UC Santa Barbara researchers have created polarized white LEDs that can improve system efficiency by removing the need for an external polarizer. Alternatively, the color-rendering properties of these LEDs can be manipulated through use of a polarizing element. The color of the LED can be easily changed after it is produced by simply rotating the polarizing element. This allows an end user to adjust the LED to their preference for white light.

LEDpolarity marking on PCB

LEDsApplications that require uniform color illumination such as display backlighting, two- and three-dimensional image projectors, and architectural lighting

Commercially available white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) emit unpolarized light and have a fixed color after they are fabricated. Options for polarizing the emission involve costly polarization plates. Tuning the white light involves using a number of different-colored LEDs and changing their intensity individually, or introducing different-colored, fluorescent organic dyes as quantum-well light emitting layers or conjugated hybrid polymers. These methods have manufacturing hurdles and low efficiency.

Polarized LEDlight

University of California, Santa BarbaraOffice of Technology & Industry Alliances 342 Lagoon Road, ,Santa Barbara,CA 93106-2055 | www.tia.ucsb.eduTel: 805-893-2073 | Fax: 805.893.5236 | padilla@tia.ucsb.edu

How to identify positive and negative terminal ofLED

LEDpositive negative symbol

Commercially available white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) emit unpolarized light and have a fixed color after they are fabricated. Options for polarizing the emission involve costly polarization plates. Tuning the white light involves using a number of different-colored LEDs and changing their intensity individually, or introducing different-colored, fluorescent organic dyes as quantum-well light emitting layers or conjugated hybrid polymers. These methods have manufacturing hurdles and low efficiency.

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Polarized white emission can reduce system complexity and costHue of white light is tunable by end user after fabricationLess costly and simpler than other white light LED manufacturing methods