Military and Commercial Vehicle Applications fo High Power LED Technology

Relume Corporation has developed a series of commercial, proprietary light emitting diode [LED] technologies that have direct military applications: Including night vision enhancement, convoy communication and covert I.F.F. systems. Using our proprietary high performance adhesive to insulated metal substrate process for LED illuminators, Relume has been able to demonstrate a three to four fold increase in luminous output over conventional approaches with a dramatic improvement in life, lower production costs and increased reliability. When combined with our pulse modulation technology, we are able to produce high power, secure signaling lamps for either visible or infrared applications. Conventional large arrays of high output LEDs are particularly vulnerable to degradation, as it becomes increasingly difficult to shed heat from such dense arrays. Without aggressive cooling means, large LED arrays have degraded rapidly in hot climates. Using advanced adhesives, proprietary metal circuit construction and economical screen printing methods, Relume is able to achieve very robust, highly efficient LED arrays. With this highly aggressive thermal management, Relume's LED arrays can be pulsed at very high intensities permitting very long distance secure communication links. In Phase I a high output modular array was fabricated using this process. This array was digitally modulated for optical communication with a Relume handheld receiver. Relume's advanced LED arrays demonstrated a factor of four increase in luminous output over conventional approaches proving the feasibility this technology. Phase II will pursue advanced development of this technology to increase array output, allow encrypted burst-mode communications, and to develop pilot optical IFF systems and inter-convoy communications. The functional parts of these systems will be modular and interchangeable.