TECHNOLOGY REVIEW


Making connections in LED lighting


LED lighting is one of the fastest growing sectors of the electronics industry. In 2011 the market for lamps and luminaires based on LEDs grew by 69% to $9.4 billion, according to research firm Strategies Unlimited. It is expected to continue to expand at a rate of 20% annually from 2011 to 2016, with commercial and industrial lighting as the biggest growth sector. This growth trend encompasses more


than just the light sources themselves. It also means dramatic changes in the nature of the supporting electronics – not least in the connectors required to combine a number of LEDs into an integrated emitter or module, and to interface the resulting light source with power and control signals from the outside world. Although historically electronically simple,


lighting applications are, by virtue of their ubiquity, extremely diverse. This means that the components involved often have to fit two sets of design requirements: those imposed by their use in LED lighting, and those necessitated by the circumstances and environment in which the connector will be deployed. For example, a domestic LED emitter design


www.avnet-abacus.eu


typically needs to fit into an existing physical lamp configuration, presenting special size and thermal management constraints. However, a product intended for outdoor use, such as in architectural lighting, will also have to resist moisture ingress and more severe temperature fluctuations. “In a way, there is a pretty well-defined


set of design requirements for LED lighting applications,” explains Luke Smith, Product Marketing Manager at Avnet Abacus. “For instance there are commonly size constraints and cost pressures, because lighting is a market in which electronic solutions are taking over from purely electrical ones. For the same reason, simplicity is important – people expect changing a light bulb to be easy, and they believe that ease should run throughout the system. Lighting also tends to require connectors that deliver long service life and relatively few mating cycles.” But, he says, each application has its own


demands, some complementary and some conflicting. “Stage and studio lighting,” he points out, “may be rigged and de-rigged daily, requiring a connector that can survive many mating cycles.


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THE MASS MARKET: STANDARD AND LIGHTING- SPECIFIC CONNECTIVITY CHOICES In mass-market applications, the drive for LED lighting manufacturers to reduce costs is intense. This means not only that there is pressure on unit cost, but also that interconnect systems must be quick and easy to assemble and maintain in situ. Even high-efficiency LEDs dissipate substantial amounts of heat and the operating environments in which LED lighting is used can vary widely. Connectors must continue to function reliably when high temperatures are encountered for sustained periods. “The consequence,” says Luke Smith, “is


that despite the fact that lighting is seen as a relatively simple application, choosing the right connector type and construction material can be quite a challenge.” The resultant diversity of environments


and physical form factor is reflected in the designer’s wide range of choice when selecting an interconnect solution. At one end of the spectrum, standard board-to-board, wire-to- board and wire-to-wire interconnect systems may be suitable. Sometimes, manufacturers offer versions of these ranges with modifications that make them particularly suited to lighting.


focus magazine - issue 12


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