Brief History
1962
The first red luminescence diode (type GaAsP), developed by American Nick Holonyak, enters the market. This first LED in the visible wavelength area marks the birth of the industrially-produced LED.
1971
As a result of the development of new semiconductor materials, LEDs are produced in new colors: green, orange and yellow. The LED's performance and effectiveness continues to improve.
1977
The development of the first true, all LED TV screen is credited to J.P. Mitchell.
1993
Japanese Shuji Nakamura develops the first brilliant blue LED and a very efficient LED in the green spectrum range (InGaN diode). Some time later he also designs a white LED..
1995
The first LED with white light from luminescence conversion is presented and is launched on the market two years later.
2006
The first light-emitting diodes with 100 lumens per watt are produced. This efficiency can be outmatched only by gas discharge lamps.
2010
LEDs of a certain color with a gigantic luminous efficacy of 250 lumens per watt are already being developed under laboratory conditions. Progress continues to surge ahead. Today, further development towards OLED is seen as the technology of the future.