Z-power LED – failure mode

Z-power LED – failure mode
SEOUL Semiconductor R&D Center
Page 1
Date: 2006. 07.
Z-power LED – failure mode
-#Problems of electrical overload
Critical failure can be caused by supplying overload current and voltage(over 5V) or exceeding the
maximum value of forward current written on our datasheet.
Critical failure types of product can be caused in different ways including failing electrical overload. The
gold wire in LED products can be destroyed due to its electrical overload. If external shock damages the
gold wire, it could also damage the whole product.
It is unable to find this figure through x-ray, but optical microscope, only
SEOUL Semiconductor R&D Center
Page 2
Date: 2006. 07.
Z-power LED – failure mode
* Problems of wire disconnection
Overload current is destroyed not only the gold wire in LED products,but also the wire connection. Since
current determines the amplitude and period of electrical circumstance as well as the diameter of gold wire,
the gold wire can be fused and disconnected due to its high current. Finally, the long pulse transient can also
cause the wire disconnection. If mechanical or physical damage is applied in silicone lens, the wire is
disconnected according to the external impact.
-Wire is melted by electrical disconnection
-Mechanical disconnection shows that a clean cut edge of the wire
BURNING POINT
CHIP
SLUG
Electrical disconnection
SEOUL Semiconductor R&D Center
Mechanical disconnection
Page 3
Date: 2006. 07.
Z-power LED –failure mode
* Problems of thermal overload
Since there are differences in coefficient of thermal expansion in product, various types of critical product malfunction are
caused when the product is exposed to high internal temperature of maximum electric shock or thermal circulation.
In general, silicone is very soft and elastic and has higher resistance power than epoxy. When excessive internal
temperature in silicone increases, external surrounding heat also increases. Therefore, too much forward current and
thermal resistance cause extremely high external temperature and surrounding heat.
Between a layer of protect shield and chip can be separated due to the excessive heat, then it narrows the contact
surface down between chip and silicone in a package. This would not cause the main critical malfunction, but luminous
flux could not be continued.
In case of white, between a layer of phosphor coating and patented silicone protector or between a layer of phosphor
coating and chip might be separated. Moreover, increasing external temperature of lead contraction and expansion of
silicone are able to cause wire disconnection.
-Cause wire disconnection due to its increased external
temperature and surrounding heat
SEOUL Semiconductor R&D Center
Page 4
Date: 2006. 07.