Uniform light displays are important in production indication, marketing and lighting displays; it becomes critical for safety indication and communication. This means that the light sources used to create the illumination or display lighting must be bright, provide sufficient contrast and easily readable. Due to their reliability, variability, small size, long life, low power consumption and lower heat generation, LEDs are taking over more of this market everyday with no end in sight.

The available color rendering and uniformity of LEDs have essentially opened up a new palette of color for designers to use when designing an LED based color display. The added characteristics of saturation, sharpness and controllability allow for a display that is not only clear, attractive, attention grabbing and reliable but can be harmonized to complement the finished product. In cases where uniform illumination is required but not for display purposes, such as facility illumination or equipment indication, LEDs still offer increased benefits over other lighting types.

The ability of LEDS to produce an instant on and off, make them especially powerful when used with an automation system. Whether it is a full-fledged Building Automation System where the LED system is automated for increased power efficiency, in a factory where a PLC controller creates sequence understanding or communication displays that are changed regularly for public messages and information sharing, LEDs provide a flexible and fully programmable lighting source. The programming of the LED system can be set-up to the point where user’s can access and adjust brightness, color and patterns from virtually and local PC or web address that has been tied into the automation system allowing ‘on the fly’ changes. This is particularly powerful in marketing, backlighting and both public and private safety or informative messages.

Uniformity can also be further increased when LEDs are used in conjunction with light tubes or pipes. Attaching a light pipe to the LED, provides a flexible means for extending the light to a panel or display in an even more uniform way. There is simply no lighting source available that will provide more uniform display and illumination options.

If your head is swimming just thinking of the possibilities and generating questions about specific applications, the knowledgeable professionals at VCC are here to assist. They can answer questions and will provide advice on which LEDs or LED/Litepipe configurations will meet your design requirements. Contact us today to get started.

The ability to clearly see your LED lighting circuitry in a variety of applications is critical for communication and production processes in addition to the safety of employees, clientele and members of the public. Visibility challenges are present in both indoor and outdoor applications making it necessary to test and overcome these factors for full circuit optimization and use.

Indoor LED Visibility Challenges

Indoor LED visibility challenges can range from bright ambient lighting to obstructions, temperature, environmental chemicals or the operating voltage and current being applied to the circuit. LEDs have been proven to be substantially more reliable than other lighting options but there are still considerations that must be addressed when selecting and implementing LED circuitry.

LED use in wet locations such as kitchens, where cleaning elements are present or a variety of production scenarios where chemicals or compounds can damage electrical components must be planned for and addressed. When LEDs are being implemented for panel indication or facility communication, obstructions, temperature and lighting will be your major challenges.

Outdoor LED Visibility Challenges

Planning, designing and implementing LEDs in the outdoors faces all the challenges of indoor applications and also presents new challenges. Once nature and the environment enter the picture, weather conditions such as fog, extreme temperatures, humidity and storms come into play as well as nighttime glare and the phantom effect caused by the sun, where sunlight gives the appearance of illumination.

Testing Visibility

There are a number of options for testing visibility, from human testing to software testing applications and permanent inline intensity testers. For obstructions, nothing beats having the world’s oldest tester, a human, testing visibility around obstructions both during and after design.  In the midst of production, an inline tester can be put in place that will give intensity and thus visibility readings. After production, a light probe can test intensity by measuring the current. As current increases, the intensity follows.

Specially designed LEDs are produced for wide viewing angle applications, daylight viewing and nighttime glare solutions. There are also LEDs materials and assemblies that are designed to be tamper-proof and are fully sealed to protect from the elements and environmental hazards. Selection of the correct LED device for these applications is crucial in overcoming the environmental characteristics.

One or a combination of these testing options and correct selection of LED components will ensure that your LED circuitry will be visible and provide the communication required for any specific application.

LED Selection Assistance

If you’re facing special visibility or environmental challenges, teaming with the right supplier can ease your mind and ensure that you will select and implement the right LED as well as provide information about various testing procedures and devices available on the market to meet your visibility testing needs. Contact VCC for these and all your LED needs.

There are over 45 million people in this world of ours that are legally considered blind; millions more fall under the category of visually impaired. While the mobility aids of yesterday such as a guide dog or cane just don’t encompass enough variables to truly give additional freedom. Today’s LED technology has been developed to improve a great variety of applications, including those that assist people with special visual requirements. New progress is removing barriers that, in the past, have limited the mobility of those with visual impairments. LED-based visible light communication technologies are coming to the forefront to aid those faced with visual challenges.

