Integrated Reflector Could Lead to Ubiquitous LEDs

Andreas writes "Professor Schubert says he has found a way to raise the efficiency of LEDs to 99%. From an article on Advanced Technology: "Until now, all lighting systems, especially incandescent bulbs, generated more heat than light. But our 99-percent efficient reflectors for LEDs makes them the first candidate for light-bulb replacement that generates more light than heat," said Schubert."

Comments

Not so fast, Sparky!

[rco3]

"Professor Schubert says he has found a way to raise the efficiency of LEDs to 99%.
No, that's not what he says. The reflector is 99% efficient, not the LED. This reflector just means that some of the light emitted by the LED, which otherwise might be absorbed by the LED substrate or other structure and converted to waste heat, is now being reflected back out as usable light.
This new technology does nothing to improve the quantum efficiency of the LED itself. It's an important and useful technology, sure, but it is NOT a 99% efficient LED.

Costs have to be considered in toto

[Engineer-Poet]

Quoth the poster:

There is no point making a bright LED if the total system cost is still ten to twenty times that of an incandescent source.

As a counterexample, consider the compact-fluorescent bulb. Most cost around ten times as much as an incandescent of equivalent brightness, but the savings in replacement costs and power will pay back the difference in as little as a few months.

LED technology has the advantage of longer life than fluorescent. With the increase in efficiency from reflectors, they could cut power costs below fluorescent and become the TCO winners.