Light Emitting Diodes

DEFINITION: Also see laser diode.A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits visible light when an electric current passes through it. The light is not particularly bright, but in most LEDs it is monochromatic, occurring at a single wavelength. Theoutput from an LED can range from red (at a wavelength of approximately 700 nanometers) to blue-violet (about 400 nanometers). Some LEDs emit  … 
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LIGHT EMITTING DIODES DEFINITION (continued): …  infrared (IR) energy (830nanometers or longer); such a device is known as an infrared-emitting diode (IRED).An LED or IRED consists of two elements of processed material called P-typesemiconductors and N-type semiconductors. These two elements are placed in direct contact, forming a region called the P-N junction. In this respect, the LED or IRED resembles most other diodetypes, but there are important differences. The LED or IRED has a transparentpackage, allowing visible or IR energy to pass through. Also, the LED or IRED has a large PN-junction area whose shape is tailored to the application.Benefits … 
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