OLEDs (Organic LEDs) are one of the latest developments entering the optoelectronics arena. The ability to use organic compounds in LED usage is the wave of the future and as always, VCC is following the development of this field. Below we are going to cover some of the main questions concerning OLEDs including their composition, operation, usage, benefits and disadvantages.

What are OLEDs?

OLEDs are Organic Light Emitting Diodes. Kodak was the first to develop this Technology that uses organic compounds such as glass and plastic to compose the emissive electroluminescent layer. This layer is no thicker than a film and is applied in a process that is simple, low cost and requires fewer materials than other LED compounds used to emit light and provide full spectrum color displays.

What types of OLEDs are there?

There are three basic types of OLEDs being developed and implemented. Those types are:

• Small Molecule OLED – Known as SM-OLEDs, these devices are typically made from glass substrates and are deposited through a vacuum process. The SM OLED is more efficient than the other types and can be evaporated allowing for complex multi-layer structures. The drawbacks with the small molecule OLED is that it is not flexible and the vacuum process is more expensive than other OLED types. Newer developments with stacked and flexible plastic substrates are removing the disadvantages and this product is expected to have large impacts in the future of OLED installations.
• Polymer OLED – Also called Light Emitting Polymers (LEP), this OLED type is generally composed of a plastic compound that forms the electroluminescent conductive layer. The process for depositing the materials in this layer is a precision ink jet application. This process is low cost, simple and can be created with multiple levels to improve efficiency. Once applied, it is extremely flexible. The drawback with the Polymer OLED is that current efficiency is not at the level of the SM OLED, however, it has surpassed LCD efficiency levels.
• Phosphorescent OLEDs – This OLED type has up to four times higher efficiency than that of a conventional fluorescent OLED. Its application process is the same as the Polymer OLEDs as it is applied by precision ink jet printing, however, it is highly efficient in converting electrical energy. Recent developments are assuring the future success of this OLED type.

The Future of OLEDs

Many different versions of these main OLED types are entering the market. They offer a full color spectrum that is thin and flexible. Future displays using OLEDs will be flexible, low cost, brighter and more efficient. OLEDs also have a wide viewing angle with high contrast video capabilities. This technology is expected to result in displays less than 1mm thick.

Lighting indication presents some of the larger challenges in today’s production environments. Accurate monitoring of varied processes are key in developing an efficient and successful process environment. A combination of lighting indicators and user interfaces provide important and immediate feedback to the operator’s and others in process control field. This feedback can either be effective and improve production or if implemented incorrectly can confuse and create additional issues which are detrimental to quality control.

The most important challenges to conquer in lighting indication are the following:

• Visibility – Though it seems simple and obvious, the most important consideration in lighting indication design is visibility. Using the right type of indicators for your environment and installing the lighting where it can be easily viewed and analyzed by operators and maintenance personnel is essential.
  • Stack and Tower Lights – Standard machine condition such as ‘power on’ (green), ‘maintenance needed’ (blue), ‘caution’ (yellow) and ‘stop/alarm’ (red) are some of the varied indicators most commonly used with stack and tower lights. Implementation of these devices allows clear communication of machine status to any personnel entering the production environment. The ability to quickly analyze the machine conditions can minimize or even eliminate downtime.
  • Panel Indicators – Process data, environmental conditions, switch indicators, sensor status and a number of other messages displayed on the operator panel can streamline system processes. Where paper manuals and signs can be misplaced or damaged  and thus not available when needed, a row of panel indicators or several rows can be easily mastered by the operator through repetition creating a more efficient employee and process.
• Process Communication
  • Varied indicator types and signaling – Using a row or row of indicators on your panel of various shapes, sizes and colors is an effective way of communicating process status, alarms and accomplishing accurate control monitoring. Implementing lighting indicators as sensor emulators showing a variety of conditions is possibly the most effective way to increase efficiency and gain more process control.
  • Operator Training – The key to achieving a more streamlined process through implementation of lighting indicators is operator training. Using various indictor types and signaling such as flashes or a series of lights to indicate a certain condition is only as effective as the understanding of the operator. Initial training and quick notification of process changes is mandatory if production is to be increased.
  • Consistency across process types – Consistency of your lighting indicators will eliminate confusion and increase effectiveness by allowing one operator to easily move between production steps and still maintain an accurate understanding of the lighting communication. It is not often possible to have all lighting indicators communicate the same message but providing consistency across each process type should be taken into consideration. Creating an environment that permits cross training in a minimum amount of time and with a minimum amount of change in the meaning of the machine indicators allows flexibility and highly productive employees.

