Philips Lumileds is continuing its focus in the mid-power LED sector this year with the launch of four new mid-power LED products in March 2014. Sean Zhou, Regional Marketing Director, Asia of Philips Lumileds talks to LEDinside about the company’s latest developments in this field.

Q. How is Philips mid-power LEDs different from others on the market?

Zhou: Philips Lumileds is the only company that uses hot color targeting technology in mid-power LEDs. This is currently a major highlight in our mid-power LED product portfolio as it guarantees consistent lighting color, and more accurate color coordinate results under operation conditions of 85 degrees Celsius. The color control technology works by presetting the component color at cooler temperatures so it will reach the desired color coordinate under high temperatures.

Q. Why is Philips Lumileds focusing on color technology?

Zhou: We are focusing on color technology because of client demands. It has been much easier for our clients to estimate flux performance changes under different temperatures (cold to hot), but it has been difficult for them to obtain and project color changes. This is mainly because there are huge differences in the direction of color coordinates, and not all suppliers are willing to offer statistics. Currently, mid-power LEDs are mostly applied in indoor lighting, which has higher lighting quality demands, especially in terms of LED color uniformity and stability.

Q. Is the new hot color targeting concept the same as the previously proposed hot color binning at 85 degrees Celsius by your company?

Zhou: There is a major difference between hot color testing and binning at 85 degrees Celsius, hot color binning, and hot color targeting. With hot color testing and binning at 85 degrees Celsius you are testing components flux, VF and color under 85 degrees Celsius. In contrast, hot color binning just bins component colors under 85 degrees Celsius, and hot color targeting refers to the component reaching a specific color coordinate under high temperatures of 85 degrees Celsius.

Q. Can you please tell us a bit more about Philips Lumileds special color binning method? Is this a combination of ANSI Bin and SDCM? 

Zhou: Our more specific color binning method combines McAdam ellipse within ANSI BIN to achieve 1/9 ANSI color binning. Currently, most of Philips Lumileds mid-power LED products are MacAdam ellipse of 3-step or 5-step, we will be launching more products this month with these features. At the moment, our LUXEON Z ES has reached 1-step zone for MacAdam ellipse.

Q. Which Philips Lumiled products are already applying hot color targeting technology?

Zhou: Three of the new products that we are launching in March 2014 will be introduced with hot color targeting technology. They are the LUXEON 3030 2D, 3014 and 3020. 

Q. What is Philips Lumileds outlook for the mid-power LED market in 2014?

Zhou: The mid-power LED market growth will soar in 2014, especially in indoor lighting applications, which includes retrofit bulbs, down lights, troffers and others. Philips Lumileds new mid-power LED products launched in March, LUXEON 3535 HV, LUXEOn 3014, and LUXEON 3030 2D are targeting tube LED, A-lamp and troffer applications. We will also be testing mid-power applications in certain outdoor applications high bay and low bay lighting applications. Technology advancements have introduced new materials that have improved mid-power LED performances, especially better lighting quality.