The strides that are being designed to promote the functionality and independence of weak-sighted persons encompass LED use. A few countries, states and cities have already implemented LED based signal lights that assist the visually impaired with traffic signals. These specially designed signals include features that can be interpreted and used by those with extremely limited sight. Recently installed elements for assisting the sight impaired with public traffic control include a variety of configurations from push buttons integrated with LED lights, vibrations and/or audible sounds. Difficulties with these units include clear sounds, clear understanding of the tone meanings and the ability to vary that tone from other environmental sounds.

The latest developments utilize a personal and individual receiver that can communicate with traffic signals and the impaired person utilizing a Global Positioning Software (GPS). This software provides communication with the satellite positioning system, the traffic signaling base and the user. A series of LEDs that are integral to the system allow those with very limited site to see a colored LED that can permit determination of the current safety conditions. This is especially helpful for persons that are sight and hearing impaired. The ability to provide a simple, yet vital message is being further developed with the intended result of applying this technology to a myriad of environments such as production floors, malls and other public events or places that are currently hard to navigate.

As these projects move forward, the ingenuity of engineers and designers has been beyond compare. Future LED application developments are not limited by anything other than imaginations of those involved. We at VCC are impressed and available to help your company move forward with innovations such as the LED personal traffic system for the visually impaired or whatever brilliant ideas you have in mind to push your company into the future and drive the genius made possible with LED devices. Contact us today to get started on your path to helping others through technology.

LED prominence and growth is only a surprise to those who have been in a deep slumber for the last ten years. The number of applications where LEDs are in use is endless. Below we will cover some of the most prominent LED applications, both indoors and outdoors, and also typical challenges and solutions for these installations.

Indoor

Applications: Indoor LED applications can range from commonly used pieces of equipment such as microwaves, computers and temperature control panels to much more complicated systems such as security, power conversion, signage and more. To list all the possibilities would take more space than I have to write or you have to read. The only limit to the number of ways LEDs can be implemented is the imagination of the Engineer and/or designer.

Outdoor

Applications: Outdoor LED applications, much like the indoor scenario are essentially endless. Most automobiles produced today have LEDs in use everywhere from your tail light to the console and as your driving, the traffic signals, retail signage and even the side-of-the-road construction messages are all produced with the support of LED circuitry. The security systems of the homes and businesses you pass are utilizing LEDs as are the planes flying above your head. Virtually every man made electronic device today provides signaling that makes use of the great number of benefits offered by LED use.

Complications: LEDs have reached such high levels of popularity due to many factors including cost, power conservation, durability, low maintenance levels and long life cycle. Rarely are there failures for an LED application, once in use.  An LED lifecycle can be anywhere from 5-10 years so even replacement times are few and far between.

This does not mean that certain conditions such as hazardous and/or wet locations, low visibility or limited power availability can’t cause complications in design and implementation.

Solutions: For LED applications that are installed in hazardous or wet locations VCC offers a number of different solutions that can be put in place to protect your LED circuits. Implementing a specific LED type or using them in conjunction with a moisture sealed lite pipe will increase the durability and reliability of any LEDs being used outdoors where they are exposed to the weather or indoor locations where they are exposed to water and/or cleaning compounds.

The issue of visibility can also be addressed with a variety of products depending on the specific issue. VCC offers High Power LEDs for long distance viewing in addition to the expanded viewing angle of our products. We also offer a variety of colors, applications specific LEDs and even lite pipes that can increase the visibility in poor conditions and allow maximum viewing from all angles.

There are also a number of solutions that can be put in place to resolve power availability issues. If your head is swimming with all the possibilities and considerations for implementing your next LED application, contact VCC today. There is a team of experienced professionals available at the click of your mouse, ready to answer all your questions and help you select the LED series that will provide the greatest benefits to your project.

Most factories, homes, schools and businesses that are undertaking remodeling or upgrade projects for their lighting systems are investigating and giving serious consideration to the use of LEDs. Everything from architectural lighting, security lighting, remote control applications, signage and more can benefit from the many features of LED lighting and signaling. Groups such as the ALA – American Lighting Association, CEE –Consortium for Energy Efficiency and the DOE – Department of Energy, have recognized new LED lights and recommend their use.

