IEC 60747-5-6:2021

Overview

IEC 60747-5-6:2021 - Semiconductor devices - Part 5-6: Optoelectronic devices - Light emitting diodes - specifies terminology, essential ratings and characteristics, measuring methods, and quality evaluations for light emitting diodes (LEDs) used in general industrial applications (signals, controllers, sensors, displays, etc.). LEDs for lighting applications and integrated LED+controlgear modules are expressly out of scope. The standard covers packaged LEDs, flat illuminators, numeric/alpha-numeric displays, dot-matrix displays, infrared (IR) LEDs and ultraviolet (UV) LEDs. LEDs with heat spreader functions are included.

This edition adds UV‑LED content, introduces power efficiency (ηPE) in electrical/optical characteristics, expands thermal‑resistance measurement methods, and adds a hydrogen sulphide corrosion test to quality evaluation.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Terminology and classifications for LED package types (package, flat illuminator, numeric/alpha displays, dot‑matrix, IR LED, UV LED).
• Absolute maximum ratings and essential electrical/optical characteristics (forward/reverse voltage, reverse current, differential resistance).
• Comprehensive measuring methods including:
  • Forward/reverse voltage and current measurements
  • Capacitance, response time, frequency response and cut‑off frequency
  • Junction temperature and multiple thermal resistance measurement techniques
  • Luminous flux, radiant flux, luminous intensity, radiant intensity, luminance, illuminance
  • Emission spectrum, peak wavelength, spectral bandwidth and chromaticity
  • Directional characteristics and full‑width half‑maximum (FWHM)
• Quality evaluation framework covering classification levels, test specimens, lot inspection and environmental tests (including hydrogen sulphide corrosion).
• Package marking and information required to be indicated on product packaging.

Practical Applications

IEC 60747-5-6 is intended to standardize testing and specification of LEDs used in:

• Industrial signal and status indicators
• Sensor illumination and IR emitters for proximity/remote sensing
• Display modules (numeric, alphanumeric, dot‑matrix) for instrumentation
• UV LED components for curing, sensing or inspection (non‑lighting applications) Use of the standard helps ensure consistent performance data, reliable thermal management, and robust environmental durability in product design, testing, procurement and certification.

Who Should Use This Standard

• LED manufacturers and package designers
• Test laboratories and QA/qualification engineers
• Product designers (industrial electronics, sensors, displays)
• Procurement and compliance teams specifying LED performance
• Certification bodies assessing conformity to optoelectronic device requirements

Related Standards

• Other parts of the IEC 60747 semiconductor device series and IEC optoelectronic standards for measurement and safety. Check IEC catalog/bibliography for cross‑references and updates.