Color Variation Reduction of GaN-Based White Light-Emitting Diodes Via Peak-Wavelength Stabilization

The color, electrical, and thermal properties of LED devices are highly dependent on one another. The peak wavelength of GaN-based white LED shifts in opposite directions under the influences of current and junction temperature change. This affects the correlated color temperature (CCT). Importantly, duty cycle control for LED dimming does not provide constant color (against conventional wisdom). An analysis model that links the peak wavelength, electrical, and thermal properties of LED devices is proposed. The color-shift trend of the LED with respect to the changes in its thermal and electrical operating conditions is described. The stabilized CCT performance of a dc or a bilevel-driven LED over a dimming range is found to be a result of the complex interactions between the selected current levels, duty cycle, thermal resistances of the heatsink and device, heat dissipation conversion ratio, and the physical parameters of the LED device. The predicted color variation is verified by experimental results, which demonstrate that the CCT stabilization of an LED with a dc drive requires less thermal energy than that with a bilevel drive. For a given thermal design, the reduction in CCT variation during light intensity change is possible via the combined adjustment of the current level and its duty cycle over the dimming operation.