11 May 2011

Osram’s Brilliant-Mix concept combines white & amber LEDs for 110lm/W, 92-CRI warm-white light

Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH of Regensburg, Germany has unveiled a new ‘Brilliant-Mix’ LED concept for warm-white light, which it claims achieves 30% greater luminous efficacy (110lm/W) with a high color rendering index (CRI) of more than 90.

The new intelligent color mixing concept is based on the use of Osram Opto’s OSLON SSL LEDs in EQ-White and Amber colors, which cover a broad white spectrum of 2700–4000K. Measuring just 3mm x 3mm, the LEDs are among the smallest in the 1W class and can be closely clustered, making color mixing easier and also improving the optical design at system level, claims the firm. Depending on the required luminous flux, a different number of LEDs can be combined to produce warm-white light of high quality for general illumination applications.

The main applications for the new concept include high-quality lighting solutions for residential and commercial premises such as shops and offices. The high quality of light is based on the combination of a pleasant warm tone and very high color rendering properties. Osram Opto says that the high color rendering index (CRI) ensures that colors and skin tones appear in artificial light as naturally as they do in normal daylight. Test colors R9 (saturated red) and R13 (skin colors) are crucial for the natural rendering of red and skin tones. With CRIs of 78 and 98 respectively, the LEDs have much higher values than most conventional light sources. The typical value for the general color rendering index Ra (averaged sum of test colors R1 to R8) is 92 at a color temperature of 2700K.

The luminous efficacy is also exceptionally high at more than 110lm/W. For a comparable color temperature and comparable CRI, that is 30% higher than warm-white LEDs that produce white light using the principle of phosphor conversion. Even in a retrofit lamp system, the concept can achieve 100lm/W at system level, reckons Osram Opto.

To help users to select and order the appropriate LEDs, Osram Opto has developed a logistical module concept. “Planning and implementing LED lighting systems requires an immense amount of calculation, so we are relieving our customers of this tiresome task,” says Christian Neugirg, business development manager SSL at Osram Opto Semiconductors. “Customers simply have to tell us the light color, the temperature of the board and the luminous flux they want to achieve, and our logistical module concept then works out which LEDs and how many need to be ordered to meet these requirements perfectly,” he adds.

Osram Opto also offers application support for selecting the correct electronic control. Lamp and luminaire manufacturers hence have new opportunities to create LED lighting solutions with warm-white light and high brightness levels, says Osram Opto.

The Brilliant Mix concept has already been implemented by Osram Opto Semiconductors’ parent lighting firm Osram in its Parathom Pro Classic A 80 LED lamp and in its PrevaLED (a new LED directional light modular system).

Tags: Osram LEDs

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