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Color Consistency What to Look For

Color and Energy

The Frame of Reference

Black Body Curve CCT

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MacAdam Ellipses

1 Ellipse is defined as the ability to see the change in color

David MacAdam
The uv measure is similar to X,Y in an updated format
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White is White - Right?

Color variation issues with LEDs

Variation in LED wave length Variation in Phosphor Variation in Thermal Properties

Color shift over time Color shift over temperature Color shift over drive current.

Sources of Color Variation

ANSI C78.377 Chromaticity Requirement

LED Color Bins Vs. ANSI Spec.

Which Color bin is Good Enough? Is a Sub-Bin Required? Can I get a Sub-Bin in Production Volume?
LED Manufacturer A

LED Manufacturer B

LED Manufacturer C

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Source Philips, Osram, Cree, Nichia - Web based data sheets

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LED Manufacturer D

LED Color Bins Vs. ANSI Spec.

4 Step MacAdam Ellipse 6 Step MacAdam Ellipse 1 Step MacAdam Ellipse Virtually the Same CCT Virtually the Spans Ends of Same CCT ANSI Spec Well within ANSI CCT only gets Specification you in the ball Good Enough? park 3004 CCT 3019 CCT X = 0.445 X3013 CCT = 0.442 Y = 0.442 YX = 0.438 = 0.417 Y = 0.407
LED Manufacturer CCT 3018 A 3023 CCT

3025 CCT X = 0.435 X = 0.431 X = 0.428 Y = 0.402 Y = 0.394 Y = 0.388

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Color Consistency Requirements Depend on Application

MacAdam 1942 Visual sensitivities to color differences in daylight J. Opt. Soc. Am. 32:247-274

1 step just noticeable difference 2 step required for white scenes 4 step acceptable for colored scenes

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What you need to Choose

Select Color Temperature (CCT)

Cool or Warm White CCT only gets you in the Ball park

Understand Application Consistency Requirement

Is ANSI good enough? Define requirement in MacAdam Steps or X,Y Box
+/- 2 SDCM

Recommendation
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Specifying colors with LEDs - Checklist

Item Is the LED color specification centered at the Black Body Curve? Can the LED Supplier show boundary samples at ends of quoted color specification? Can the selected color bin be supported in production volumes? Does the supplier have color maintenance Data? Color shift over time and temperature Is the color consistent over angle Energy Star Specification

Yes

No

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