The Swiss company Forster Rohner AG with its business unit Textile Innovations uses PointLEDs from Osram Opto Semiconductors to make its textiles shine. The products range from curtains with integrated LEDs to lamp shades and haute couture. The PointLED's round shape blends in ideally with the textile materials. This new, extraordinary area of application proves once more that there are hardly any limits to the small light emitting diode's versatility, and that they can be used for more than just general, industrial or automotive lighting.

Forster Rohner e-broidery® technology represents a new dimension in the design of textile surfaces with active lighting. (LEDinside/Osram)

Round, compact, through-hole assembly

The most obvious difference between PointLEDs and conventional SMT-LEDs is their round package. That is how the LEDs can be fitted perfectly into standard holes on the smallest of printed circuit boards. Perfect, flat through-hole assembly. That means that the LED package disappears in the printed circuit board and does not protrude from the surface the way it does with conventional LED components. This creates an even surface where further components such as light guides, controls or a keyboard can easily be mounted or connected. In terms of assembly, Osram PointLEDs are extremely flexible, however, and can also be applied using standard surface mount technology (SMT), in addition to through-hole assembly. They have also been specifically developed for applications with limited available space, which is why the package diameter is only 2 mm and the total height 0.775 mm. The reflector itself is only 0.5 mm high and can therefore be ideally integrated into thin printed circuit boards too, or textiles in this case.

New technology enables seamless integration of LEDs into textiles

Using specially developed e-broidery® technology, Forster Rohner Textile Innovations can seamlessly embed Osram PointLEDs in fabrics. The company succeeded in implementing the first industrial production process for integrating active lighting in textiles without trading off basic features such as wash resistance, surface feel or drapability. At the same time, the integrated LEDs face particular challenges. “Obviously the textiles designed by Forster Rohner will be washed at some point. PointLEDs are extremely robust though, have a long lifespan, and are also suitable for extensive outdoor use,” says Thomas Brandes, Project Manager at Osram Opto Semiconductors. “In addition, they come in a variety of colors, and Forster Rohner makes good use of these colors.”

The first Forster Rohner products with integrated Osram PointLEDs have recently become available. They are used in various areas of application – in interior and fashion design and as advertising textiles.