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Explain to me the (de?)-evolution of LED lightbulb technology
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floobydust:
LED light bulbs are shit because of intellectual property. The LED array, the heatsinking configuration etc. are all so heavily patented you can no longer make a decent LED bulb without patent infringement litigation. So many lawsuits, with the norm being to sue the retailers as well.
EPISTAR Files Second U.S. Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Lowe’s 06/2020 over GE bulbs. Epistar (has over 4,000 patents) sued Lowe's Home Centers over the Kichler Lighting LED bulbs.
Lynk Labs suing Home Depot for patent infringement.
LED filament bulbs are really bad for litigation. Nichia Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Feit Electric In California 01/2020 filament bulbs.
Seoul Semi, Cree, Epistar, Nichia, Feit, GE, Philips etc. they all are constantly suing each other and the retailers over their LED bulb IP.

It's sad that LED bulbs are still struggling to outlast incandescent bulbs.
Cree LED bulbs were terrible, not that Cree has ever been a profitable company but their bulbs barely lasted a year and LEDs failing, just pushed too hard.
Next I tried Philips bulbs- which are total shit, the PCB and electrolytic capacitor inside badly cooked due to high heat, open-circuit LEDs. But the LED's are the best I've seen for CRI. The change to COB also makes the spot lights narrow. I can't get them to last more than about 3,600hrs. You would puke if I showed pics of the failed boards.

Next, I tried Ikea bulbs and they are working great, many at the 7,000hrs point and still working fine. But only warm white is offered.
james_s:
That doesn't match my experience at all. I still have Cree and Philips LED bulbs I bought more than 10 years ago that still work, even some that are very heavily used. If there are patent issues that doesn't seem to be causing any problems, loads of different companies are making LED filament bulbs in all different styles. Most of the market for general illumination bulbs seems to have settled on the aluminum core PCB with surface mount LEDs on it firing into a molded plastic globe.
MK14:
Warning: Very long article, but fairly interesting explanation of the economics and stuff around Led lights.

https://www.manufacturer.lighting/info/248/
MK14:

--- Quote from: james_s on March 25, 2021, 12:20:27 am --- If there are patent issues that doesn't seem to be causing any problems

--- End quote ---

https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurendebter/2019/07/31/walmart-amazon-target-ikea-bed-bath-beyond-sued-vintage-light-bulbs/


--- Quote ---Walmart, Amazon, Target, Ikea and Bed Bath & Beyond were sued by the University of California on Tuesday for patent infringement relating to "filament" LED light bulbs.
--- End quote ---
floobydust:
Philips LED bulbs 800lm 2700K 8.5W I put a dozen into service indoors and outdoors for night lighting, so ~8-10hrs/day in various fixtures and outdoors -35°C to +30°C, indoors +22°C.
They lasted about 1-1/2 year. On some the LED's have the "black dot of death" as BigClive calls it, the string went open circuit. But really, the power supply is a joke, it's baked phenolic with roast electrolytic. I had greater expectations for USD $4 each, so I'm calling them junk after all are dead now.
I bought a massive PAR38 Philips flood light bulb and laughed it back to the store, all it has is a small COB spot like their MR16 bulbs, it's all empty space and glass lol.

(did break the bridge rectifier taking it apart)
edit: compare the thermal conductivity of many plastics and they are basically an insulator. Patents prevent plastic heatsink fins from being used.
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