Packaging & Materials: Fiber-Optic Backlit Panels reach 30-ft-L Brightness

Aug. 23, 2004

Backlit panels that require no inverter and generate no heat or interference yet possess a brightness level up to 30 ft-L sound unlikely, but that's not so with the UniGlo Optima fiber-optic backlit panels. These exceptionally thin (down to 0.013 in.) panels use 3- or 5-mm LED light sources with a lifetime of 100,000 hours or more. Power consumption is typically 3.6 V at 20 to 30 mA. One LED consuming 20 mA at 3.6 V dc or less can light as much as 20 in.²With its backlighting technology, the fiber-optic backlight can have preselected die-cut holes or notches through the back reflector. This accomodates a visual spot for indicator lights positioned on the circuit board. Panel pricing starts at $0.25/ft² in production quantities.

Lumitex Inc.www.lumitex.com (800) 969-5483

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.