Colorimetry and efficiency of white LEDs : Spectral width dependence

The potential colour rendering capability and efficiency of white LEDs constructed by a combination of individual red, green and blue (RGB) LEDs are analysed. The conventional measurement of colour rendering quality, the colour rendering index (CRI), is used as well as a recently proposed colour quality scale (CQS), designed to overcome some of the limitations of CRI when narrow-band emitters are being studied. The colour rendering performance is maximised by variation of the peak emission wavelength and relative intensity of the component LEDs, with the constraint that the spectral widths follow those measured in actual devices. The highest CRI achieved is 89.5, corresponding to a CQS value of 79, colour temperature of 3800 K and a luminous efficacy of radiation (LER) of 365 lm/W. By allowing the spectral width of the green LED to vary the CRI can be raised to 90.9, giving values of 82.5 and 370 lm/W for the CQS and LER, respectively. The significance of these values are discussed in terms of optimising the possible performance of RGB LEDs

An Efficient Synthesis and Photoelectric Properties of Green Carbon Quantum Dots with High Fluorescent Quantum Yield

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)To greatly improve the production quality and efficiency of carbon quantum dots (CQDs), and provide a new approach for the large-scale production of high-quality CQDs, green carbon quantum dots (g-CQDs) with high product yield (PY) and high fluorescent quantum yield (QY) were synthesized by an efficient one-step solvothermal method with 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene as the carbon source and ethylenediamine as the nitrogen dopant in this study. The PY and QY of g-CQDs were optimised by adjusting reaction parameters such as an amount of added ethylenediamine, reaction temperature, and reaction duration. The results showed that the maximum PY and QY values of g-CQDs were achieved, which were 70.90% and 62.98%, respectively when the amount of added ethylenediamine, reaction temperature, and reaction duration were 4 mL, 180 °C, and 12 h, respectively. With the optimised QY value of g-CQDs, white light emitting diodes (white LEDs) were prepared by combining g-CQDs and blue chip. The colour rendering index of white LEDs reached 87, and the correlated colour temperature was 2520 K, which belongs to the warm white light area and is suitable for indoor lighting. These results indicate that g-CQDs have potential and wide application prospects in the field of white LEDs.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Assessment of color quality and energy effciency : new insights for modern lighting. Part I : color quality in general lighting applications. Part II : mesopic photometry and street lighting

