Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Solid state lighting in the form of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) is bringing new sources with different operating characteristics to the market. With the control in dimension, optics, intensity and color, these sources have the potential to transform the way we use light. This paper will review the recent improvements in performance that have been achieved by these devices, focusing on those product attributes identified as being critical to end users. The paper will conclude with a consideration of applications capitalizing on the LEDs' unique operating and physical properties.