Why Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions LED Lighting

Engineering with LEDs is surprisingly subtle with a respect to a variety of factors, namely technical, thermal, placement, binning, and optics issues. As a buyer, it's important to keep the following considerations in mind when searching for the ideal LED illumination solution and equally important to be savvy about choosing a solid state lighting system manufacturer - one that meets the specification needs for today and one that will provide the performance and reliability expected in the future. Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions suggests that you consider all of the following criteria when evaluating intelligent LED illumination systems. Considerations

Are the lighting systems analog or digital?

Traditional lighting and some LED lighting is analog in nature. As the current is adjusted, intensity and color can vary. In general, analog systems are susceptible to color variations, choppiness and "jumps" from one color to another. Analog systems cannot be used as effectively in large installations with many individually controlled fixtures, they can not be used with the latest generation power package LEDs, and are also subject to noise and thermal issues with possibilities of failure. Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions systems are digital end to end, offering clear advantages over analog systems. The company created digital control technologies and a robust proprietary library of algorithms and techniques that are employed in all CK intelligent LED systems including: high speed pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques to provide flicker free operation, noise shaping pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques to eliminate harmonics between adjacent fixtures, application of constant current to prolong life and maintain consistency of light output to manufacturer's specification, integral and differential nonlinearity to assure accuracy of the data signal response, 14-bit or greater nonlinear scaling techniques for high resolution output resulting in smoother color changes and transitions matched to the response of the human eye especially at low intensity levels, and clean, noise-resistant data transmission allowing increased distance and length of installation.

How well engineered are the LED-based fixtures?

There's more to engineering an LED fixture than placing LEDs on a circuit board and putting it in an enclosure. The entire fixture and its integrated LED-based light source must take into account thermal, optical, regulatory, environmental, installation, as well as aesthetic considerations in its design. Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions has the technology know-how, encompassing hardware, software, optics and thermal control for optimum fixture performance. CK develops small, efficient control and drive circuits and effective implementations of flexible, well-tested code. Overheating within the fixture can cause failure and decreased LED lifetime. To minimize heat issues, CK fixtures are engineered with the following in mind: propriety and patented thermal management techniques to provide better heat flow, LEDs operated at constant and carefully regulated current levels, fixture housings--including sealed fixtures for wet and damp and submersible applications--are designed to control internal ambient temperature, and some systems include internal temperature monitoring firmware. For ease of installation and troubleshooting, all LED-based fixtures: are reverse polarity protected in hardwired systems, provide feedback upon application of power, and meet or exceed regulatory compliance

Does the manufacturer provide a complete systems solution?

The LED fixture is only part of the whole picture. When evaluating intelligent LED illumination solutions, it is critical to look at the whole system: the fixture, how it is powered, and how it is controlled. Are all of the necessary components of a system designed and optimized to work together? Is it a tested and proven system. Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions designs, develops, and manufacturers complete system solutions: everything needed to light up, power up, and control intelligent LED illumination. Robust power/data supplies are expertly designed to provide power and condition data while maintaining the integrity of the entire system through: current limiting protection, miswiring protection, power factor correction, conduit-ready connections, and the inclusion of a minimum of an IP20 rated housing ready for dry location installation This holistic approach assures that the entire system is optimized to work together and meets regulatory compliance, all while providing a high level of flexibility in installation design.

What is the degree of control capability, if any?

Do the LED systems integrate into other control systems, such as DMX512 or architectural control systems? Each project is unique in its requirements for controlling LED sources depending on the desired effect. LED systems may comprise the entire project, or they may be just one element in a larger architectural or entertainment system requiring centralized control of numerous other devices. Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions systems present powerful intelligence, making it easy to interface with standard protocols, providing vast numbers of lighting effect options, whether the desire is to network and synchronize lights or control them discretely. Control options for many CK systems span the range of: stand alone control, simple "push of a button" network control, economical, easy-to-use authoring and playback solutions, full three channel DMX512 support, an advanced lighting network architecture with the ability to integrate into existing networks using IP over Ethernet, and integration with third party architectural control systems including Lutron, Vantage, LiteTouch, and more.

Is the level of control scalable?

Many LED systems are limited in the number of lights or addresses that can be controlled. Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions intelligent LED systems are flexible, supporting frame rates greater than 30 frames per second, and may be scaled in size depending upon installation design needs. This flexibility offers solutions that operate equally well in small, medium and large projects whether control is for a single fixture or tens of thousands of fixtures where each fixture or node is individually addressable.

What does the manufacturer do to ensure color consistency in its products?

There are inherent variations in the fabrication processes of all semiconductor materials. For LEDs, this variance results in differences in the color and intensity of light output as well as electrical characteristics. Due to these differences, the LED manufacturers sort production into "bins," but ensuring the availability of a single bin is very difficult. To minimize this issue and achieve optimal color consistency in its products, Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions developed and uses a proprietary technology called Optibin™. Optibin is an advanced production binning optimization process that minimizes the effects of LED variance for the best possible output uniformity in the final product and the most consistent control of color and intensity from product to product. CK has strategic relationships with the leading suppliers of LEDs to ensure use of only the best quality and highest brightness LEDs per product class, giving the truest color and best light intensity.