VCC offers a wide variety of lighting indicators for all your environmental and process needs. Check out our catalog or contact our dedicated professionals to assist you in streamlining your lighting indication process and creating the most efficient production environment possible.

We’ve all been there. You’re stranded alongside the road or in an abandoned parking lot. You’re tired and worn out from the day. It’s a dark, damp, cold night, the wind is whipping through you and to top it off, your car won’t start. Just as you’re about to cover your face with your hands, you see a bright blue light flashing. Instantly relief floods that cold space and you realize that help is just a call away.

You reach up to press the button and see a green panel light come on indicating a connection. You don’t even realize you are holding your breath until you hear the voice on the other side say “How can we help?” and hear the release of air from your body. A few short minutes later the knowledge that help is on the way provides comfort and your sense of isolation recedes.

VCC adheres to this way of operation daily. Not only do we wish to assist our clients but also strive to provide the comfort and knowledge that in the expansive field of indication and illumination, you are not alone. That is why Kings III of America has chosen VCC and our line products to meet their illumination needs. Kings III indicators must endure harsh environments and exposure to the sun, rain, wind and even dust.  All these elements wreak havoc on standard LEDs and lenses. VCC helped Kings III resolve this issue with our line of UV additive Polycarbonate Lenses, which are specifically designed to withstand these environments.

In addition, our CMS series products meet NEMA 4 and 6P standards for use in conditions that include exposure to elements such as rain, sleet, windblown dust and rain and other harsh conditions.  VCC lenses are ideal when used with the Conxrite interconnects for mounting the LED directly to the panel.  Finish your illumination with the wide selection of VCC light pipes and you have provided a reliable, durable method of transmitting the light from a PCB mounted LED to your panel.

Anytime a special application arises and you need a reliable protective lens and LED solution VCC is here to help. There are many options out there in the world of LED’s and our experts are dedicated quickly and efficiently finding products to meet the requirements for your project. To learn more or get answers to your LED questions, visit us at www.vcclite.com. We will be happy to assist you with all selections as well as sending a free sample for you to inspect or use in your latest prototype.

Automated production processes are implemented in almost every factory environment operating today. Good LED indication practices should alert, inform and guide the operator. With the ever-growing number of automated processes and machines, keeping consistent signaling can become quite a challenge but must be implemented for the following reasons:

• The first generation of automation workers is retiring and work forces are shrinking. Those leaving the workforce are taking with them important knowledge of machine operation and in their place is a less experienced team.
• With the reduced process knowledge, having as much consistency in your signaling as possible will help lower the learning curve and result in better performance with predictable volumes of quality product.
• Lost and misplaced hard copy documentation during a crisis can result in increased downtime as the operator may be unaware there is a problem or unsure how to resolve it. With consistent signaling the operator will come to recognize warning signs that can be addressed before the process is halted.
• Standard signaling for common alarms allows the operator to quickly deduce the cause of a machine failure and either fixes the failure or calls maintenance with a clearer diagnosis of the problem.

When engineering your production floor layout, taking into account the basic signals that can be grouped and displayed in a consistent manner is essential for optimizing efficiency and quality. For alarm signaling the recently released ISA/ANSI 18.02 Alarm Management for the Process Industries provides excellent guidelines for indicating and prioritizing alarms. Having indicators on machinery or in stack lights for warnings or caution conditions should be standard as well. Addressing an upcoming error will be simpler and less expensive than the downtime once failure is realized. Implementing standards for your automated indicators and processes will improve your production floor in the following ways:

• Operators will learn your system quicker and be better able to respond when unexpected actions occur.
• There will be a greater tuning of your processes that will allow more consistent forecasting of product.
• You will achieve better diagnostic and more reliable data from your workers as they will better understand the systems.

VCC recognizes the importance of quality and reliable signaling and has an extensive line of LED indication products to help you achieve your production goals. Speak to our specialist today about your indication needs for the future or in re-evaluating your current equipment operations. Contact us for more information.

Hougen Manufacturing is a leader in providing the highest quality portable magnetic drills, annular cutters, sheet metal cutters and Ogura/Punch-Pro electro-hydraulic hole punches. Their recent development of the HMD925S portable power drill with Smart technology implemented state-of-the-art features to optimize feed rate for increased tool life and precise, clean hole drilling.  The addition of a swivel base provides much more versatility in placement and alignment.

