History of LED Lights (light emitting diodes) | Basic Electronics

Summary

This video explores the fascinating history of LEDs, from their early discovery of electroluminescence in 1907 by H. J. Round to their widespread use today. Key milestones include the work of Oleg Losev, who created the first LED in 1927, and the breakthroughs by Nick Holonyak Jr., who developed the first visible-spectrum LED in the 1960s. The video also covers the invention of blue LEDs, which led to innovations like Blu-ray discs, and how LED technology has evolved to become cheaper, brighter, and more efficient, revolutionizing lighting and telecommunications.

Takeaways

• 💡 LEDs are now ubiquitous, making a huge impact in various aspects of life.
• 🧑‍🔬 The discovery of electroluminescence was made in 1907 by H.J. Round using silicon carbide, though it had little immediate application.
• 📜 Oleg Vladimirovich Losev is credited with creating the first intentional LED in 1927, but his work also didn't gain immediate attention.
• ✨ Georges Destriau furthered the research in 1936, calling the effect 'Losev light,' but practical use was still distant.
• 🔬 In 1961, Texas Instruments' Gary Pittman and Bob Biard discovered infrared light from gallium-arsenide diodes, leading to advancements in visible light LEDs.
• 🔴 Nick Holonyak Jr. created the first visible red LED in 1962, but the initial cost was very high.
• 💰 A production breakthrough in the 1970s by Fairchild Semiconductors made LEDs affordable and more widely used.
• 🚥 The application of LEDs expanded to include stoplights and fiber optics, thanks to their efficiency, brightness, and quick response time.
• 🔵 The development of blue LEDs by Shuji Nakamura in 1979 paved the way for white light LEDs and revolutionized technology, including Blu-Ray discs.
• 🏅 Nakamura, Amano, and Akasaki were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2014 for their work on the blue LED, which marked a major milestone in LED technology.

Q & A

Who first discovered electroluminescence, and when did it happen?

Electroluminescence was discovered in 1907 by H. J. Round, who was working at Marconi Labs.

What material did H. J. Round use to demonstrate electroluminescence?

H. J. Round used a crystal of silicon carbide, also known as carborundum, to demonstrate electroluminescence.

Who is credited with intentionally creating the first LED, and when?

Oleg Vladimirovich Losev is credited with intentionally creating the first LED in 1927.

What significant contribution did Georges Destriau make to the study of electroluminescence?

Georges Destriau discovered that zinc sulphide powder could glow via electroluminescence when an alternating electrical field was applied, and he referred to this as 'Losev light' in 1936.

What key breakthrough occurred in LED development during the early 1960s?

In 1961, Gary Pittman and Bob Biard from Texas Instruments discovered that gallium-arsenide diodes emit infrared light when conducting current. In 1962, Nick Holonyak Jr. created the first visible-spectrum LED, which emitted red light.

Why were the first visible-spectrum LEDs expensive, and how did this change over time?

The first visible-spectrum LEDs, developed in the early 1960s, were very expensive, costing hundreds of dollars. It wasn’t until the 1970s, when Fairchild Semiconductors developed a new production method, that the cost was reduced to just a few pennies.

What advantages did LEDs offer when used in stoplights and telecommunications?

LEDs offered longer-lasting operation, saving money on service costs for stoplights, and could turn on and off quickly, making them ideal for fiber optics in telecommunications.

What was the significance of the blue LED in LED development?

The development of the blue LED was significant because it allowed for the creation of white light by combining red, green, and blue LEDs. It also enabled advancements such as Blu-ray discs, which required shorter wavelength light for higher data densities.

Who won the 2014 Nobel Prize for their work on blue LEDs, and why was it significant?

Shuji Nakamura, Hiroshi Amano, and Isamu Akasaki won the 2014 Nobel Prize for developing a high-brightness blue/violet LED in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which paved the way for LEDs to replace traditional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

What future trends are expected for LED technology?

LED technology is expected to continue improving in terms of efficiency, brightness, and cost, with no current indication that these trends have reached their limit.