Samsung expands COB LED family, targets directional applications

Generation-2 D-Series LEDs hit efficacy of 160 lm/W and include a variety of options in color performance and CCT including Samsung’s Vivid technology.

Samsung Electronics has announced a second-generation (Gen2) of chip-on-board (COB) LEDs in the company’s D Series of components for spotlight and other directional lamps and luminaires. The LEDs hit the 160-lm/W efficacy mark at a 5000K CCT with 80-CRI color performance and operated at 85°.

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Samsung’s COB LED portfolio is a bit difficult to navigate and the various series have overlapping components in terms of size, and electrical and photometric performance. The product development targets are generally tied to some industry need that might not be immediately evident. For example, the company announced B Series products in 2013 that were based on light-emitting surface (LES) dimensions defined in Zhaga books. Those LEDs debuted at around the 130-lm/W level. In November 2014, Samsung announced smaller C Series family members and pushed efficacy to 143 lm/W.

The D Series components are general larger LEDs and include models with LES options of 9.8, 14.5, and 22 mm. There are further options in power rating, drive current, and lumen output in each size. Indeed, maximum power ratings range from 15.6W to 84.2W. Most of the LEDs have a nominal forward voltage of 34.6V with the exception of the 56.1W and 84.2W versions of a 22-mm LED that have a 52V rating.

Samsung's D Series COB LED line now features Gen2 devices that achieve 160-lm/W efficacy - a 6-7% improvement in performance over Gen1 components.

The first generation of D Series LEDs date to 2015 and topped out at 150 lm/W. So the latest Gen2 COB LED products deliver a performance boost in the 6–7% range. Samsung also said the new products feature 50% lower thermal resistance. That gain is achieved through more epitaxial real estate that results in greater lumen output and the resulting improved efficacy.

The drive to incrementally better performance has been in part prompted by new Premium-level tiers in the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) qualified products list. LED manufacturers seek to enable their customers to meet the more stringent performance tier and therefore qualify for greater rebates, and the Gen2 LEDs support such developments. Lumileds made a similar claim for a recent LED introduction in a discrete-style package. Samsung even introduced Level 2 modules with similar claims in October 2016. Meanwhile, the Gen2 LEDs are available across the CCT spectrum from 2700K to 6500K. In various models, Samsung supports CRI of 70 to greater than 90, and offers 90-CRI options to CCTs as high as 5000K.

The Gen2 LEDs will also be offered in what Samsung has called its Vivid LED technology. The Vivid technology came to market in 2015 and includes LEDs with 95-CRI performance along with models designed to oversaturate colors. The Vivid LEDs are popular in demanding retail applications and now that color technology can be combined with Samsung’s highest-performing COB LED devices.