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Why does an LED have to be a diode?
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I know LED stands for Light Emitting Diode; but why does this component need to be a diode to emit light?
My question assumes that the "leds" we see everywhere (for lighting, screens, etc) are actually diodes -- this assumption might be wrong.
led diodes light
asked 3 hours ago
noamtm
1115
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up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I know LED stands for Light Emitting Diode; but why does this component need to be a diode to emit light?
My question assumes that the "leds" we see everywhere (for lighting, screens, etc) are actually diodes -- this assumption might be wrong.
led diodes light
asked 3 hours ago
noamtm
1115
New contributor
noamtm is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Welcome to EE.SE! Find out everything you need to get started by taking a 2-minute tour (electronics.stackexchange.com/tour).
– F.Ahmed
3 hours ago
1
There were times the light sources were never LEDs. To your question: What is called LED is LED. If someone is calling LED something that is not a LED, they are wrong.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
1
It doesn't have to be an LED to emit light, however it does have to be a diode to be a light emitting diode.
– Robert Fay
3 hours ago
2
your question is a bit unclear .... it looks like you are asking something else .... you should simply askWhy does an LED have to be a diode?
– jsotola
3 hours ago
2
There are also light emitting capacitors (commonly called EL-wire) and light emitting resistors (commonly called incandescent light bulbs) and light-emitting vacuum tubes (commonly called CRTs) and light-emitting gas-discharge tubes (commonly called fluorescent lights) and...
– Felthry
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 8 more comments
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I know LED stands for Light Emitting Diode; but why does this component need to be a diode to emit light?
My question assumes that the "leds" we see everywhere (for lighting, screens, etc) are actually diodes -- this assumption might be wrong.
led diodes light
asked 3 hours ago
noamtm
1115
New contributor
noamtm is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I know LED stands for Light Emitting Diode; but why does this component need to be a diode to emit light?
My question assumes that the "leds" we see everywhere (for lighting, screens, etc) are actually diodes -- this assumption might be wrong.
led diodes light
led diodes light
asked 3 hours ago
noamtm
1115
New contributor
noamtm is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 3 hours ago
noamtm
1115
New contributor
noamtm is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 hours ago
asked 3 hours ago
noamtm
1115
New contributor
noamtm is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 3 hours ago
noamtm
1115
asked 3 hours ago
noamtm
1115
1115
New contributor
noamtm is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
noamtm is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
noamtm is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
Welcome to EE.SE! Find out everything you need to get started by taking a 2-minute tour (electronics.stackexchange.com/tour).
– F.Ahmed
3 hours ago
1
There were times the light sources were never LEDs. To your question: What is called LED is LED. If someone is calling LED something that is not a LED, they are wrong.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
1
It doesn't have to be an LED to emit light, however it does have to be a diode to be a light emitting diode.
– Robert Fay
3 hours ago
2
your question is a bit unclear .... it looks like you are asking something else .... you should simply askWhy does an LED have to be a diode?
– jsotola
3 hours ago
2
There are also light emitting capacitors (commonly called EL-wire) and light emitting resistors (commonly called incandescent light bulbs) and light-emitting vacuum tubes (commonly called CRTs) and light-emitting gas-discharge tubes (commonly called fluorescent lights) and...
– Felthry
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 8 more comments
2
Welcome to EE.SE! Find out everything you need to get started by taking a 2-minute tour (electronics.stackexchange.com/tour).
– F.Ahmed
3 hours ago
1
There were times the light sources were never LEDs. To your question: What is called LED is LED. If someone is calling LED something that is not a LED, they are wrong.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
1
It doesn't have to be an LED to emit light, however it does have to be a diode to be a light emitting diode.
– Robert Fay
3 hours ago
2
your question is a bit unclear .... it looks like you are asking something else .... you should simply askWhy does an LED have to be a diode?
– jsotola
3 hours ago
2
There are also light emitting capacitors (commonly called EL-wire) and light emitting resistors (commonly called incandescent light bulbs) and light-emitting vacuum tubes (commonly called CRTs) and light-emitting gas-discharge tubes (commonly called fluorescent lights) and...
– Felthry
2 hours ago
2
2
Welcome to EE.SE! Find out everything you need to get started by taking a 2-minute tour (electronics.stackexchange.com/tour).
