LEDs shine brighter for street-side displays

An Omron Electronics product story

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Jan 10, 2003

New LED technology from Omron allows traffic lights and street signs to be built using half the number of LEDs than would previously be required.

New LED technology from Omron allows traffic lights and street signs to be built using half the number of LEDs than would previously be required, with consequent savings in construction and operating expenses.

The new technology, which is currently being evaluated by street signal manufacturers, potentially makes LEDs a viable alternative to halogen, in particular - and is highly attractive for solar and battery powered installations.

New Omron DR-LED achieves twice the brightness leading to a twofold increase in efficiency compared with conventional LEDs, allowing new generations of traffic and other street-side signals to offer the same or higher brightness levels at potentially half the power.

By using half the number of LEDs, the number of components within the light system can also be substantially reduced, contributing to a significant reduction in manufactured cost.

Omron DR-LEDs also allow extremely accurate control of beam strength in the horizontal and vertical directions, allowing lamp manufacturers to improve visibility of signals to appropriate road users.

LED lamps also deliver enhanced reliability and longevity, lower current consumption and faster turn-on time compared to filament and gas-filled lamp types.

The extremely high lifetime of an LED, at 100kh, is also independent of the number of times the lamp is operated, allowing the costs of maintenance to be reduced.

Omron's new LEDs feature a specially designed surface reflective mirror that exploits internal reflection to maximise light output for high brightness and efficiency.

Together with an integral resin lens element that further enhances beam directivity control, DR-LEDs are ideal for applications requiring high visibility.

These also include roadside or overhead gantry-mounted road traffic signals and many other interior or exterior signs, indicators and illuminations.