How LEDs are replacing bulbs for the most demanding applications
LEDs offer many benefits across the board – and especially for advanced applications where power and control are crucial, such as:
Automated fluorescence
Semiconductor / metrology
Machine vision
Spatial biology
Spectroscopy
Quality control and inspection
High content screening
Photolithography
Photocatalysis
If you still use bulbs, let’s take a look at where powerful LED technology can advance your application…
Halogen vs LEDs
Illumination power can often be the limiting factor for throughput on the inspection line. Where LEDs offer higher irradiance compared to halogen bulbs, this allows faster camera acquisition and imaging speeds, and therefore higher throughput.
When it comes to spectral coverage, LEDs can be tailored from 340 to 850 nm.
You can pick and choose the amount of individual LEDs to exactly suit the application. Most importantly, this can perfectly complement the camera detection range to achieve the highest sensitivity – unlike halogen bulbs where the spectral output is relatively fixed.
LEDs are famous for their long lifetimes
The lifetime of halogen bulbs can’t compete even when utilised at low power. Moreover, halogen bulb lifetime is significantly reduced when they are driven harder in order to reach lower areas of the spectrum. LEDs can reach these spectral regions without sacrificing lifetime.
If an application requires high magnification, LEDs are once again advantageous compared to halogen bulbs. The light produced from a halogen bulb cannot pass through higher magnification microscope objectives, resulting in lower irradiance reaching the sample. LED illumination is compatible with the higher magnification objectives for more detailed image acquisition.
LEDs vs mercury, metal halide or xenon arc lamps
While mercury-based bulbs offer comparable power to LEDs, they offer limited control options and a much shorter lifetime. It goes without saying, that mercury is a toxic chemical, and when mercury-containing lamps are disposed of improperly, they release toxic vapours into the atmosphere, which can be inhaled by humans and harm wildlife. Correct disposal incurs an expensive ongoing cost, which is avoided by upgrading to LED illumination.
Whether using halogen or mercury-based lamps, there are many reasons to upgrade to LEDs. If you’re considering upgrading your illumination system, visit us at VISION, Stuttgart (Booth 10B81) or contact us online.