– F.Ahmed
3 hours ago
Welcome to EE.SE! Find out everything you need to get started by taking a 2-minute tour (electronics.stackexchange.com/tour).
– F.Ahmed
3 hours ago
1
1
There were times the light sources were never LEDs. To your question: What is called LED is LED. If someone is calling LED something that is not a LED, they are wrong.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
There were times the light sources were never LEDs. To your question: What is called LED is LED. If someone is calling LED something that is not a LED, they are wrong.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
1
1
It doesn't have to be an LED to emit light, however it does have to be a diode to be a light emitting diode.
– Robert Fay
3 hours ago
It doesn't have to be an LED to emit light, however it does have to be a diode to be a light emitting diode.
– Robert Fay
3 hours ago
2
2
your question is a bit unclear .... it looks like you are asking something else .... you should simply ask
Why does an LED have to be a diode?– jsotola
3 hours ago
your question is a bit unclear .... it looks like you are asking something else .... you should simply ask
Why does an LED have to be a diode?– jsotola
3 hours ago
2
2
There are also light emitting capacitors (commonly called EL-wire) and light emitting resistors (commonly called incandescent light bulbs) and light-emitting vacuum tubes (commonly called CRTs) and light-emitting gas-discharge tubes (commonly called fluorescent lights) and...
– Felthry
2 hours ago
There are also light emitting capacitors (commonly called EL-wire) and light emitting resistors (commonly called incandescent light bulbs) and light-emitting vacuum tubes (commonly called CRTs) and light-emitting gas-discharge tubes (commonly called fluorescent lights) and...
– Felthry
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 8 more comments
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
The existing answers miss the core of the question.
An LED needs to be a diode, specifically because the way the charge carriers recombine in the forward-biased diode junction releases the correct amount of energy to create photons in the visible range. Passing a current through a chunk of semiconductor with no diode junction in it would simply produce heat.
Regular silicon diodes emit light, too, but because the band gap is too low, the photons emitted are in the infrared range, and invisible to the eye.
answered 53 mins ago
Dave Tweed♦
112k9133242
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
A diode is the simplest semiconductor. And, the simplest semiconductor can also be made to emit light. Voila! Light emitting diode! One could potentially call it a light emitting semiconductor (LES), but that would just sound like a real name... sooo not cool.
More complex semiconductors will have at least one diode at it's core. If one can make a semiconductor without a diode in it (I don't know how that's possible), and if it emits light, then one could potentially have a real LES that is not a LED!
And yes, in a TV screen and everywhere else, if it is called an LED, the light (visible or invisible part of the spectrum) actually originates from the LED itself. It is the cheapest.
answered 3 hours ago
Indraneel
903411
Is LES a typo? If it is then I don't see how can something which is not a diode be called a diode.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
It is always a diode. A diode is a semiconductor. So a light emitting diode is also a light emitting semiconductor. And for all practical purposes, a light emitting semiconductor is also a light emitting diode (unless you know of a non diode semiconductor that produces light).
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
OK, so LES is Light Emitting Semiconductor. That what I wanted to clarify.
– Eugene Sh.
2 hours ago
@EugeneSh. to clarify, "LES" is not a real (recognized) term. It is just something I came up with. To only me, it is an acronym for Light Emitting Semiconductor. There is no such thing sold in the market by that name.
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
A diode is a semiconductor device, not a semiconductor.
– Felthry
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
0
down vote
why does this component need to be a diode to emit light?
By conservation of energy, light emission implies power input. It is normal to deliver electrical power through two wires, so
the simplest electric powered light emitter has two wiring
terminals, i.e. is a diode.
Two-terminal semiconductors
replaced two-terminal tubes (vacuum or gas-filled)
having two electrodes, which were called 'diode', and the name
has stuck. Electroluminescent panels of yesteryear were also semiconductors
that gave off light, but weren't produced in the kinds of
high-tech assembly lines that electronic diodes are made in.
So, those weren't called diodes.
White "LED" devices around you are not simple semiconductor
diodes, but are structures with diodes and phosphors that give
off useful amounts of white light, having a blue-emitting diode
and red/orange/yellow/green phosphors that convert the blue light.
Lenses and other features for effective light emission
are common; LEDs do not resemble other practical diodes, except
that they have two wires or connecting terminals.
answered 2 hours ago
Whit3rd
4,3651019
Light emitting electroluminescent solid state devices were, ALWAYS called diodes when it was noticed the first experimental diodes emitted light in 1907. LEDs today still have all the characteristics of a common diode.