What does the manufacturer do to ensure product quality?

When specifying intelligent LED systems, you want to be sure that the products have undergone design and manufacturing quality procedures. Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions employs a comprehensive Quality Management System. New products are based on extensive market research and on-going dialog with end users and lighting design experts. New product concepts are based on researched technology options and guided by the following principles: streamlined designs and efficient use of circuit components, use of proven circuits and circuit components, Design FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) to assess and mitigate risks, Process FMEA to identify possible manufacturing failures, their causes and effects, and designs which adhere to and exceed appropriate industry and regulatory standards. Products undergo rigorous verification and validation by CK Engineering and Quality teams, and certified external labs to ensure that the products will work reliably even under the most stringent environments. Tests are based on well established Mil-Standards, IEC standards, and UL/CE requirements and include: functional: products tested over temperature and voltage variations, electrical: ESD, different voltage and current fault conditions, and electro-magnetic interference tests, temperature: long term exposure to high and low temperature environment and cycling between these temperature extremes, mechanical: vibration, shock, drop and transportation , operating life: long term operation in high and low temperature ambient and power cycling, and enclosure: seal integrity, corrosion resistance and environmental protection. To ensure that products are appropriately designed for manufacturing, CK conducts production planning and test capability analyses including: product manufacturability reviews, manufacturing Process Flow and verification through Process FMEA and Capability Studies, inspection and test equipment and verification through Measurement System Analysis, Control Plan for Statistical Process Control, and closed loop Continuous Improvement. All Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions lighting products undergo a minimum eight-hour burn in test during manufacturing.

Do the products and systems meet appropriate regulatory compliance? What supporting evidence is available?

To ensure a smooth installation and safety compliance, be sure that the intelligent LED systems meet code and regulatory requirements. Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions designs and tests its products to meet appropriate code and regulatory compliance including UL, CUL, CE, PSE, FCC and IEC regulations, when applicable. Supporting compliance documentation can be found on the Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions website at http://www.colorkinetics.com/support/compliance.

What degree of technical data is provided with the LED lighting products?

To ensure the successful specification and installation of the LED system, it is critical that the manufacturer offer extensive technical documentation and support, not only on the LED fixtures but also on an entire system. Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions offers a wealth of technical documentation and support information for its systems including: photometrics (optical performance, polar diagrams, relevant luminance and illuminance data , IES files in accordance with IES LM-63-2002) provided in both graphical and electronic formats based on test results from an independent testing lab, mechanical, electrical, network communication and environmental specifications, installation guides, system wiring diagrams, application notes on integrating with third party systems, tutorials, regulatory compliance documentation, applications engineering services. All of this information is readily available on CK's website at www.colorkinetics.com/support.

Does the manufacturer offer on-site support services?

Installations and build-outs happen at all hours of the day and night. It is important that technical support be available when it's needed. Additionally, some projects may require the services of an on-site factory-trained engineer for start up and/or programming. Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions is available 24/7 for technical, integration, and warranty support. In addition, the company offers the commission of applications engineering services to assist with show design programming or to ensure Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions lighting systems are properly installed and operational.

Does the company invest in R&D? Is its intellectual property recognized by official organizations?

As a purchaser of intelligent lighting systems, you want to know that the company with whom you are doing business is committed to research and development efforts, and that those efforts and their resulting products are recognized byintellectual property (IP) governing authorities worldwide. With a constant eye towards innovation, Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions is committed to realizing the broad potential for LED illumination. The company's research and development efforts are reflected by its ever-growing intellectual property portfolio, which covers a range of emerging digital technologies and methods of controlling LED sources for wide-ranging applications, including entertainment, networking, and aesthetics, among many others. CK's products and/or product literature are clearly marked with applicable patent information. More information on CK's issued patents is available at http://www.colorkinetics.com/technologies/ipinfo/patents/.

What other reputable companies and specifiers have worked with the company and its products? How long have installations been up and running?

Specifiers and purchasers of intelligent LED systems want to ensure that the company supplying these systems has a bevy of successful, time-tested installations worldwide. Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions is the pioneer of intelligent LED illumination technology and has been designing and delivering systems based on this technology since 1997. CK has thousands of high profile installations of varying size, environments, and network control complexity around the globe, many specified by the world's most renowned lighting designers and architects. A sampling of installations can be found on the CK's website at www.colorkinetics.com/showcase.

Who is the company? Is it well funded?

Buyer beware. It is prudent to be wary of manufacturers who are not recognized leaders in LED illumination systems. The buyer will want the comfort that the systems are backed by a company that will be there to provide continued support and innovations in the future. Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions has been in business since 1997 and has spent a great deal of research focusing on the developments in the field of LED lighting. The company provides unparalleled knowledge, years of experience, and time-tested installations; and its technologies and products are supported by far-reaching intellectual property portfolio. CK is a Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 50 and Inc. 500 company, recognized for its exceptional revenue growth. The company combines a strong, experienced management team, distinguished directors and advisors, and multi-talented employees across the board to provide a sharp focus on growth, quality, and operational excellence to achieve bottom-line results and ensure long-term success.