There are a number of reasons that LED lighting is taking over upgrade and improvement projects but the dominant reasons are listed below:

Cost – First and foremost, our upgrade projects operate on a budget. Each component must be selected with cost in mind. LEDs are cost competitive with other lighting options with the added benefits of faster ROI. LED circuits are 75-80% more efficient and consume less power providing instant savings over other options once installed.

Life cycle – Once an LED application has been installed, the maintenance and replacements cost are minimal. Whether it be room lighting, media or advertising signs or a backlit scoreboard in a school gym, LEDs will cost less in future replacement as they have a five to ten year life cycle. For hard to reach applications such as the aforementioned scoreboard or a parking lot light, the replacement savings alone can be considerable in addition to freeing up the maintenance staff to address other building needs.

Brightness – In LED applications such as signs and security indicators, the brightness and color spectrum are greater with LED applications than any other type of standard lighting options. This characteristic is especially beneficial to outdoor locations where fog and other bad weather can reduce visibility and also for long distance viewing purposes.

Control – LEDs are much easier to add to Building Automation Systems or even a PLC controlled production machine. The instant on/off and pulsing abilities of LEDs allow for a boundless set of options. You can connect room lighting to an occupancy sensor, provides production floor communication or advertise your product with a scrolling or flashing message. If you can dream it up, it can be automated with an application featuring LEDs.

VCC offers a wide range of LEDs for signaling, backlighting and communication applications. We also offer Value Added services from Consultation to complete Project Management to assist you in your lighting and signaling upgrade projects. Simply contact us today and let our experienced personnel and global sourcing abilities resolve the questions and offer improvements for your project.

There are over 45 million people in this world of ours that are legally considered blind; millions more fall under the category of visually impaired. While the mobility aids of yesterday such as a guide dog or cane just don’t encompass enough variables to truly give additional freedom. Today’s LED technology has been developed to improve a great variety of applications, including those that assist people with special visual requirements. New progress is removing barriers that, in the past, have limited the mobility of those with visual impairments. LED-based visible light communication technologies are coming to the forefront to aid those faced with visual challenges.

A society can be defined by the way it treats and cares for it’s elderly and handicapped. The strides that are being designed to promote the functionality and independence of weak-sighted persons encompass LED use. A few countries, states and cities have already implemented LED based signal lights that assist the visually impaired with traffic signals. These specially designed signals include features that can be interpreted and used by those with extremely limited sight. Recently installed elements for assisting the sight impaired with public traffic control include a variety of configurations from push buttons integrated with LED lights, vibrations and/or audible sounds. Difficulties with these units include clear sounds, clear understanding of the tone meanings and the ability to vary that tone from other environmental sounds.

The latest developments utilize a personal and individual receiver that can communicate with traffic signals and the impaired person utilizing a Global Positioning Software (GPS). This software provides communication with the satellite positioning system, the traffic signaling base and the user. A series of LEDs that are integral to the system allow those with very limited site to see a colored LED that can permit determination of the current safety conditions. This is especially helpful for persons that are sight and hearing impaired. The ability to provide a simple, yet vital message is being further developed with the intended result of applying this technology to a myriad of environments such as production floors, malls and other public events or places that are currently hard to navigate.

As these projects move forward, the ingenuity of engineers and designers has been beyond compare. Future LED application developments are not limited by anything other than imaginations of those involved. We at VCC are impressed and available to help your company move forward with innovations such as the LED personal traffic system for the visually impaired or whatever brilliant ideas you have in mind to push your company into the future and drive the genius made possible with LED devices. Contact us today to get started on your path to helping others through technology.

Emergency lighting and signaling is required in a large variety of enterprises including commercial, industrial, utilities, military, security, personal safety and more. One thing that is common to all emergency lighting and signaling applications is that extreme care must be taken when selecting the components used to make up the emergency circuitry.