– Misunderstood
25 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode; but why does this component need
to be a diode to emit light?
Because LEDs are a diode which posses the same characteristics a common solid state diode.
My question assumes that the "leds" we see everywhere (for lighting,
screens, etc) are actually diodes -- this assumption might be wrong.
Your assumption is correct.
A diode is an electronic component that has low resistance in one direction. It is a dual electrode (anode and cathode) device where electron flow from cathode to anode is low conductance and the primary electron flow is the high conductance flow from anode to cathode.
The most common diodes are made of crystallized semiconductor materials (e.g. silicone, germanium and gallium arsenide, indium phosphide, sapphire, and quartz) which are doped with p and n type impurities which are separated by the simplest semiconductor building block, the p-n junction.
There are many types of diodes with various characteristics. It is the properties of the p and n dopants and their affect on the voltage-current characteristics of the p-n junction that separates one type of diode from another.
The above applies to all diodes including LEDs.
In LEDs the dopants have electroluminescence properties. When the electrons are crossing the p-n junction, many of the electrons are transformed into sub-atomic particles called photons.
Light Emitting Diodes are called diodes because the are indeed semiconductor diodes that also emit photons in the form of UV, visible light, and IR.
answered 53 mins ago
Misunderstood
3,986516
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
The existing answers miss the core of the question.
An LED needs to be a diode, specifically because the way the charge carriers recombine in the forward-biased diode junction releases the correct amount of energy to create photons in the visible range. Passing a current through a chunk of semiconductor with no diode junction in it would simply produce heat.
Regular silicon diodes emit light, too, but because the band gap is too low, the photons emitted are in the infrared range, and invisible to the eye.
answered 53 mins ago
Dave Tweed♦
112k9133242
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
The existing answers miss the core of the question.
An LED needs to be a diode, specifically because the way the charge carriers recombine in the forward-biased diode junction releases the correct amount of energy to create photons in the visible range. Passing a current through a chunk of semiconductor with no diode junction in it would simply produce heat.
Regular silicon diodes emit light, too, but because the band gap is too low, the photons emitted are in the infrared range, and invisible to the eye.
answered 53 mins ago
Dave Tweed♦
112k9133242
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
The existing answers miss the core of the question.
An LED needs to be a diode, specifically because the way the charge carriers recombine in the forward-biased diode junction releases the correct amount of energy to create photons in the visible range. Passing a current through a chunk of semiconductor with no diode junction in it would simply produce heat.
Regular silicon diodes emit light, too, but because the band gap is too low, the photons emitted are in the infrared range, and invisible to the eye.
answered 53 mins ago
Dave Tweed♦
112k9133242
The existing answers miss the core of the question.
An LED needs to be a diode, specifically because the way the charge carriers recombine in the forward-biased diode junction releases the correct amount of energy to create photons in the visible range. Passing a current through a chunk of semiconductor with no diode junction in it would simply produce heat.
Regular silicon diodes emit light, too, but because the band gap is too low, the photons emitted are in the infrared range, and invisible to the eye.
answered 53 mins ago
Dave Tweed♦
112k9133242
answered 53 mins ago
Dave Tweed♦
112k9133242
answered 53 mins ago
Dave Tweed♦
112k9133242
answered 53 mins ago
Dave Tweed♦
112k9133242
112k9133242
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
A diode is the simplest semiconductor. And, the simplest semiconductor can also be made to emit light. Voila! Light emitting diode! One could potentially call it a light emitting semiconductor (LES), but that would just sound like a real name... sooo not cool.
More complex semiconductors will have at least one diode at it's core. If one can make a semiconductor without a diode in it (I don't know how that's possible), and if it emits light, then one could potentially have a real LES that is not a LED!
And yes, in a TV screen and everywhere else, if it is called an LED, the light (visible or invisible part of the spectrum) actually originates from the LED itself. It is the cheapest.
answered 3 hours ago
Indraneel
903411
Is LES a typo? If it is then I don't see how can something which is not a diode be called a diode.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
It is always a diode. A diode is a semiconductor. So a light emitting diode is also a light emitting semiconductor. And for all practical purposes, a light emitting semiconductor is also a light emitting diode (unless you know of a non diode semiconductor that produces light).
