As early as 1962, about 50 years ago, Nick Holonyak together with his team in GE developed the first Light Emitting Diode (LED). Today, LED lighting technology can be seen everywhere in the world – from bridges to vehicle headlights, from keychain to flashlight. As the 4th generation lighting source, LED is even supposed as the lighting source that brighter than the sunlight. But the initial research and development works were full filled with uncertainty and competitive. At that moment, LED lighting technology was just a result from another pioneering technology – laser. However, in the followed days, LED Panel Light has been in the constant evolution and now has been one of the major lighting applications in many areas. What the history of LED? About this question, reporters interviewed Professor Holland Yake from the University of Illinois:
What the initial reaction that LED received from the market?
When I noticed that I am working on the way of LED development, I have already defeated the entire world by applying my alloy technology in the field of laser. One editor of the “Reader’s Digest” called me in February 1963 and pointed out to me that LED lighting technology will one day cover the entire spectrum and become the most suitable lighting source for white-rays. I believed his words. But in my opinion, this will take more than 50 years.
About the Laser?
It has been recognized for a very long time that light has no coherence. Otherwise, they cannot be captured by our eyes. Since human eyes can only sense incoherence light. In 1962, Lincoln Laboratories of MIT was still under the leadership of Robert Rediker. They invented a kind of diode that can self-emit multiple rays and used it to send out IR signals. When they published a copy of relevant report in July, we predicted that this new device will make the coherence light be possible.
How big is the first LED?
Very small. Of course, if you want, you can make it much bigger. Actually, people are now doing this job. You know, in the area of semiconductor application, semiconductors are always the final winner and swept the electronic products.
What was the original LED looks like?
LED you see today is on a relatively cheap platform, which is just a formality. In fact, LED can be made in various forms, various colors, various geometries.