LED Lighting - COBs, Engines, Modules, Strips

Image	Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity	Rfq
	99064 Thomas Research Products	LED ROUND 9W 30WOD 120VAC	0
	99228 Thomas Research Products	LED STAR 1W 2700K 12VAC	0
	98021 Thomas Research Products	LED PCBA, 4.7" ROUND, 2700K	0
	98007 Thomas Research Products	LED PCBA, FINGER BOARD, 3500K	0
	99043 Thomas Research Products	LED LINEAR MOD 14W 4000K 120VAC	0
	99238 Thomas Research Products	LED COB 8W 3000K 12VAC	0
	99239 Thomas Research Products	LED COB 12W 3000K 12VAC	0
	99040 Thomas Research Products	LED LINEAR MOD 12W 5000K 12VAC	0
	99227 Thomas Research Products	LED STAR 1W 2200K 12VAC	0
	98023 Thomas Research Products	LED PCBA, 4.7" ROUND, 3500K	0
	99074 Thomas Research Products	LED ROUND 18W 5000K 120VAC	0
	99232 Thomas Research Products	LED STAR 3W 2200K 12VAC	0
	99072 Thomas Research Products	LED ROUND 18W 3000K 120VAC	0
	98020 Thomas Research Products	LED PCBA, 3.7" ROUND, 4000K	0
	98002 Thomas Research Products	LED PCBA, 11IN TROFFER 4000K	0
	99037 Thomas Research Products	LED LINEAR MOD 12W 2700K 12VAC	0
	99017 Thomas Research Products	LED LINEAR MOD 10W 3000K 12VAC	0
	98014 Thomas Research Products	LED PCBA, 3" ROUND, 3000K	0
	TR-SS1-48C Thomas Research Products	LED CORE LED ENG NEUTRAL WHT SQ	0
	98013 Thomas Research Products	LED PCBA, 3" ROUND, 2700K	0

LED Lighting - COBs, Engines, Modules, Strips

1. Overview

LED lighting technologies, including Chip-on-Board (COB), LED Engines, Modules, and Strips, represent advanced solid-state lighting solutions. These components integrate semiconductor diodes to convert electrical energy into light, offering superior energy efficiency, longevity, and design flexibility compared to traditional lighting. Their importance spans industries such as architecture, automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial automation, driven by demands for sustainable and smart lighting systems.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
COBs	High-density LED arrays mounted directly on substrates, providing uniform light distribution and simplified thermal management.	Commercial downlights, high-bay warehouse lighting, film/photography lighting.
Engines	Pre-assembled units combining LEDs, drivers, and optics for plug-and-play integration.	Smart home lighting systems, retrofit lamps, horticultural grow lights.
Modules	Standardized units with LED arrays and integrated circuits for modular system design.	Office panel lighting, tunnel illumination, outdoor streetlights.
Strips	Flexible PCB-based linear arrays for customizable length and color control.	Architectural accent lighting, vehicle underglow, signage backlighting.

3. Structure and Components

Typical structures include:

COBs: Ceramic/aluminum substrate + multiple LED chips + phosphor coating + silicone encapsulation.
Engines: LED chip(s) + constant-current driver IC + primary optics + thermal interface material.
Modules: PCB board + SMD LEDs + secondary optics + connector terminals.
Strips: Flexible FPCB + RGB/W LED diodes + current-limiting resistors + adhesive backing.

All variants utilize semiconductor materials like GaN-on-SiC for blue/white emission or AlInGaP for red/yellow wavelengths.

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Description	Importance
Luminous Flux (lm)	Measure of total visible light output.	Determines brightness suitability for space.
Color Rendering Index (CRI)	Ability to accurately render object colors (0-100 scale).	Critical for retail, healthcare, and photography.
Correlated Color Temperature (CCT)	Light appearance from warm (2700K) to cool (6500K).	Affects ambiance and circadian rhythm regulation.
Lifespan (L70)	Operating hours until 70% lumen maintenance.	Reduces long-term maintenance costs.
Thermal Resistance ( C/W)	Efficiency of heat dissipation.	Impacts reliability and maximum drive current.

5. Application Fields

Architecture: Office lighting (Modules), hotel accenting (Strips), museum displays (COBs)
Automotive: Headlights (COBs), interior mood lighting (Strips), dashboard indicators (Modules)
Consumer Electronics: Smart bulb replacements (Engines), gaming PC lighting (Strips)
Industrial: Machine vision systems (COBs), warehouse safety lighting (Modules)

6. Leading Manufacturers

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Features
Cree (now Wolfspeed)	XLamp COB Arrays	3000K-5700K CCT range, 80 CRI, 1500mA max current
Osram	OSTAR LED Engines	Integrated driver, DALI compatibility, automotive-grade reliability
Philips Lighting	CorePro Modules	IEC 62031 compliant, 50,000-hour lifespan
Samsung LED	LPD8 Strips	Addressable RGB control, IP65 rating, 24V operation

7. Selection Recommendations

Key considerations:

Match L70 lifespan to maintenance schedules (e.g., 50,000+ hours for hard-to-reach installations)
Select CRI 90 for critical color applications vs. CRI 80 for general lighting
Verify IP rating compatibility (IP20 for indoor vs. IP67 for outdoor Strips)
Evaluate thermal management needs - COBs require heatsinks, Strips need ventilation
Check dimming compatibility (PWM vs. constant current reduction)

Case Study: Retail store lighting selected 4000K COBs with 95 CRI for product displays, achieving 40% energy savings over halogen systems while improving color accuracy.

8. Industry Trends

Emerging developments include:

Micro-LED integration for sub-100 m pixel densities in displays
HDR lighting systems using tunable white Modules
LiFi-enabled Engines for data transmission through light
UV-C disinfection modules for healthcare applications
Recyclable phosphor materials to meet EU RoHS standards

Market growth is projected at 12.3% CAGR (2023-2030), driven by smart city initiatives and automotive LED adoption.