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
OK, so LES is Light Emitting Semiconductor. That what I wanted to clarify.
– Eugene Sh.
2 hours ago
@EugeneSh. to clarify, "LES" is not a real (recognized) term. It is just something I came up with. To only me, it is an acronym for Light Emitting Semiconductor. There is no such thing sold in the market by that name.
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
A diode is a semiconductor device, not a semiconductor.
– Felthry
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
2
down vote
A diode is the simplest semiconductor. And, the simplest semiconductor can also be made to emit light. Voila! Light emitting diode! One could potentially call it a light emitting semiconductor (LES), but that would just sound like a real name... sooo not cool.
More complex semiconductors will have at least one diode at it's core. If one can make a semiconductor without a diode in it (I don't know how that's possible), and if it emits light, then one could potentially have a real LES that is not a LED!
And yes, in a TV screen and everywhere else, if it is called an LED, the light (visible or invisible part of the spectrum) actually originates from the LED itself. It is the cheapest.
answered 3 hours ago
Indraneel
903411
Is LES a typo? If it is then I don't see how can something which is not a diode be called a diode.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
It is always a diode. A diode is a semiconductor. So a light emitting diode is also a light emitting semiconductor. And for all practical purposes, a light emitting semiconductor is also a light emitting diode (unless you know of a non diode semiconductor that produces light).
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
OK, so LES is Light Emitting Semiconductor. That what I wanted to clarify.
– Eugene Sh.
2 hours ago
@EugeneSh. to clarify, "LES" is not a real (recognized) term. It is just something I came up with. To only me, it is an acronym for Light Emitting Semiconductor. There is no such thing sold in the market by that name.
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
A diode is a semiconductor device, not a semiconductor.
– Felthry
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
A diode is the simplest semiconductor. And, the simplest semiconductor can also be made to emit light. Voila! Light emitting diode! One could potentially call it a light emitting semiconductor (LES), but that would just sound like a real name... sooo not cool.
More complex semiconductors will have at least one diode at it's core. If one can make a semiconductor without a diode in it (I don't know how that's possible), and if it emits light, then one could potentially have a real LES that is not a LED!
And yes, in a TV screen and everywhere else, if it is called an LED, the light (visible or invisible part of the spectrum) actually originates from the LED itself. It is the cheapest.
answered 3 hours ago
Indraneel
903411
A diode is the simplest semiconductor. And, the simplest semiconductor can also be made to emit light. Voila! Light emitting diode! One could potentially call it a light emitting semiconductor (LES), but that would just sound like a real name... sooo not cool.
More complex semiconductors will have at least one diode at it's core. If one can make a semiconductor without a diode in it (I don't know how that's possible), and if it emits light, then one could potentially have a real LES that is not a LED!
And yes, in a TV screen and everywhere else, if it is called an LED, the light (visible or invisible part of the spectrum) actually originates from the LED itself. It is the cheapest.
answered 3 hours ago
Indraneel
903411
edited 3 hours ago
answered 3 hours ago
Indraneel
903411
answered 3 hours ago
Indraneel
903411
answered 3 hours ago
Indraneel
903411
903411
Is LES a typo? If it is then I don't see how can something which is not a diode be called a diode.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
It is always a diode. A diode is a semiconductor. So a light emitting diode is also a light emitting semiconductor. And for all practical purposes, a light emitting semiconductor is also a light emitting diode (unless you know of a non diode semiconductor that produces light).
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
OK, so LES is Light Emitting Semiconductor. That what I wanted to clarify.
– Eugene Sh.
2 hours ago
@EugeneSh. to clarify, "LES" is not a real (recognized) term. It is just something I came up with. To only me, it is an acronym for Light Emitting Semiconductor. There is no such thing sold in the market by that name.
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
A diode is a semiconductor device, not a semiconductor.
– Felthry
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
Is LES a typo? If it is then I don't see how can something which is not a diode be called a diode.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
It is always a diode. A diode is a semiconductor. So a light emitting diode is also a light emitting semiconductor. And for all practical purposes, a light emitting semiconductor is also a light emitting diode (unless you know of a non diode semiconductor that produces light).
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
OK, so LES is Light Emitting Semiconductor. That what I wanted to clarify.
– Eugene Sh.
