Samsung ramps performance in level 2 linear LED light engines

Next-generation H-Series linear modules deliver 187 lm/W at 4000K CCT and enable luminaire manufacturers to deliver new SSL products to meet tight market windows.

The transition by many lighting manufacturers to rely on LED makers to deliver light engines or modules or so-called level 2 products as opposed to LED components is increasingly clear. Targeting that trend, Samsung has announced a third-generation (Gen 3) set of its H-Series linear modules that luminaire makers can use in products such as integral-LED-based troffers intended to replace traditional linear fluorescent products. The new solid-state lighting (SSL) modules deliver 187-lm/W efficacy in a 4000K CCT; that level of performance means that fixture level efficacy can hit the 140-lm/W range.

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Level 2 products first began to emerge in large volumes about four years ago. Initially, the target customers for such products were second-tier and lower lighting manufacturers that lacked the financial resources to build out automated assembly lines that could work with surface-mount devices (SMD) such as mid-power packaged LEDs. Lumileds, for example, was an early mover in the level 2 space and had mentioned the technology as a necessary vehicle for the transition to mid-power LEDs and eventually to LEDs in a chip-scale package (CSP).

Today, however, many tier 1 lighting manufacturers build some parts of their portfolio around level 2 modules. The lighting manufacturers gain in the time-to-market race and the LED manufacturers deliver top quality modules in popular form factors.

Samsung first announced its H-Series modules back in 2013. The products were then promoted as being Zhaga compliant — an element not mentioned in the latest news release. The original H-Series products topped out at 145 lm/W at a 5000K CCT.

Samsung offers several module series that are each optimized for a specific target such as low-cost products or commodity segments. The H-Series is the high-performance module offering from Samsung and targets the most demanding applications. "With our new H-Series, Samsung continues to lead the high-end industry segment for LED components through constant technology innovation," said Jacob Tarn, executive vice president of the LED Business Team at Samsung Electronics. "We are directing our technology expertise to improving the quality of LED lighting by significantly enhancing our LED components’ performance and overall competitiveness."

The H-Series of modules uses the Samsung LM561C mid-power LED — itself a third-generation product — that was announced early this year. That LED enabled Samsung to deliver 18–26% improvements in efficacy over earlier level 2 products.

Samsung offers the H-Series in three sizes — 1, 2, and 4 ft. There are two sets of products for different regions of the world. Products for the North American market have UL certifications while products for the European market have CE and ENEC certifications.