Emergency lighting and signaling isn’t a case where damaged or defective lighting components are simply an irritation requiring maintenance, rather a time when an outage can mean shutdown of equipment for safety reasons or in the worse case, an injury or fatality. Today’s emergency lighting and signaling systems are increasingly being manufactured with LEDs to meet safety challenges such as:

• Reliability – LEDs are, by far, more reliable that other lighting options. When it is imperative that a lighting system function at a moments notice, using LEDs in your design will ensure consistent and reliable operation.
• Lower Power Consumption – LED circuits have lower power requirements than typical lighting options, thus resulting in a lower power requirement for your entire emergency lighting circuit.
• Improved Illumination – LEDs are brighter and can be seen from double or triple the distance of incandescent or fluorescent bulbs.
• No Filtering Circuit Requirements – Unlike standard luminaries, LEDs do not require a filtering circuit to remove the peaks of light outside the usable bandwidth.
• Durability – LEDs can withstand vibration, movement and rougher environments than lighting elements that have bulbs and filaments.
• Faster Switching – An emergency lighting circuit requires fast switching that is a characteristic of only one lighting type, LEDs. LEDs lighting circuit can be instantly switched on and/or off dependent on circuit requirements. There is no delay that can result in lost time in a circumstance where a second’s notice can prevent harm or damage.
• Extended Lifecycle – LEDs can have lifecycles anywhere from 5-10 years making them last many times longer than other luminaries.
• Simple Automation and System Integration – LED characteristics such as ‘Instant On/Off’, the low power requirements and pulsing allow them to be easily integrated into an existing circuit design or a newly automated system.
• No Mercury or UV Radiation – LED lighting options are not filled with mercury, neither do they emit radiation making them safer for any circuitry but especially circuits designed for safety. In addition, their safe composition means there are no special disposal requirements.
• Reduced Maintenance – LED usage as your lighting component will mean less downtime and therefore, less maintenance; this not only saves time but also increases safety and reduces costs.

VCC is ready and able to supply all your Emergency LED lighting and signaling needs. Contact us today and make your emergency lighting application more reliable, durable, earth friendly and flexible.

Code, specification or circuitry changes, inventory errors, forecasting changes and missing or damaged parts are all challenges faced in the development and production of both new and established printed circuit board based equipment. In accordance with Murphy’s Law, inventory deficiencies inevitably occur when a supply chain schedule is already behind or when a client needs their part in an expeditious manner. The department foreman and supply chain management personnel are often in a panic, and burdened with the undesirable job of informing upper management or clientele that his department is unable to meet or advance production schedules without a acquiring specific components such as an LED, standoff, connector or lite pipe device.

Supply and demand is a basic economic principle that has taken on a new meaning in today’s production environment. The days when the electrical stockroom was packed with all the possible elements needed to produce a variety of circuits or circuit boards is gone. Such an inventory would quickly become outdated and obsolete as the advancement of technology present today demands a malleable inventory, ready to change without months, weeks or at times, even days of notice. New developments, ideas and product improvements mean that inventory must be fluid, ever ready to change and adapt to new requirements. While this idea sounds great in writing, realistically, it’s a hard goal to meet.

One way many production facilities are overcoming this challenge is to develop relationships with suppliers that permit on-demand supply of the most critical components, which in today’s circuitry world includes PCB components, LEDs, Lite pipes and other elements. On-demand PCB component supplies allow you to reduce stock levels while still decreasing process times as you can procure system components at the right time and in the right quantity to complete even advanced production schedules.

Every production facility pursues ways to fine-tune Supply Chain Management, determined to meet unexpected changes without production downtime and to seamlessly overcome data and forecasting deficiencies. The advantage of on-demand supply is that it offers you a virtual inventory that can be on its way to your facility simply by placing a call, writing an e-mail or clicking an online order button. It provides production and lifecycle equilibrium, permitting your facility to better manage the flow of strategic inventory reserves. Components that can be received ‘on-demand’ allow you to reduce inventory of that item without the challenges associated with lower inventory counts. Inventory space can then be used for components that aren’t available on-demand, to enhance the production floor or to store completed products.

VCC Optoelectronics offers on-demand supply of various PCB components, LEDS and Litepipes to help your production facility become and remain highly flexible, quickly able to adapt to the ever-changing product development environment. Call or e-mail us today and begin a relationship with our professional staff who can help you set-up receipt of our large number of ‘always in stock’ elements.

When a business is undergoing a transformation such as adding new products or processes, Change Management effectiveness, determines the amount of success that is achieved and how efficient the change is implemented or the product launched.

Careful planning and preparation when adding a new product will help not only leaders, but also lower level employees embrace and efficiently implement changes. Proper communication will also provide support for associates who must incorporate changes in their daily work schedule.