2 hours ago
@EugeneSh. to clarify, "LES" is not a real (recognized) term. It is just something I came up with. To only me, it is an acronym for Light Emitting Semiconductor. There is no such thing sold in the market by that name.
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
A diode is a semiconductor device, not a semiconductor.
– Felthry
2 hours ago
Is LES a typo? If it is then I don't see how can something which is not a diode be called a diode.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
Is LES a typo? If it is then I don't see how can something which is not a diode be called a diode.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
It is always a diode. A diode is a semiconductor. So a light emitting diode is also a light emitting semiconductor. And for all practical purposes, a light emitting semiconductor is also a light emitting diode (unless you know of a non diode semiconductor that produces light).
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
It is always a diode. A diode is a semiconductor. So a light emitting diode is also a light emitting semiconductor. And for all practical purposes, a light emitting semiconductor is also a light emitting diode (unless you know of a non diode semiconductor that produces light).
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
OK, so LES is Light Emitting Semiconductor. That what I wanted to clarify.
– Eugene Sh.
2 hours ago
OK, so LES is Light Emitting Semiconductor. That what I wanted to clarify.
– Eugene Sh.
2 hours ago
@EugeneSh. to clarify, "LES" is not a real (recognized) term. It is just something I came up with. To only me, it is an acronym for Light Emitting Semiconductor. There is no such thing sold in the market by that name.
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
@EugeneSh. to clarify, "LES" is not a real (recognized) term. It is just something I came up with. To only me, it is an acronym for Light Emitting Semiconductor. There is no such thing sold in the market by that name.
– Indraneel
2 hours ago
A diode is a semiconductor device, not a semiconductor.
– Felthry
2 hours ago
A diode is a semiconductor device, not a semiconductor.
– Felthry
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
0
down vote
why does this component need to be a diode to emit light?
By conservation of energy, light emission implies power input. It is normal to deliver electrical power through two wires, so
the simplest electric powered light emitter has two wiring
terminals, i.e. is a diode.
Two-terminal semiconductors
replaced two-terminal tubes (vacuum or gas-filled)
having two electrodes, which were called 'diode', and the name
has stuck. Electroluminescent panels of yesteryear were also semiconductors
that gave off light, but weren't produced in the kinds of
high-tech assembly lines that electronic diodes are made in.
So, those weren't called diodes.
White "LED" devices around you are not simple semiconductor
diodes, but are structures with diodes and phosphors that give
off useful amounts of white light, having a blue-emitting diode
and red/orange/yellow/green phosphors that convert the blue light.
Lenses and other features for effective light emission
are common; LEDs do not resemble other practical diodes, except
that they have two wires or connecting terminals.
answered 2 hours ago
Whit3rd
4,3651019
Light emitting electroluminescent solid state devices were, ALWAYS called diodes when it was noticed the first experimental diodes emitted light in 1907. LEDs today still have all the characteristics of a common diode.
– Misunderstood
25 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
why does this component need to be a diode to emit light?
By conservation of energy, light emission implies power input. It is normal to deliver electrical power through two wires, so
the simplest electric powered light emitter has two wiring
terminals, i.e. is a diode.
Two-terminal semiconductors
replaced two-terminal tubes (vacuum or gas-filled)
having two electrodes, which were called 'diode', and the name
has stuck. Electroluminescent panels of yesteryear were also semiconductors
that gave off light, but weren't produced in the kinds of
high-tech assembly lines that electronic diodes are made in.
So, those weren't called diodes.
White "LED" devices around you are not simple semiconductor
diodes, but are structures with diodes and phosphors that give
off useful amounts of white light, having a blue-emitting diode
and red/orange/yellow/green phosphors that convert the blue light.
Lenses and other features for effective light emission
are common; LEDs do not resemble other practical diodes, except
that they have two wires or connecting terminals.
answered 2 hours ago
Whit3rd
4,3651019
Light emitting electroluminescent solid state devices were, ALWAYS called diodes when it was noticed the first experimental diodes emitted light in 1907. LEDs today still have all the characteristics of a common diode.
– Misunderstood
25 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
why does this component need to be a diode to emit light?
By conservation of energy, light emission implies power input. It is normal to deliver electrical power through two wires, so
the simplest electric powered light emitter has two wiring
terminals, i.e. is a diode.