This dissertation is divided in two parts: The first one deal with two main characteristics of the light sources for general lighting: Color quality and luminous efficacy. The second one deals with technical aspects of the mesopic photometry applied in street lighting. The first part begins by proposing a method to generate a new color rendering index, consisting of a three-dimensional visual index, which was named 3D-CRM. In order to illustrate the use of this method and index, three examples of lighting application were performed: Artwork, meat and fruit. The results show the goodness of the visual index 3D-CRM, that is also accompanied by a numeric index that indicates how the light source tested fits with the gamut of colors required by the specific lighting application. Complementing the preceding proposal, a statistical analysis was performed in order to define the parameters that make up the color quality of light sources. This statistical study was based on a collection of more than 100 real and ideal spectra of light sources. As a result, it was found that there is another variable that can complement the CRI index to indicate the color quality. This is the proposed index Oc (Optimal Color), which is based on the calculation of volumes generated with the spectrum of test source and several ideal spectra of reflectance to get optimal colors (high saturated colors) at different luminance levels. This fisrt part of the dissertation ends by proposing an index to generate a classification of light sources according to the requirements of the lighting application and the parameters such as correlated color temperature (CCT), luminous efficacy of radiation (LER) and color quality (CQ). It was demonstrated that the new proposed index called ECQ (Efficacy and Color Quality), is able to generate a useful ranking when assessing a collection of spectra, by giving a desired CCT and the weight that efficacy and color quality have in the lighting application studied. By using some examples of different lighting applications (i.e. different weights for color quality and efficacy) it was demonstrated how versatile and useful the ECQ index is. In the second part of this dissertation, a comparison of laboratory measurements between two different types of goniophotometers is made. The first one is a standard and photometer-based one, which uses the far-field for measurement. The second one has a more recent technology, uses a CCD camera and photometer as sensors, as well as the near field for measurement. This comparison exercise validates the measurements from the near-field goniophotometer, since up to moment, for this type of measurement and type of sensor (CCD camera), there are no laboratories with international traceability that can verify or calibrate this measurement system. The comparison exercise shows that there is a very good fit between both measures performed to standard light bulbs; therefore results of the near-field goniophotometer are validated. In recent measures performed at the Light and lighting laboratory of K.U. Leuven in Ghent, it was found that near field goniophotometer has a reduced luminous intensity dynamic range, for this reason exists an error measuring low luminous intensities in a luminarie with a sharp LID such as PAR30 Spot light bulb. After that, some aspects of the Recommended System for Mesopic Photometry Based on Visual Performance, CIE191:2010 are analysed. Finally it is presented a proposal of a new metrics called Energy Consumption Index (Qsa) intended to assessing possible energy savings on street lighting systems. In this chapter, by using the Energy Consumption Index an evaluation of three different hypothetical scenarios for a typical city is performed to demonstrate how flexible and intuitive this index is. These scenarios assess different characteristics of the light system such as light sources types, dimming systems and also the use of photopic and mesopic photometry.Esta tesis se divide en dos partes: La primera trata con dos características principales de las fuentes de luz para la iluminación general: la calidad del color y de eficacia luminosa. El segundo se ocupa de los aspectos técnicos de la fotometría mesópica aplicada en el alumbrado público. La primera parte comienza proponiendo un procedimiento para generar un nuevo índice de rendimiento de color, que consiste en un índice visual tridimensional, llamado 3D-CRM. Con el fin de ilustrar el uso de este índice, se realizaron tres ejemplos de aplicación de iluminación: Arte, carnes y frutas. Los resultados muestran la bondad del índice visual 3D-CRM, que también se acompaña de un índice numérico que indica que tan bien una fuente de luz bajo prueba repolores la gama de colores para una aplicación de iluminación específica. Como complemento de la propuesta anterior, se realizó un análisis estadístico con el fin de definir los parámetros que componen la calidad de color de fuentes de luz. Este estudio estadístico se basa en una colección de más de 100 espectros reales e ideales de fuentes de luz. Como resultado, se encontró que hay otra variable que puede complementar el índice CRI para indicar la calidad del color. Este es el índice propuesto Oc (óptima del color), que se basa en el cálculo de los volúmenes generados con el espectro de la fuente de prueba y varios espectros ideal de reflectancia para obtener colores óptimos (colores de alta saturación) a diferentes niveles de luminancia. Esta primera parte termina proponiendo un índice para generar una clasificación de las fuentes de luz de acuerdo con los requisitos de la aplicación de iluminación y los parámetros tales como la temperatura de color correlacionada (CCT), la eficacia lumínica de radiación (LER) y la calidad de color (CQ ). Se demostró que el nuevo índice propuesto llamada ECQ (eficacia y calidad del color), es capaz de generar una clasificación útil en la evaluación de una colección de espectros, dando un CCT deseado y el peso que la eficacia y la calidad del color tienen en la aplicación de iluminación estudiado . Mediante el uso de algunos ejemplos de diferentes aplicaciones de iluminación (es decir, diferentes pesos para la calidad del color y la eficacia lumínica) se demostró la versatilidad y utilidad de este indicador. En la segunda parte de esta tesis, se hace una comparación de mediciones de laboratorio entre dos tipos diferentes de Goniofotómetros. El primero es uno estándar basada en el fotómetro, que utiliza el campo lejano para la medición. El segundo tiene una tecnología más reciente, utiliza una cámara CCD y fotómetro como sensores, así como el campo cercano para la medición. Este ejercicio de comparación valida las mediciones de la goniofotómetro de campo cercano, ya que hasta el momento, para este tipo de medición y el tipo de sensor (cámara CCD), no hay laboratorios con trazabilidad internacional que puede verificar o calibrar este sistema de medición. El ejercicio de comparación muestra que hay un muy buen ajuste entre las dos medidas realizadas a las bombillas estándar; Por lo tanto, los resultados del Goniofotómetro de campo cercano se validan. En recientes medidas realizadas en el laboratorio de luz e iluminación de K.U. Lovaina en Gante, se encontró que Goniofotómetro de campo cercano tiene un rango dinámico limitado para medición de intensidad luminosa, por esta razón existe un error de medición de bajas intensidades luminosas en una luminaria con una distribución aguda como por ejemplo un proyector de luz. Posteriormente se analizan, algunos aspectos del sistema recomendado para fotometría mesópica basado en el rendimiento visual, CIE191: 2010. Por último se presenta una propuesta de una nueva métrica llamada Índice de Consumo de Energía (Qsa) destinado a evaluar los posibles ahorros de energía en los sistemas de alumbrado públic

