davenn
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The Blue LED - The 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics
- Thread starter davenn
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hevans1944
Hop - AC8NS
Hmmm. A direct transition from kerosene lamps to white-light LEDs for third-world developing countries, eh? Some young lady from the Philippines recently "invented" a white-light LED flashlight that operates on body heat. Interesting concept.
In 1959 the Russians demonstrated thermocouple piles, heating the inside junctions with a kerosene lamp while the outside junctions were cooled by ambient air. The series-connected thermocouples produced enough potential (90 volts) to energize a tube-type radio, so citizens isolated by distance and terrain in the hinterlands of Siberia or China would have at least one-way communication to the rest of the world. Here is a link to an interesting article on this and other thermocouple piles: http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/POWER/thermoelectric/thermoelectric.htm#rl
When Sony was finally able to develop their Blu-Ray DVDs in competition with HD-DVD (which used red laser diodes), there was an awkward period when the required blue laser diodes were either unavailable or unreliable. When that was finally resolved, Sony PS3 sales with integral Blu-Ray DVD took off. Now, only a decade or so later, white LED luminaries are everywhere. I have at least thirteen in my house so far, replacing most of the incandescent lamps, although two compact fluorescent lamps and a few small-wattage incandescent desk lamps are still hold outs. A green-shaded banker's lamp just doesn't look right with either CF or LED lamp in it.
Awarding those gentlemen, I. Akasaki, H. Amano and S. Nakamura, the Nobel Prize was a fitting reward to their perseverance and years of hard work.
In 1959 the Russians demonstrated thermocouple piles, heating the inside junctions with a kerosene lamp while the outside junctions were cooled by ambient air. The series-connected thermocouples produced enough potential (90 volts) to energize a tube-type radio, so citizens isolated by distance and terrain in the hinterlands of Siberia or China would have at least one-way communication to the rest of the world. Here is a link to an interesting article on this and other thermocouple piles: http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/POWER/thermoelectric/thermoelectric.htm#rl
When Sony was finally able to develop their Blu-Ray DVDs in competition with HD-DVD (which used red laser diodes), there was an awkward period when the required blue laser diodes were either unavailable or unreliable. When that was finally resolved, Sony PS3 sales with integral Blu-Ray DVD took off. Now, only a decade or so later, white LED luminaries are everywhere. I have at least thirteen in my house so far, replacing most of the incandescent lamps, although two compact fluorescent lamps and a few small-wattage incandescent desk lamps are still hold outs. A green-shaded banker's lamp just doesn't look right with either CF or LED lamp in it.
Awarding those gentlemen, I. Akasaki, H. Amano and S. Nakamura, the Nobel Prize was a fitting reward to their perseverance and years of hard work.
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