Two-terminal semiconductors
replaced two-terminal tubes (vacuum or gas-filled)
having two electrodes, which were called 'diode', and the name
has stuck. Electroluminescent panels of yesteryear were also semiconductors
that gave off light, but weren't produced in the kinds of
high-tech assembly lines that electronic diodes are made in.
So, those weren't called diodes.
White "LED" devices around you are not simple semiconductor
diodes, but are structures with diodes and phosphors that give
off useful amounts of white light, having a blue-emitting diode
and red/orange/yellow/green phosphors that convert the blue light.
Lenses and other features for effective light emission
are common; LEDs do not resemble other practical diodes, except
that they have two wires or connecting terminals.
answered 2 hours ago
Whit3rd
4,3651019
why does this component need to be a diode to emit light?
By conservation of energy, light emission implies power input. It is normal to deliver electrical power through two wires, so
the simplest electric powered light emitter has two wiring
terminals, i.e. is a diode.
Two-terminal semiconductors
replaced two-terminal tubes (vacuum or gas-filled)
having two electrodes, which were called 'diode', and the name
has stuck. Electroluminescent panels of yesteryear were also semiconductors
that gave off light, but weren't produced in the kinds of
high-tech assembly lines that electronic diodes are made in.
So, those weren't called diodes.
White "LED" devices around you are not simple semiconductor
diodes, but are structures with diodes and phosphors that give
off useful amounts of white light, having a blue-emitting diode
and red/orange/yellow/green phosphors that convert the blue light.
Lenses and other features for effective light emission
are common; LEDs do not resemble other practical diodes, except
that they have two wires or connecting terminals.
answered 2 hours ago
Whit3rd
4,3651019
answered 2 hours ago
Whit3rd
4,3651019
answered 2 hours ago
Whit3rd
4,3651019
answered 2 hours ago
Whit3rd
4,3651019
4,3651019
Light emitting electroluminescent solid state devices were, ALWAYS called diodes when it was noticed the first experimental diodes emitted light in 1907. LEDs today still have all the characteristics of a common diode.
– Misunderstood
25 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Light emitting electroluminescent solid state devices were, ALWAYS called diodes when it was noticed the first experimental diodes emitted light in 1907. LEDs today still have all the characteristics of a common diode.
– Misunderstood
25 mins ago
Light emitting electroluminescent solid state devices were, ALWAYS called diodes when it was noticed the first experimental diodes emitted light in 1907. LEDs today still have all the characteristics of a common diode.
– Misunderstood
25 mins ago
Light emitting electroluminescent solid state devices were, ALWAYS called diodes when it was noticed the first experimental diodes emitted light in 1907. LEDs today still have all the characteristics of a common diode.
– Misunderstood
25 mins ago
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LED stands for Light Emitting Diode; but why does this component need
to be a diode to emit light?
Because LEDs are a diode which posses the same characteristics a common solid state diode.
My question assumes that the "leds" we see everywhere (for lighting,
screens, etc) are actually diodes -- this assumption might be wrong.
Your assumption is correct.
A diode is an electronic component that has low resistance in one direction. It is a dual electrode (anode and cathode) device where electron flow from cathode to anode is low conductance and the primary electron flow is the high conductance flow from anode to cathode.
The most common diodes are made of crystallized semiconductor materials (e.g. silicone, germanium and gallium arsenide, indium phosphide, sapphire, and quartz) which are doped with p and n type impurities which are separated by the simplest semiconductor building block, the p-n junction.
There are many types of diodes with various characteristics. It is the properties of the p and n dopants and their affect on the voltage-current characteristics of the p-n junction that separates one type of diode from another.
The above applies to all diodes including LEDs.
In LEDs the dopants have electroluminescence properties. When the electrons are crossing the p-n junction, many of the electrons are transformed into sub-atomic particles called photons.
Light Emitting Diodes are called diodes because the are indeed semiconductor diodes that also emit photons in the form of UV, visible light, and IR.
answered 53 mins ago
Misunderstood
3,986516
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up vote
0
down vote
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode; but why does this component need
to be a diode to emit light?
Because LEDs are a diode which posses the same characteristics a common solid state diode.
My question assumes that the "leds" we see everywhere (for lighting,
screens, etc) are actually diodes -- this assumption might be wrong.
Your assumption is correct.
A diode is an electronic component that has low resistance in one direction. It is a dual electrode (anode and cathode) device where electron flow from cathode to anode is low conductance and the primary electron flow is the high conductance flow from anode to cathode.