Optimising Light Source Spectrum to Reduce the Energy Absorbed by Objects

Light is used to illuminate objects in the built environment. Humans can only observe light reflected from an object. Light absorbed by an object turns into heat and does not contribute to visibility. Since the spectral output of the new lighting technologies can be tuned, it is possible to imagine a lighting system that detects the colours of objects and emits customised light to minimise the absorbed energy. Previous optimisation studies investigated the use of narrowband LEDs to maximise the efficiency and colour quality of a light source. While these studies aimed to tune a white light source for general use, the lighting system proposed here minimises the energy consumed by lighting by detecting colours of objects and emitting customised light onto each coloured part of the object. This thesis investigates the feasibility of absorption-minimising light source spectra and their impact on the colour appearance of objects and energy consumption. Two computational studies were undertaken to form the theoretical basis of the absorption-minimising light source spectra. Computational simulations show that the theoretical single-peak spectra can lower the energy consumption up to around 38 % to 62 %, and double-peak test spectra can result in energy savings up to 71 %, without causing colour shifts. In these studies, standard reference illuminants, theoretical test spectra and coloured test samples were used. These studies are followed by the empirical evidence collected from two psychophysical experiments. Data from the experiments show that observers find the colour appearance of objects equally natural and attractive under spectrally optimised spectra and reference white light sources. An increased colour difference, to a certain extent, is found acceptable, which allows even higher energy savings. However, the translucent nature of some objects may negatively affect the results

Colour Rendering Index and colour rendering of LEDs

The purpose of this study was to understand CIE (Commission Internationale del Eclairage) Colour Rendering Index (CRI) and its deficiencies. Another aim was to find out limitation of CIE CRI for LEDs. Finally, current works on colour rendering of LEDs was examined in the study. CIE (Commission Internationale del Eclairage) Colour Rendering Index (CRI) is the only internationally recognized colour rendering metric. This metric expresses the colour rendering properties of light sources based on colour shift of test objects when illuminated by reference illuminant and test source. The CIE method to obtain CRI is called CIE test colour (sample) method. Despite of prominence, CIE test colour method has numerous deficiencies. The problems of CIE test colour method became more serious when applied to white light emitting diode based sources. Various studies have indicated that even LEDs with low values of CIE CRI can produce visually appealing, vivid, and natural light. CIE technical committee TC1-62 concluded that the CIE CRI is generally not applicable to predict the colour rendering rank order of white LEDs light sources. The colour quality of light sources is not just a colour difference. Colour discrimination, colour harmony, colour preference, colour acceptability, visual clarity, and brightness are some known dimensions of light source colour quality. For different application different light sources are suitable and relevant dimensions of light source colour quality should be used to select appropriate light sources as per the application. The universal colour rendering metric should be able to define all the dimensions of light source colour quality

Color Graphics in the Service of Light-Source Visualization and Design

In the world of lighting engineering, one of the most active areas of research and industrial application is in the definition of the color rendering properties of light sources. There is a current international standard, and several new methods have been proposed over the last decade. Ordinary consumers are frequently left with little or no knowledge of how to interpret the numerical data produced by any of these systems. This situation has been exacerbated with the advent of LED light sources with widely differing properties. Certain LEDs yield very different results depending on the particular metric in use. We have designed a color graphical system that allows a user to pick a set of (typically) 16 surface color samples, and to be given a realistic comparison of the colors when illuminated by two different light sources, shown on a side-by-side display on a color monitor. This provides a visual analogy to the computations built into the above-mentioned metrics, all of which are based on comparison techniques. This chapter will provide an insight into the design and operation of our lighting computer graphics visualization system. Mention will also be made of similar systems that may be found in the published literature

