Avionics News February 2017 - 26

the application. As noted previously, LEDs offer many
benefits compared to incandescent and fluorescent
illuminating devices, including:
*	 High efficiency: Most of the power supplied to an
LED or IRED is converted into radiation in the
desired form, with minimal heat production.
*	 Long life: When properly installed, an LED or
IRED can function for decades.
*	 Best of all, at least for the purpose of this story,
low power consumption.

TAKE A LOAD OFF

Continued from page 25

revolutionized illumination solutions in every walk of life
- outside, inside, and everywhere in between.
LEDs provide the individual pixels in computer
displays - like those we fly behind in EFIS systems
- as well as the lighting source to make switches and
annunciator panels light up.
They've made their way into automobile, truck and
motorcycle lights - head to tail, turn signals, brake lights
Where can we use LEDs?
- and are now available for virtually every need on an
Start with landing and taxi lights
aircraft.
One of the light sources fabled for its high power draw
According to TechTarget.com, an LED is a cousin to
and short lifespan is the landing light typically used in
the transistor - a semiconductor that emits visible light
general aviation aircraft. Perhaps the most-common is
when an electric is applied to it. While the light is not
the GE 4509, rated for 100 watts.
particularly bright, newer designs
And there's the halogen alternative
provide light enough to service
in the same PAR36 form factor. It's
in some of the most-demanding
brighter - but still uses 100 watts.
roles in human life.
AS MANUFACTURERS
And 50-watt halogen options offered
Most LEDs are monochromatic
CONTINUE TO REFINE
illumination equal to the 4509, but on
in their light output - that is, the
AND PERFECT THEIR
only 50 watts.
light produced occurs at a single
The halogens offered slightly better
wavelength. An LED's output
LED OPTIONS, PRICES
lifespan
- about 50 hours versus 25
can be set in the design and
WILL CONTINUE TO
typical of the incandescent 4509
production process, resulting in
FALL AND OPTIONS
original.
visible light ranging from red - at
SHOULD
CONTINUE
TO
Today, multiple LED options exist
a wavelength of approximately
EXPAND FOR WAYS TO
for both landing and taxi light roles
700 nanometers - to blue-violet,
in the standard formats. In fact,
with a wavelength of about 400
LED landing and taxi lights exist for
nanometers.
virtually every size and application,
LEDs capable of producing
right up into business-turbine and
infrared are used in many roles,
commercial aircraft.
including as a way to identify
The latest LED models benefits
friendly personnel on a nighttime
parallel the known advantages of
battlefield by allies using nightLEDs in general. The new designs
vision devices.
produce brighter, whiter light -
Because of the specific output
exceeding the light output of the
of LEDs, their use as runway and taxiway lights has
halogen and incandescent options - while consuming a
included a component LED that can be seen by nightfraction of the electrical power required of the prior bulbs.
vision goggles and enhanced-vision systems sensors.
Then there's lifespan. None of the aircraft owners
Mechanically, an LED is made up of two elements
contacted to inquire about their experiences with LED
of processed material called P-type semiconductors and
landing and taxi lights had used them long enough to
N-type semiconductors. These two elements are placed in
have one fail. But all offered the same insight: The
direct contact, forming a region called the P-N junction.
LED versions already lasted longer than the bulbs they
In this respect, the LED resembles most other diodes. But
replaced. For one aircraft owner, LED replacements had
there are important differences.
been flying so long that the old bulbs would have already
The LED has a transparent package, allowing visible or
infrared energy to pass through. Also, the LED or IRED
has a large P-N junction area whose shape is tailored to
Continued on page 28

REDUCE THE
ELECTRICAL LOAD
ON AIRCRAFT
SYSTEMS.

26

avionics news

*

february

2017


http://www.TechTarget.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News February 2017

No label
Avionics News February 2017 - Intro
Avionics News February 2017 - No label
Avionics News February 2017 - Cover2
Avionics News February 2017 - 1
Avionics News February 2017 - 2
Avionics News February 2017 - 3
Avionics News February 2017 - 4
Avionics News February 2017 - 5
Avionics News February 2017 - 6
Avionics News February 2017 - 7
Avionics News February 2017 - 8
Avionics News February 2017 - 9
Avionics News February 2017 - 10
Avionics News February 2017 - 11
Avionics News February 2017 - 12
Avionics News February 2017 - 13
Avionics News February 2017 - 14
Avionics News February 2017 - 15
Avionics News February 2017 - 16
Avionics News February 2017 - 17
Avionics News February 2017 - 18
Avionics News February 2017 - 19
Avionics News February 2017 - 20
Avionics News February 2017 - 21
Avionics News February 2017 - 22
Avionics News February 2017 - 23
Avionics News February 2017 - 24
Avionics News February 2017 - 25
Avionics News February 2017 - 26
Avionics News February 2017 - 27
Avionics News February 2017 - 28
Avionics News February 2017 - 29
Avionics News February 2017 - 30
Avionics News February 2017 - 31
Avionics News February 2017 - 32
Avionics News February 2017 - 33
Avionics News February 2017 - 34
Avionics News February 2017 - 35
Avionics News February 2017 - 36
Avionics News February 2017 - 37
Avionics News February 2017 - 38
Avionics News February 2017 - 39
Avionics News February 2017 - 40
Avionics News February 2017 - 41
Avionics News February 2017 - 42
Avionics News February 2017 - 43
Avionics News February 2017 - 44
Avionics News February 2017 - 45
Avionics News February 2017 - 46
Avionics News February 2017 - 47
Avionics News February 2017 - 48
Avionics News February 2017 - 49
Avionics News February 2017 - 50
Avionics News February 2017 - 51
Avionics News February 2017 - 52
Avionics News February 2017 - 53
Avionics News February 2017 - 54
Avionics News February 2017 - 55
Avionics News February 2017 - 56
Avionics News February 2017 - 57
Avionics News February 2017 - 58
Avionics News February 2017 - 59
Avionics News February 2017 - 60
Avionics News February 2017 - 61
Avionics News February 2017 - 62
Avionics News February 2017 - 63
Avionics News February 2017 - 64
Avionics News February 2017 - 65
Avionics News February 2017 - 66
Avionics News February 2017 - 67
Avionics News February 2017 - 68
Avionics News February 2017 - 69
Avionics News February 2017 - 70
Avionics News February 2017 - 71
Avionics News February 2017 - 72
Avionics News February 2017 - Cover3
Avionics News February 2017 - Cover4
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