The most common diodes are made of crystallized semiconductor materials (e.g. silicone, germanium and gallium arsenide, indium phosphide, sapphire, and quartz) which are doped with p and n type impurities which are separated by the simplest semiconductor building block, the p-n junction.
There are many types of diodes with various characteristics. It is the properties of the p and n dopants and their affect on the voltage-current characteristics of the p-n junction that separates one type of diode from another.
The above applies to all diodes including LEDs.
In LEDs the dopants have electroluminescence properties. When the electrons are crossing the p-n junction, many of the electrons are transformed into sub-atomic particles called photons.
Light Emitting Diodes are called diodes because the are indeed semiconductor diodes that also emit photons in the form of UV, visible light, and IR.
answered 53 mins ago
Misunderstood
3,986516
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode; but why does this component need
to be a diode to emit light?
Because LEDs are a diode which posses the same characteristics a common solid state diode.
My question assumes that the "leds" we see everywhere (for lighting,
screens, etc) are actually diodes -- this assumption might be wrong.
Your assumption is correct.
A diode is an electronic component that has low resistance in one direction. It is a dual electrode (anode and cathode) device where electron flow from cathode to anode is low conductance and the primary electron flow is the high conductance flow from anode to cathode.
The most common diodes are made of crystallized semiconductor materials (e.g. silicone, germanium and gallium arsenide, indium phosphide, sapphire, and quartz) which are doped with p and n type impurities which are separated by the simplest semiconductor building block, the p-n junction.
There are many types of diodes with various characteristics. It is the properties of the p and n dopants and their affect on the voltage-current characteristics of the p-n junction that separates one type of diode from another.
The above applies to all diodes including LEDs.
In LEDs the dopants have electroluminescence properties. When the electrons are crossing the p-n junction, many of the electrons are transformed into sub-atomic particles called photons.
Light Emitting Diodes are called diodes because the are indeed semiconductor diodes that also emit photons in the form of UV, visible light, and IR.
answered 53 mins ago
Misunderstood
3,986516
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode; but why does this component need
to be a diode to emit light?
Because LEDs are a diode which posses the same characteristics a common solid state diode.
My question assumes that the "leds" we see everywhere (for lighting,
screens, etc) are actually diodes -- this assumption might be wrong.
Your assumption is correct.
A diode is an electronic component that has low resistance in one direction. It is a dual electrode (anode and cathode) device where electron flow from cathode to anode is low conductance and the primary electron flow is the high conductance flow from anode to cathode.
The most common diodes are made of crystallized semiconductor materials (e.g. silicone, germanium and gallium arsenide, indium phosphide, sapphire, and quartz) which are doped with p and n type impurities which are separated by the simplest semiconductor building block, the p-n junction.
There are many types of diodes with various characteristics. It is the properties of the p and n dopants and their affect on the voltage-current characteristics of the p-n junction that separates one type of diode from another.
The above applies to all diodes including LEDs.
In LEDs the dopants have electroluminescence properties. When the electrons are crossing the p-n junction, many of the electrons are transformed into sub-atomic particles called photons.
Light Emitting Diodes are called diodes because the are indeed semiconductor diodes that also emit photons in the form of UV, visible light, and IR.
answered 53 mins ago
Misunderstood
3,986516
edited 15 mins ago
answered 53 mins ago
Misunderstood
3,986516
answered 53 mins ago
Misunderstood
3,986516
answered 53 mins ago
Misunderstood
3,986516
3,986516
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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– F.Ahmed
3 hours ago
1
There were times the light sources were never LEDs. To your question: What is called LED is LED. If someone is calling LED something that is not a LED, they are wrong.
– Eugene Sh.
3 hours ago
1
It doesn't have to be an LED to emit light, however it does have to be a diode to be a light emitting diode.
– Robert Fay
3 hours ago
2
your question is a bit unclear .... it looks like you are asking something else .... you should simply ask
Why does an LED have to be a diode?– jsotola
3 hours ago
2
There are also light emitting capacitors (commonly called EL-wire) and light emitting resistors (commonly called incandescent light bulbs) and light-emitting vacuum tubes (commonly called CRTs) and light-emitting gas-discharge tubes (commonly called fluorescent lights) and...
– Felthry
2 hours ago