OSRAM Opto Semiconductors has added three colors to its TOPLED Black Series 60° beam angle portfolio and now offers all five colors with a 30° beam angle. “This means that we have the broadest portfolio of ‘black’ LEDs on the market and can cover a wide range of applications”, said Product Manager Sven Weber.

The LEDs are particularly suitable for monochromatic and multicolor displays, such as those in electronic  road signs, travel information displays, parking control systems and price information pillars at gas stations. The most suitable beam angle for each of these applications depends on the distance from the viewer and on local conditions. On straight roads the LEDs with a 30° beam angle are ideal, whereas the versions with a 60° beam angle are better for the curves on entrances to and exits from highways, for gas stations and for bus destination displays. The orange LED versions are intended for pedestrian lights in America and Japan.

The completely black package of the TOPLED Black Series reduces reflections considerably. The LEDs also offer high contrast so the displays have good legibility in all lighting conditions. The 30° version of the green LED offers the highest luminance available at present of 7 cd at an operating current of 20 mA.

As SMT components the LEDs are suitable for automatic handling, which means that displays can be manufactured at lower cost than with radial LED versions. The solder legs compatible with TOPLED and Power-TOPLED provide flexibility because changes in design can be easily made if required. This means that displays can be made with different luminances and beam angles on one and the same circuit board.

The small powerful LEDs in black packages are now available not only in red and yellow but also in blue, green and orange.