scope:

The sections of this document describe light source technologies commonly used for general lighting applications. Information is categorized according to the way visible light is produced. Details are provided regarding operating principles, characteristics of the technology, and configuration of systems. Guidelines

Some sources may have been commonplace in years past, but due to technology evolution, they may now only be infrequently used in situations with unique application or economic requirements. While new discoveries, innovative inventions, and legislation have rendered some light sources obsolete or rarely used, they will still be referenced briefly for the purposes of telling a complete story.

Light source technologies addressed in this document include:

• Solid State Lighting

• Light-emitting diodes (LED)

• Organic LED (OLED)

• Fluorescent

• Linear fluorescent

• Compact fluorescent

• Induction fluorescent

• Cold cathode fluorescent

• High intensity discharge

• Metal halide

• High pressure sodium (HPS)

• Plasma

• Filament

• Incandescent

• Tungsten-halogen

• Other

• Low pressure sodium (LPS)