What is an LED
Learn More Ab out LEDs 1. What is an LED? A light emitting diode (LED) is a tiny, electronic semiconductor that converts electric energy into visible light. The chemical compound used within an LED determines its color, brightness and power efficiency. Unlike incandescent lamps, LEDs have no filaments that can burn out or fail. Surface Mount LEDs Surface Mount Devices, or SMD for short, refers to the LED lead frame mounting method. LEDs are mounted to the surface of the circuit board. The SMD contains red, green and blue die. Through-Hole LEDs Through-hole LEDs are mounted with leads protruding through the circuit board and appear to stand taller. Each LED is a single-color die of either red, green or blue. LEDs come in two different forms. Manufacturers use several types of LEDs to construct digital displays. The two most common are Through-Hole LEDs and Surface Mount Device (SMD) LEDs, also known as Surface Mount Technology (SMT). Each type has its re...