August 11, 2008—Future Lighting Solutions has released the LED Reliability Tool (LRT), described as the first interactive online tool that enables lighting designers to truly predict the lifetime of LEDs in their application as a function of junction temperature and current. All the results from the LRT have a 90% confidence interval, which allows users to accurately make design tradeoff decisions such as increasing drive current or decreasing the size of the thermal management solution while reaching a target LED lifetime, says the company.
As new standards are implemented around the world for solid-state lighting solutions, explains Future Lighting, understanding the behavior of the LEDs over time in a wide range of environments will be critical. LED datasheets generally provide only a single forward current or a single junction temperature data point when publishing lifetime information. The LRT, the company says, gives designers the flexibility to select from a wide range of LED currents, junction temperatures and target lifetimes to instantly evaluate the impact of modifying these variables on the reliability of the lighting system.
The LRT can be used in combination with the existing Usable Light Tool (ULT). By leveraging both online systems, designers can maximize light output of the LED system while reaching both luminous efficacy and lifetime targets.
For more information visit the Future Lighting Solutions Web site.
