ʵ

News

LEDs change laboratory measurements of light

Measurements of LED lighting become more reliable when 90-years old reference spectrum of incandescent lamps is complemented with a new reference spectrum of white LEDs.
Kuvassa oleva LED-standardivalonlähde kehitettiin EMPIR PhotoLED -projektissa ja siinä käytetyt valkoiset LEDit on valittu uuden valkoisen spektrin eli CIE reference spectrum L41:n mukaisesti. Kuva: Tuomas Poikonen / VTT
LED-based light source developed in PhotoLED project. The LED chips have been selected to produce a spectrum of light resembling the new reference spectrum CIE L41. Photo: Tuomas Poikonen / VTT

International Commission on Illumination (CIE) has published Technical Report CIE 251:2023 LED Reference Spectrum for Photometer Calibration, related to laboratory measurements of LED lighting. Dr. Tuomas Poikonen from VTT MIKES chaired the technical committee TC 2-90 that produced the report as a collaboration of 29 members from 16 countries. The work was initiated 10 years ago by Professor Erkki Ikonen from Aalto University when it became evident that significant improvements on measurements of LED lighting can be achieved, if the old reference spectrum of incandescent lamp calibrations is complemented with a new reference spectrum of white LEDs. 

Poikonen says that ”the technical report CIE 251:2023 will serve industry as a guideline for laboratory measurements. The new reference spectrum will be used for calibration of photometers that are needed for measurements of LED lighting.”

”Better tests and measurements finally improve the quality of luminaires sold to consumers. We demonstrated that white LED reference spectrum in calibration of photometers produces lower uncertainty in lighting measurements of LED luminaires.  In addition, we observed that the same reference spectrum works well also in measurements of day light and fluorescent lamps,” he continues.

Photometer is a measurement device to quantify the amount of light observed by a standardized human eye. Measurement of photometric characteristics of luminaires and lighting systems is an important stage in all product development.

”Consumers have already changed incandescent lamps to LED lamps. After global adoption of the LED reference spectrum, measurement equipment manufacturers can start producing dedicated LED light sources for calibration laboratories”, professor Ikonen adds.

”Photometers will be calibrated in the future using LED light sources also in our laboratory at Aalto University.  It is important for the reliability of measurements that a smooth transition is ensured for customer photometer calibrations when changing from incandescent based reference spectrum to LED based reference spectrum,” he continues. 

An international research group led by Poikonen studied 1500 different types of LED lamps to reach statistically meaningful results for the definition of the reference spectrum. Part of the results of Technical Report CIE 251:2023 has been produced in the EU funded PhotoLED project ()

Introduction of the Technical Report CIE 251:2023 .

Further information:

Dr. Tuomas Poikonen
VTT
tuomas.poikonen@vtt.fi
phone +358 50 5904 070

Professor Erkki Ikonen
Aalto University and VTT
erkki.ikonen@aalto.fi
phone +358 50 5502 283

  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!

Read more news

Close-up of a complex scientific instrument with golden components and various wires, in a laboratory setting.
Press releases Published:

Time crystals could power future quantum computers

A time crystal, a long-life quantum system approaching perpetual motion, has been hooked up to its environment for the first time, unlocking an intriguing way to increase quantum computational and sensing power.
A person in black touches a large stone sculpture outside a brick building under a blue sky.
Campus, Research & Art, University Published:

Glitch artwork challenges to see art in a different light

Laura Könönen's sculpture was unveiled on 14 October at the Otaniemi campus.
Book cover of 'Nanoparticles Integrated Functional Textiles' edited by Md. Reazuddin Repon, Daiva Mikučioniene, and Aminoddin Haji.
Research & Art Published:

Nanoparticles in Functional Textiles

Dr. Md. Reazuddin Repon, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Textile Chemistry Group, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, has contributed as an editor to a newly published academic volume titled “Nanoparticles Integrated Functional Textiles”.
Person standing outdoors in autumn, wearing a grey hoodie and green jacket. Trees in the background with orange leaves.
Appointments Published:

Introducing Qi Chen: Trustworthy AI requires algorithms that can handle unexpected situations

AI developers must focus on safer and fairer AI methods, as the trust and equality of societies are at stake, says new ELLIS Institute Finland principal investigator Qi Chen