PRODUCT LINE
LEDs
Advantages:
• LEDs are relatively simpler than most light-sources used in Vision.
• LEDs are extra bright.
Shortcomings:
• Since LEDs are very small, a greater number of them are needed to cover the targeted area in line-scan applications.
• LEDs collectively emit a lot of extra heat; and have to be accompanied by heat-sinks big enough to absorb the heat, adding to the initial costs.
MERCRON has always contended that most Imaging Systems are starving for light. In an ever-growing number of applications, LEDs will often fill this bill, leaving the user to chalk up the extra expense as the cost of doing business with LEDs. However, MERCRON goes a long way in protecting your investment by specifically curtailing this extra expense.
Facts to consider:
1) LEDs naturally deteriorate in time due to aging;
2) LEDs deteriorate with temperature as the temperature rises;
3) LEDs can be irreparably damaged with too much current.
As current goes up, the temperature goes up, which can permanently damage the LEDs to the extent that they have to be replaced. Since LED-packages are hand-assembled, lamp replacement is not the simple changing out of a bulb as with other light-sources. Regardless, fixed voltage, or even inadequately adjusted voltage, causes the temperature to rise and high temps are a No.1 enemy of brightness as discussed in Problems Solved.
MERCRON's Positive Interface:
MERCRON's light-feedback feature compensates for both, natural aging and for otherwise earlier lamp deterioration due to high temperature. In doing so, the longevity of the LED packs is not only extended, but premature or unnecessary replacement is avoided, minimizing valuable and costly downtime.
MERCRON's All's Well signal alerts the user to lamp assembly overheating or decay. This not only postpones damage to your LEDs, it makes your system much more efficient. Additionally, the All's Well triggers MERCRON's signature REGULATION feature to automatically limit the current due to the aging phosphor, effectively eliminating the guesswork regarding the lamps' aging profile.
Related topics: More current plus more temperature equals less light. In other words, if the temperature goes up, the light goes down. This is very similar to thermal runaway, a situation that can occur in Sodium and Fluorescent applications not using a MERCRON light-regulating ballast.
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