Blog

  • OSRAM DS Driver Families from Inventronics

    OSRAM DS Driver Families from Inventronics

    sabrina.hobson
    In May 2023, OSRAM sold its LED Drivers, Lighting Controls, LED Flex, and LED Modules business to Inventronics. The new Inventronics will represent a forward-looking global enterprise, that is dedicated to meeting sustainability needs worldwide, as w...
  • What is a chip scale package LED? And how does it differ from a chip-on-board LED package?

    What is a chip scale package LED? And how does it differ from a chip-on-board LED package?

    sabrina.hobson
    Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are notorious for their high efficiency and long lifetimes. A diode is a semiconductor component which emits light in response to an electrical current being passed through it. The LED chip, when triggered by electron...
  • All you need to know about LCDs

    All you need to know about LCDs

    sabrina.hobson
    The industry of displays is one that has rapidly grown and developed. Liquid crystal displays (LCDs), particularly monochrome LCD graphic modules have persevered and remains a popular choice in a variety of applications, due to their reliability and ...
  • Your LED Driver Questions Answered...

    Your LED Driver Questions Answered...

    sabrina.hobson
    What is the difference between constant current and constant voltage LED drivers? The main difference between the two is in how they regulate and deliver electrical power to the connected load. A constant voltage (CV) driver regulates a specified out...
  • Choosing the correct TFT display

    Choosing the correct TFT display

    sabrina.hobson
    TFTs, or thin film transistors, refers to an active-matrix LCDs (liquid crystal displays). They are known for their resilience and versatility and have revolutionised how information can be presented across multiple applications. Choosing a...
  • Different purposes of light in horticulture

    Different purposes of light in horticulture

    sabrina.hobson
    The use of light in horticulture has vastly increased in recent years. Knowledge of how light affects crops is still evolving, but what is clear is that light can benefit both crop health and yields. Different wavelengths have varying benefits and pu...
  • All you need to know about TFT displays

    All you need to know about TFT displays

    sabrina.hobson
    Known for their resilience and versatility, TFT displays have revolutionised how information can be presented and managed across multiple industries. TFT stands for thin film transistor, and in displays, this refers to an active-matrix LCDs...
  • Phasing out fluorescent tubes: Moving to sustainable lighting solutions

    Phasing out fluorescent tubes: Moving to sustainable lighting solutions

    sabrina.hobson
    In recent years, the lighting market has shifted towards energy-efficient and sustainable solutions. Many governments and organisations across the European Union (EU) have been promoting more sustainable lighting technologies. The UK has followed sui...
  • All you need to know about OLEDs

    All you need to know about OLEDs

    sabrina.hobson
    If you have anything at all to do with tech, you will have come across OLED displays. Commonly used in TVs, tablets, and laptops, but how much do you really know about OLEDs? Well, here is all you need to know about how they work and their pros and c...
  • Common ultraviolet (UV) LED light applications

    Common ultraviolet (UV) LED light applications

    sabrina.hobson
    Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation outside the visible light spectrum. It is a useful technology with multiple applications. Let us explore a few…. UV curing Used in applications from manufacturing to dentistry, UV light can be us...
  • Does CRI matter in horticulture?

    Does CRI matter in horticulture?

    sabrina.hobson
    Colour rendering index (CRI) is a common metric used in visible lighting that indicates the quality of a light source. It refers to the light source’s ability to show the actual colours of objects in comparison with natural sunlight. A high CRI...
  • Efficacy or Efficiency: What is the difference?

    Efficacy or Efficiency: What is the difference?

    sabrina.hobson
    With the horticultural LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lighting industry booming, along with it comes a world of terminology. For those working within this industry, understanding the terminology and methods of measurement is crucial to selecting suitabl...
  • 10 Common LCD, OLED and TFT Display Questions

    10 Common LCD, OLED and TFT Display Questions

    sabrina.hobson
    1. What is a TFT? TFT stands for ‘Thin Film Transistor’ – it is a type of LCD that gives higher resolution and better image quality than standard LCDs. These are usually coloured, but Mono is becoming more popular and therefore more...
  • Learn about Controlled Environments in Agriculture (CEA)

    Learn about Controlled Environments in Agriculture (CEA)

    sabrina.hobson
    CEA has emerged in recent years to better define the high-tech approach to sustainably producing more plants indoors, to combat climate change and the growing shortage of green space. Much research has occurred around CEA to define the optimum condit...
  • Interesting facts about ultraviolet (UV) light

    Interesting facts about ultraviolet (UV) light

    sabrina.hobson
    Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation outside the visible light spectrum. It is a useful technology with multiple applications. The following are some interesting facts about ultraviolet (UV) light: One of the largest sources of ultr...
  • Why choose LED solutions over HPS for horticulture?

    Why choose LED solutions over HPS for horticulture?

    sabrina.hobson
    Indoor farms can be expensive to set up and run. So, for many growers finding the most cost-effective way to do so is vital. High Pressure sodium lamps (HPS) have been a popular solution in horticultural lighting for years; a way to increase yields w...
  • How LEDs have changed the world

    How LEDs have changed the world

    sabrina.hobson
    Over the past decade, LED technologies have been popping up everywhere at an increasing rate. The applications are vast, from OLED displays, automotive, to street lighting, to home accent lighting around a TV. LEDs have become a default choice in man...
  • Vertical farming - Where to start?

    Vertical farming - Where to start?

    sabrina.hobson
    Vertical farming involves growing and producing crops, typically indoors, on multiple levels. It is made possible through the advancements in LED technologies. More growers are considering vertical farms and LED solutions due to their sustainability ...
  • LED dimming with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)

    LED dimming with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)

    sabrina.hobson
    The term modulation in essence refers to a form of control. Pulse width modulation in lighting is a specific method of control, used to effectively alter LED brightness. The PWM technique minimises the typical amount of deliverable power to single or...
  • Why use horticultural LED grow lights?

    Why use horticultural LED grow lights?

    sabrina.hobson
    All plants require light for photosynthesis. Through photosynthesis, plants convert solar energy into chemical energy, which allows them to grow, bloom and produce seed. The productivity and quality of crops and plants rely heavily on the rate of pho...
  • What is CRI (colour rendering index)?

    What is CRI (colour rendering index)?

    sabrina.hobson
    Colour rendering index (CRI) is one method of measuring the distinctive attributes of a light source. It has been around since 1937 and is often misunderstood as a metric of light colour output quality. When really it is an indicator of how well an a...
  • How LEDs have revolutionised horticulture

    How LEDs have revolutionised horticulture

    sabrina.hobson
    With increasing populations and a scarcity of green spaces, the horticultural lighting industry continues to grow. Globally this market is projected to reach $16.5 billion by 2030 (Market Research Future (MRFR) report, 2021). This projection is in pa...
  • LED optics: lenses versus reflectors

    LED optics: lenses versus reflectors

    sabrina.hobson
    LED optics are a terrific way to direct, diffuse or intensify light. They are readily available in a wide array of sizes, shapes, and materials. This variety of choice means that lenses are versatile and useful in many different applications. Lense...
  • Full spectrum light in horticulture

    Full spectrum light in horticulture

    sabrina.hobson
    Horticultural lighting has increased possibilities of how and where we can grow plants and crops. With ever-evolving LED (light emitting diodes) technologies and new innovations, horticultural LED solutions are becoming more affordable and more widel...
  • Light Measurements in Horticulture

    Light Measurements in Horticulture

    sabrina.hobson
    If you are involved with horticultural lighting, you have likely heard of the measurement micromole, often written as umol or μmol. Micromoles are widely used to measure the number of photons or ‘light particles’ within the visible lig...