With the ability to offer a power feed setting to the client, safety becomes an even more critical issue. Installing a clear, bright and reliable indicator for placement and lift detection was an important design requirement. The ability to make this connection in a reliable yet flexible manner was also important. Hougen engineered, selected and implemented VCC panel lens products into their latest development to achieve that goal.

“The Bi-Color CNX “D” connector was selected for easy assembly to the front panel and multi function of a Bi-Color RED / Green LED for their Safety Indicator Light.” said John Haas, from RC Merchant, VCC representative,   “ Thus, providing an Indicator to ensure the power drill is operated in a safe manner.”

VCC’s LED cable assemblies provide extensive time and cost savings over the traditional methods of wiring. With our pre-made assemblies there is no need to solder wires to the LED orheat shrink the insulator. This saves the client time, cost, storage room and testing time. Changes in design or replacement of components down the road are also completed in a more timely and efficient manner.

VCC offers a wide assortment of pre-made cables to meet all your project requirements. We will also engineer and manufacture custom cables. Our entire line of panel lens products is available for your project’s indicating and signal needs. Check out our catalog or contact us today for more information.

For more information about the line of products from Hougen Mfg, visit their website at http://www.hougen.com. Fore more information about the HMD925 Drill, click here.

LED’s are a staple of signage and signal applications and with the wider use of high power LEDs the range of applications is constantly expanding to practically limitless proportions. High power LEDs can be driven at currents from hundreds of mA to more than an ampere, compared with the tens of mA for other LEDs. Until recent years their use has been limited by the need for large heat sinks and thermal management issues.  The latest developments have introduced the ability to control and maintain brightness levels without “hot spots” and “not spots” for further efficiency improvements. More strategic configurations of heat sinks, new heat sink materials and metal core printed circuit boards have improved control thermal of management problems. These advances have allowed new areas of development.

High power LEDs from VCC are now in use for in an almost limitless number of applications among which are:

• Accent lighting applications such as: contour lighting, stairway lighting, pendants, coves, displays and front panels.
• Outdoor lighting applications such as: floodlights and landscape lighting.
• Specialty lighting applications such as: Flashlights, reading lamps, security lighting and more.

Architects, Engineers and Security Specialists are including LED usage in the basis of their core designs effectively replacing incandescent, halogen, and even fluorescent style lights. The largest selling points in these applications are the ability to meet new environmental standards from LEED and other groups for close to 40% improved power efficiency and the ability to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the building. High Power LEDs also enjoy a longer operating life that practically eliminates the need for maintenance.

High power, high intensity LED selections from VCC offer many additional benefits including:

• Silicone lens technology
• Saturated color spectrum
• Special “design-to-fit” secondary optics
• Low thermal resistance
• Full dimming capabilities
• Superior ESD protection
• 100% RoHS Compliance

Our LED selection experienced less than 10% light output decay under test conditions and with our many vivid, saturated colors, surface mounted options and high energy efficiency, our product range has the right high power LEDs for your requirements. Contact us today and our dedicated professionals will be happy to help select the right product for your high power LED application.

ViaSat, known for their prestigious line of digital communication products, held a charity supplier show April 26th at the ViaSat campus in Carlsbad, California. Exhibitor fees to attend the show went to the Disabled Veterans Association.  Engineers at ViaSat were able to see the full line of VCC products and offerings.

VCC Optoelectronics and Integra Electronics showcased their full product offerings including the SMD LED line, panel mounted products and custom light pipes. The VCC product line carries many specialized items that meet the strict requirements of the ViaSat applications. Samples of these products along with LED Testers and engineering development kits where handed out to the ViaSat engineers working on signal and indication projects.  Over 400 Engineers and buyers attended the show with suppliers from all over Southern California showcasing their products.

“This is a great way to give back to the Veterans that protect our country and at the same time gain mindshare with the ViaSat engineers and buyers” Said Sharon Poltorak with Integra Electronics.

VCC is committed to participating in events that not only showcase our product line but also gives back to valued members of our community and those in need. Check out the expansive VCC product line today and contact us for samples and/or order requirements.  Our experienced staff is always available to assist you with your LED, Lite Pipe and Surface-mounted PCB connection needs.

About:

ViaSat produces publically traded company designs and manufactures innovative satellite and digital communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to and from any location. Their product line is featured in applications such as mobile communcation networking, microprocessor chipset communication, military networking with datalinks and terminals for situational combat awareness, broadband satellite and much more.

