 is defined as “an appliance that can distribute, illuminate or convert one or more lamps and includes all the components necessary to support, secure and protect the lamp (but Does not include the lamp itself, as well as the necessary circuit aids and the means to connect them to the power supply." The definition also comes with a note that "an illuminator with an integral non-replaceable light source is considered a luminaire, but not a monolithic The light source and the integrated self-ballasted lamp are tested."

(2) The definition of "LED luminaire" in "ANSI/IESNA RP-16-05 Lighting Engineering Names and Definitions" includes LED-based illuminating components and matched drivers, as well as light distribution components, fixed and protective illuminators. A component of the component and a complete lighting fixture that connects the appliance to the branch circuit component. Possible forms of LED-based lighting elements are LED packages (components), LED arrays (modules), LED light engines or LED lights. The LED luminaire is intended to be connected directly to the branch circuit. An example of an LED luminaire is shown in Figure 5.

A non-integrated LED lamp is an LED module or array without an LED driver that needs to be connected to the branch circuit through a lamp cap in the luminaire. This luminaire should contain the LED driver required for the operation of the non-integrated LED lamp. Non-integrated LEDs, etc. cannot directly replace incandescent or CFL lamps.

7. The LED light engine is a device between the LED luminaire and the LED illuminator. The difference from the LED illuminator is that it does not contain a standard lamp cap, but instead has a connector that matches the luminaire. The difference from the LED luminaire is that it cannot be directly connected to the branch circuit. The same point as the luminaire can have a set light distribution function, such as a unique road light distribution. The LED light engine makes maintenance of LED luminaires without standard lamp head LEDs maintainable.

Third, it is easy to be mistaken as a light source

1. Certain types of "lighting fixtures" are customarily called "lights"

From the definition of lamps and lamps, it can be known that in general, "light" refers to the light source, and various types of lamps are named after the physical principle of illumination, such as incandescent lamps, high pressure sodium lamps, metal halide lamps, fluorescent lamps, ultraviolet lamps. , electroluminescent lamps, tungsten halogen lamps, etc., the naming and classification of lamps is not related to the application site and the lamps used; and "lighting" refers to the illuminator, which includes the accessories and circuits required to illuminate the light source. The optical components that are redistributed by the light source to meet the application requirements, and the assembly of the components required for the installation, fixing, and adjustment of the lamps. The classification and naming of the lamps are related to the installation method or the place or purpose of the design, such as fixed type. Ceiling lamps, portable table lamps, portable floor lamps, road lighting, tunnel lighting, patio lighting, floodlights and emergency lighting, etc.

But as the "note" in the definition of "light", the term "light" is sometimes used in some types of illuminators. Perhaps because of the habitual relationship, many people refer to “road lighting” as “street light” and “ceiling surface mounted light fixture” as “ceiling light”, but the street light and ceiling light here are not light sources, but Road lighting fixtures and ceiling mounted luminaires.

2. Light source that cannot be replaced by a light source belongs to a light fixture

From the definition of the luminaire, it can be known that the "lighting fixture" mentioned in the lighting electrical standard does not involve the type of the light source, that is to say, in the evaluation of the luminaire and the inspection carried out thereof, only the relevant components or environment for providing the normal working of the light source are evaluated. The light source itself is not evaluated or tested.

Because it is a durable consumer product, the design life of the luminaire is much longer than the light source, so the light source inside the luminaire is usually a replaceable component.

With the gradual extension of the life of the light source, the change of the way of fixing the light source, and the reduction of the durability requirements of the luminaire, some luminaires are designed such that the light source is irreplaceable, that is, once the light source is damaged, the luminaire is scrapped. According to the definition of "lighting fixture" according to the terminology standard of lighting electrical appliances and the standard of luminaire, the lighting fixture which is irreplaceable by such light source still belongs to the luminaire. For lamps that are not replaceable with light sources, in addition to the irreplaceable light source, the photometric design according to the application requirements, the circuits and accessories required to illuminate the lamps, and the fixtures for fixing the lamps are exactly the same as the lamps of the light source . Yes, the lamp holder may not be used in a lamp that is not replaceable by the light source, and the mechanical fixing and electrical connection of the light source are respectively performed by the mechanical fixing device and the light source connector.

Before LEDs are used in lighting, there are already examples of luminaires that use non-replaceable light sources. Typical nightlights, such as power sockets, are replaceable and non-replaceable, but they are all luminaires. The safety standard for illuminating nightlights is GB7000.212-2008 "Lamps Part 2-12: Night Lights for Special Requirements Power Socket Installation".

With the advent of high-power ultra-high-brightness LEDs, the application field of LED has been greatly expanded. Nowadays, it has a wide range of applications in entertainment, urban building beautification, landscape lighting, etc., and is developing towards indoor lighting applications. For the designers of lamps and lamps, the concept and definition of LED lamps and LED lamps are clear, which helps them to identify the design input and make the products meet the corresponding requirements. It is the correct definition of product standards for lighting appliance standardization workers. The scope and basis for the development of the corresponding technical requirements, but also the basic guarantee for the correct application of standards by the inspection agency. 

WOSEN is a professional manufacturer and supplier of Led Flood Light, Led Street Light, Led Solar Light, etc. For more information, please visit https://www.wosenled.com/ or contact admin@wosenled.com or WhatsApp +86-13425434349

Fourth, the reference

[1] ANSI/IESNA RP-16-05 Addendum b, Nomenclature and Definitions for Illuminating
Engineering
[2] GB/T 24826-2009 LED and LED module terms and definitions for general lighting