Our own recent addition of Value Added Services, inspired us to share some of the ways VCC was able to plan, design and incorporate this product addition to our offerings. The most important components of managing product changes are covered below.

• Real Time Data – The ability to generate reports based on the latest data is essential to planning, analyzing and actualizing new production practices and concepts. No successful changes can take place if plans are made based on outdated or invalid data. In actuality, it can cause a bump in the road that slows the change process or even derails it entirely.
• Communication – One of the most important aspects of managing a product change or addition is to make sure that people are fully informed about the change, especially those parts of the change that most directly affect their job. Typically, the more information employees have, the less uncertainty they feel, and the greater their level of acceptance for the need to change. Take action to ensure that all levels of your production and design teams are informed about the change and that change-related information is not “lost” or “distorted” as it passes through the company communication channels.
• Impact Analysis – After gathering the latest data and receiving input from valued team members and employees, impact analysis is the next most important component of change management. From production schedules to employee task modifications and identification of third party integration requirements, defining the impact of your change is critical. Not only do it permit you to be prepared for process changes but also enables your organization to recognize possible stumbling blocks but to address them before they become an obstacle to success.
• Challenging and Inspiring Personnel – Communicating a change or addition to the product line can be done in such a way that it creates an environment of cooperation and positive, proactive attitudes among team members. This is accomplished by encouraging questions and discussions about proposed changes and seeking the input and suggestions of those who will be affected.

Without accurate data, successful change is just a dream; without team member input; efficient implementation is out of reach; without believers in the process; the change will meet indeterminate amounts resistance and without effective Product Change Management, the process will not be as streamlined and cost effective as it could be.

Contact VCC professionals today for more on effective product change management. VCC will effectively manage your projects by working closely with all of our dedicated manufacturing partners daily across multiple time zones. We can provide advice, design support, manufacturing resources, global logistics or complete turnkey solutions for a successful product change or addition.

Through Hole (Thru-hole) PCB Assembly

Through-hole PCB assemblies, more commonly referred to as “thru-hole” are constructed with components that have long leads that are inserted into plated thru-holes on printed circuit boards. Components are then soldered into place and connected to its specified circuit.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Thru-hole PCB Assembly?

Thru-hole PCB assembly out performed all previous PCB assembly types until Surface Mount Technology (see below) made its appearance. It provides better reliability and continuity than older technologies such as point-to-point assembly. It even holds one advantage over the popular surface mounted assemblies; its strong mechanical bond. Printed circuit boards that are mounted in high vibration applications will often use the assembly type. They are also used in many test and prototype applications, as it is easier to remove or interchange parts without damaging the board.

The disadvantages of thru-hole assembly includes the cost of drilling and plating the thru-holes themselves as well as the limited routing area available after the component is soldered in place. It also limits you to use of only one side of the printed circuit board.

Surface Mount PCB Assembly

PCB assemblies with surface mounted components are referred to as SMT (Surface Mounted technology) assemblies. In SMT assemblies, components are mounted directly to the surface of the printed circuit board.

This method of PCB assembly allows the use of smaller components with small leads and short pins, flat contact or even terminations mounted on the component itself. Surface Mounted Devices (SMD) can be as much as one-tenth the size and weight of thru-hole parts. This assembly type also permits use of both printed circuit board sides. This PCB assembly type is favored in automation, computer assembly and other applications that can reduce product cost and increase production rates.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Surface Mount PCB Assembly?

Surface Mount PCB Assemblies have a large number of advantages over thru-hole technology, including the smaller and less expensive components, fewer plated thru-holes drilled into the PCB and the use of both sides of the printed circuit board. Using both PCB sides permits a much higher number of components and many more connections per component.

Disadvantages of Surface Mount PCB Assemblies are that manual adjustments or replacements are more difficult in testing and prototype applications. In addition, as components and trace circuits become smaller, reliability of the circuitry and solder joints can become a concern.

Who Can Provide Me with Both Surface Mounted and Thru-Hole Type PCB Components?

The selection of PCB components offered by VCC Optoelectronics includes a variety of LEDs, Interconnections, Panel Mount and Clips for all your PCB assembly requirements. Our professional sales and engineering staff is available to assist your selection process and provide reliable components right when you need them. Contact VCC today for more details.