Integra Electronics, Inc. was established in 1998 as an authorized, stocking distributor of passive and electro-mechanical electronic components.  The Company’s line of suppliers supports its customers with high quality components and excellent service.  You will find a large variety of optoelectronics, capacitors, inductive components, resistors, semi-conductors, frequency devices and more.

In today’s business environment it has become critical to be able to instantly track inventory. Knowing the location and status of current inventory can be imperative in closing a deal, forecasting product sales and planning production schedules. At times this is even more challenging due to the nature of materials or the environment in which those materials are stored.

Visible Assets, Inc. (VISIBLE™) sells asset visibility networks based on a new wireless technology known as RuBee™.  In the past, RFI (Radio Frequency Identification) was employed somewhat unsuccessfully in tracking products. Physics and environmental conditions such as steel, water, people and electrical noise could interfere and result in faulty data. Rubee can read through steel, water and other harsh environments. It is even safe for explosive environment applications. The new RuBee system, which has been in development for twenty years, provides low cost, long-life, low power, wireless, active asset and people tags that work in most any environment.

Kiran Panchal from the Research and Development Laboratories of VAI came to VCC Optoelectronics looking for assistance in modifying an existing product so that it can handle being exposed to a bit more moisture than a typical office environment. In some cases the products being tagged are in wet areas or underwater resulting in a damp and humid atmosphere. VAI had been using an LED without any sort of lens so we introduced them to our CMS 442 CTP Moisture Sealed Lens. This product has solved the concern of atmospheric exposure to moisture and making the product “splash-proof”.

During the development of adding the moisture-sealed lens, VAI decided they wanted to come up with a different cable assembly for the LED’s.  We then introduced VAI to one of our standard cable assemblies, p/n CNX 440 E02 4 1 08.  The ability of VCC’s standard cable to fit this application allowed this product to enter production and service quickly.

For more about Visible Assets, Inc., click here.

To reach VCC Optoelectronics for your LED and cabling needs, click here.

In the fast changing world of aftermarket motorcycle performance products, having quality inventory is key.  Today’s riders not only want their custom aftermarket products rapidly, but they demand quality components that will improve the look and performance of their machine. Recently, Bazzaz ran into lead-time and performance issues on one of their shifter lights with their current LED supplier.  Bazzaz knew they needed to quickly resolve both issues and Joel Romero turned to VCC for help.

“VCC has a massive inventory of products on hand, this is reassuring when our customers have short lead times and buy on demand”. I just can’t wait for my current supplier anymore. I found information about VCC Optoelectronics on the web and contacted their Sales Team right away. VCC recommended and had stock on a part that was slightly better than the parts we previously looked at for less money. Within days, we received the VAOL-10GSBY4 (10MM, single color Blue LED) samples VCC recommended which outperformed the current one in brightness “ Said Joel.

VCC is has a team of professionals that are dedicated to service and have the knowledge to quickly assist our customers in finding better, more efficient and complete solutions. Our large variety of LED’s with many different lighting, power and mounting capabilities will provide the options and available inventory you have been looking to find from your LED supplier. Contact VCC today with your project requirements and let us help find a solution for your project needs.

For more information on Bazzaz performance products please visit www.bazzazperformance.com.

In the growing demand for quick lab results, Caliper Life Science diagnostics group selects VCC Custom LED interconnect to help with the indication demands required to meet FDA regulations.  The desire was to quickly and efficiently retrofit a current product to meet the new demands.

“The idea was to use a pre-existing product platform and change the front cover. We needed a way to bring the indication to the new cover without having to rewire the existing platform. The intention was to make a less expensive product but still have the options of allowing for future upgrades.” Said Shawn Allen head mechanical engineer.  “Because of VCC’s vast array of products and configurations and their knowledgeable customer service it was a simple and easy process for us.”

The CNX series offers an easy solution when a demand arises where the indicator needs to be mounted to a front panel. Since connection lengths vary widely, this series can be ordered in standard or custom lengths and arrive at your facility pre-wired with the required connection length for the application.  No tools for assembly are needed. You can order your interconnect with the type of termination needed for the specific application as well. VCC provides you with the option to use a header connector, stripped, bare wires, terminal attachments or arrange to have this component soldered directly to your circuit board.  The CNX series of interconnects have been modified to resolve panel pushback issues and will withstand high levels of vibration, making them the perfect product for retrofit applications where secure fit can be an issue. The CNX series gives you flexibility, durability and ease of implementation that are needed in both your new and retrofit projects.  To learn more about VCC Interconnects please visit our web-site at www.vcclite.com.