LED-Electrical Properties-Hetero junctions 
LIGHT EMITTING 
DIODES 
From Light-Emitting Diodes, Fred Schubert.
In this Lectures.. 
Applications of LED 
LED Configuration 
How does LED 
Works? 
P-n diode, 
radiative transmission 
Materials for LED 
LED GaAsP 
GaAsP:N 
UV, 
VIS,IR LED 
Band-gap 
engineering 
Definition of LED 
Group III-V 
Group II-V
What is an LED? 
• Light-emitting diode 
• Semiconductor 
• Has polarity
A light emitting diode (LED) is essentially a PN junction opto-semiconductor 
that emits a monochromatic (single color) light when 
operated in a forward biased direction. 
LEDs convert electrical energy into light energy. They are 
frequently used as "pilot" lights in electronic appliances to indicate 
whether the circuit is closed or not.
LED: How It Works 
• When current flows 
across a diode 
• Negative electrons move one way 
and positive holes move the other 
way
LED: How It Works 
• The wholes exist at 
a lower energy level 
than the free 
electrons 
• Therefore when a free electrons 
falls it losses energy
LED: How It Works 
• This energy is 
emitted in a form of 
a photon, which 
causes light 
• The color of the light is 
determined by the fall of the 
electron and hence energy level 
of the photon
Inside a Light Emitting Diode 
1. Transparent Plastic 
Case 
2. Terminal Pins 
3. Diode
Testing LEDs 
Never connect an LED directly to a 
battery or power supply! It will be destroyed 
almost instantly because too much current will 
pass through and burn it out. 
LEDs must have a resistor in series to 
limit the current to a safe value, for quick 
testing purposes a 1k resistor is suitable for 
most LEDs if your supply voltage is 12V or less. 
Remember to connect the LED the 
correct way round!
How Much Energy Does 
an LED Emit? 
The energy (E) of the light emitted by an LED is related to 
the electric charge (q) of an electron and the voltage (V) 
required to light the LED by the expression: E = qV Joules. 
This expression simply says that the voltage is proportional 
to the electric energy, and is a general statement which applies 
to any circuit, as well as to LED's. The constant q is the electric 
charge of a single electron, -1.6 x 10-19 Coulomb. 
10
Kinds of LEDs
Some Types of LEDs 
Bargraph 7-segment Starburst Dot matrix 
12
Applications 
• Sensor Applications 
• Mobile Applications 
• Sign Applications 
• Automative Uses 
• LED Signals 
• Illuminations 
• Indicators
Sensor Applications
Mobile Applications
LED MATERIALS 
 IT must have an energy gap of appropriate 
width. 
 Both p and n types must exist with low 
resistivities. 
 Efficient radiative path must present. 
 Ga,As,GaP and the tertiary alloy 
GaAs(1+x) Px are most important 
compounds used.
Dis-Advantages Of LED 
 Consumes more energy when compared to 
LCD’s. 
 Relatively costlier.
For Your Attention 
By:Naseeruddin
Light Emitting Diode(LED)

Light Emitting Diode(LED)

  • 1.
    LED-Electrical Properties-Hetero junctions LIGHT EMITTING DIODES From Light-Emitting Diodes, Fred Schubert.
  • 2.
    In this Lectures.. Applications of LED LED Configuration How does LED Works? P-n diode, radiative transmission Materials for LED LED GaAsP GaAsP:N UV, VIS,IR LED Band-gap engineering Definition of LED Group III-V Group II-V
  • 3.
    What is anLED? • Light-emitting diode • Semiconductor • Has polarity
  • 4.
    A light emittingdiode (LED) is essentially a PN junction opto-semiconductor that emits a monochromatic (single color) light when operated in a forward biased direction. LEDs convert electrical energy into light energy. They are frequently used as "pilot" lights in electronic appliances to indicate whether the circuit is closed or not.
  • 5.
    LED: How ItWorks • When current flows across a diode • Negative electrons move one way and positive holes move the other way
  • 6.
    LED: How ItWorks • The wholes exist at a lower energy level than the free electrons • Therefore when a free electrons falls it losses energy
  • 7.
    LED: How ItWorks • This energy is emitted in a form of a photon, which causes light • The color of the light is determined by the fall of the electron and hence energy level of the photon
  • 8.
    Inside a LightEmitting Diode 1. Transparent Plastic Case 2. Terminal Pins 3. Diode
  • 9.
    Testing LEDs Neverconnect an LED directly to a battery or power supply! It will be destroyed almost instantly because too much current will pass through and burn it out. LEDs must have a resistor in series to limit the current to a safe value, for quick testing purposes a 1k resistor is suitable for most LEDs if your supply voltage is 12V or less. Remember to connect the LED the correct way round!
  • 10.
    How Much EnergyDoes an LED Emit? The energy (E) of the light emitted by an LED is related to the electric charge (q) of an electron and the voltage (V) required to light the LED by the expression: E = qV Joules. This expression simply says that the voltage is proportional to the electric energy, and is a general statement which applies to any circuit, as well as to LED's. The constant q is the electric charge of a single electron, -1.6 x 10-19 Coulomb. 10
  • 11.
  • 12.
    Some Types ofLEDs Bargraph 7-segment Starburst Dot matrix 12
  • 13.
    Applications • SensorApplications • Mobile Applications • Sign Applications • Automative Uses • LED Signals • Illuminations • Indicators
  • 14.
  • 15.
  • 17.
    LED MATERIALS IT must have an energy gap of appropriate width.  Both p and n types must exist with low resistivities.  Efficient radiative path must present.  Ga,As,GaP and the tertiary alloy GaAs(1+x) Px are most important compounds used.
  • 20.
    Dis-Advantages Of LED  Consumes more energy when compared to LCD’s.  Relatively costlier.
  • 21.
    For Your Attention By:Naseeruddin