The UV LED market is poised for growth as UV LED power increases make the LEDs an attractive replacement for mercury vapor UV lights. Applications such as materials curing, fraud and counterfeit detection, and cosmetics currently rely on bulky glass tube UV lights. SemiLEDs‘ new series of 3020 PLCC UV LEDs and 5mm through-hole lamp type UV LEDs enable higher performance in compact, lower-power cost-sensitive appplications for the consumer and retail markets. Both products are available in wavelengths between 365nm – 425nm with typical output power 5-15mW at 20mA, with power dependent on wavelength.
The 3020 PLCC product series features high output power densities in a well distributed light pattern, suited for tube replacement applications.
The 5mm through-hole lamp type series is designed with a 20 – 30 degree beam angle for applications that require more directed and concentrated light in a smaller surface area, such as counterfeit detection and cosmetics apps.
This table gives a general range of wavelengths and power for UV-A and UV-B applications:
| Application | Mode | Total Wattage | Wave length |
|---|---|---|---|
| UV Curing, Inkjet, Counterfeit detection, Cosmetic | Discrete | 1-3W | 390-420 nm |
| UV Curing, Inkjet, Counterfeit detection, Cosmetic | Discrete | 5-10W | 390-420 nm |
| UV Curing, Inkjet, Counterfeit | Discrete | 1-3W | 390-420 nm |
| UV Curing, Inkjet, Counterfeit | Discrete | 1-3W | 365-375 nm |
These new LEDs fall into the UV-B range of ultraviolet light. For more on UV ranges, read UV LED power levels for lab units hit 35 – 80 mW, target water purification.
“Wattage”?