LED stands for "light emitting diode," and a mini LED is a small version of one of these diodes, often used as indicators on cameras, printers and MP3 players. LEDs basically function as light bulbs, but they are much more efficient, lasting longer and working at a lower heat than standard light bulbs. LED lights are semiconductor diodes, and they are comprised of two terminals and a positive-negative (PN) junction. Mini LED lights come in various colors, including red, yellow and green.
LED lights are technically diodes, which allow electricity to flow from the positive side to the negative side. These are made from semiconductor material, which is material that conducts electricity better than an insulator such as rubber, but not as well as a conductor such as copper. Semiconductor materials are attached to both the anode, or the positive side of the diode, and the cathode, or the negative side. The two different sides of the diode are brought together at the PN junction. The “P” side of the PN junction has an abundance of positive charge, and the “N” side has an abundance of negative charge. When the two combine at the PN junction, light is produced.
Mini LEDs are small LED lights usually used as an indicator component on an electronic device. Mini LED lights are very common, and are generally classed as anything a fifth of an inch (or 5 mm) or less in diameter. These are single diode lights, and they can come with rounded or flat tops.
A mini LED is made up of several parts. The whisker is connected to the anode, and the anvil is connected to the negative side. A lens is also added to amplify the light created by the PN junction. The entire assembly is then surrounded by a thick plastic casing to protect the internal components. A mini LED is a solid state device, which means that it has no moving parts and therefore is much less likely to malfunction or break.
LED lights are in many ways more efficient than traditional light bulbs. They do not get hot when in operation like light bulbs do. A light bulb creates light by pumping electrical current through a metallic filament, which glows when it reaches a sufficient heat. LEDs do not have a filament, as they produce light through the PN junction, and this makes them much more efficient. In light bulbs, the majority of the energy goes to create the heat. LED lights therefore require much less power to operate and do so more efficiently. The lack of a filament also makes a mini LED light more durable than a light bulb.