Superior color rendering with a phosphor-converted blue-cyan monolithic light-emitting diode

The future generation of modern illumination should not only be cheap and highly efficient, but also demonstrate high quality of light, light which allows better color differentiation and fidelity. Here we are presenting a novel approach to create a white solid-state light source providing ultimate color rendition necessary for a number of applications. The proposed semi-hybrid device combines a monolithic blue-cyan light emitting diode (MBC LED) with a green-red phosphor mixture. It has shown a superior color rendering index (CRI), 98.6, at correlated color temperature of around 3400 K. The MBC LED epi-structure did not suffer from the efficiency reduction typical for monolithic multi-color emitters and was implemented in the two most popular chip designs: “epi-up” and “flip-chip”. Redistribution of the blue and cyan band amplitudes in the white-light emission spectrum, using the operating current, is found to be an effective tool for fine tuning the color characteristics. (Figure presented.)

Perception-Aware Optimisation Methodologies for Quantum Dot Based Displays and Lighting

Human colour vision acuity is limited. This presents opportunities to leverage these perceptual limits to achieve engineering optimisations for devices and systems that interact with the human vision system. This dissertation presents the results of few investigations we carried out into quantifying these limits and several optimisation methodologies that we devised. The first step in this process is to quantify the acuity of human colour vision. We obtained a large corpus of colour matching data from a mobile video game called Specimen. We examine what questions about human vision this dataset allows us to answer and explore global statistics about colour vision based on this data on 41,000 players from 175 countries. We show that we can use the information in this dataset to infer potential candidate functions for the spectral sensitivities of each person in the dataset. The human eye acts like a many to one function; quantifiably different spectra can look like the same colour. This is referred to as metamerism. From a device perspective, different spectra consume different amounts of energy to generate. We show that we can use these two properties to elicit the same colour sensation using less energy. In the colour samples we evaluated, we show that we can achieve up to 10 times less power consumption while achieving a colour match. Given that one cannot change the emission spectrum of a display after fabrication, we propose the use of a multi-primary colour display to achieve this. We present two indices for quantifying the metameric capacity of such a display and its ability to save energy. The emission spectrum of a quantum dot (QD) based device is very narrow. Previous work in the literature suggested that narrow bandwidth spectra can lead to observer metameric breakdown; different observers disagreeing on the perceived ‘colour’ of a spectrum. We show that this might not be the case, using modern colour science tools, and show how metameric breakdown in a display could be minimised by carefully choosing the primary emission wavelengths. The limited colour acuity of human vision implies that people cannot notice small differences in colour. This fact has been used to create approximate colour transformation algorithms that subtly change colours in images such that they consume less energy when displayed on an emissive pixel display without causing unacceptable visual artefacts. We conducted a user study to gather information about the effect of one such colour transform called Crayon. We present a method for effectively picking the optimal transform parameters for Crayon, based on the user study results. The method presented calculates these parameters based on the properties of the image being transformed such that the power saving can be maximised while minimising the loss of image quality. The user study results show that we can achieve up to 50% power saving with a majority of the study participants reporting a negligible degradation in image quality in the transformed images. We additionally investigate a hypothesis that was presented stating that images with large amounts of highly luminous pixels cause increased power consumption in OLED displays due to localised display heating. We show that this hypothesis is wrong. We also investigate if sub-pixel rendering in Pentile displays can be used to reduce display power consumption by intentionally turning off random sub-pixels. However, we present a negative result showing that even single-pixel artefacts are observable on the test platform and thus, this cannot be used to improve display power efficiency. The narrow-band optical emissions of QD based devices mixed with their ability to be fabricated through solution processing can be used to mix multiple QDs together to build devices that generate arbitrary spectral shapes. We show how to use this property in an numerical optimisation based design framework to create lighting devices with a high colour rendering index (CRI). We evaluate the effects of different cost functions and initialisation strategies, and show that, we are able to design devices with a CRI > 96 using only four different QD primaries. We use a charge-transport based simulator to asses the electric properties of the designed devices. We also showcase initial work done on a modular software interface and a material library we developed for this simulator.EPSRC DTP studentship award RG84040:EP/N509620/