Cree Launches Third-Party Verification Service Offering TEMPO Luminaire Testing Solutions

　　Cree has launched the TEMPO luminaire testing and evaluation program for LED component customers, including 21 important test data points: Thermal, Electrical, Mechanical, Photmetric, and Optical design elements, etc.

　　One of the main reasons hindering the promotion of solid-state lighting (SSL) is the complexity and difficulty of developing reliable LED lighting systems. The test service launched by Cree utilizes its TEMPO luminaire testing solution to help LED component customers solve this problem. Luminaire designers can use Cree's service for testing and evaluation before sending their products to LM-79 testing laboratories.

　　LED component customers can use this service to participate in the entire luminaire design cycle. The TEMPO luminaire testing solution includes up to 21 test points. For example, Cree can provide assistance with optical and thermal simulation in the early stages of luminaire design, and light engine testing called SPOT (Single Point Test) in the later stages of luminaire design.

TEMPO-21 Test Summary

　　After the TEMPO-21 test, Cree will provide customers with a considerable amount of data files delivering third-party verified performance. The image above shows the executive summary of one of the TEMPO-21 reference designs.

　　According to Mark McClear, Global Director of Application Engineering at Cree, the TEMPO concept was introduced because luminaire manufacturers in this field often blame component suppliers when components perform poorly after being installed into luminaires. For example, a luminaire manufacturer might damage LEDs by choosing the wrong encapsulant, causing gas to be generated inside the luminaire and leading to temperature increases.

　　McClear said that luminaire manufacturers rarely submit their products for LM-79 or ENERGY STAR testing, and therefore cannot determine whether their product designs meet the standards. Some manufacturers also spend large sums of money just on thermal design testing and evaluation — for example, LM-79 testing costs can reach $1,000 or more, and manufacturers usually have to wait through very long testing cycles.

Tested on a 2-inch grid

　　TEMPO-21 testing in the electrical domain also includes driver efficiency, transient analysis, dimmer compatibility, power consumption analysis, and high-voltage dielectric breakdown testing. Testing in the thermal and mechanical domains includes verification of solder joints for junction temperature monitoring, thermal imaging with infrared cameras, and chemical compatibility analysis. The testing also includes some basic data, such as estimates of product lifespan incorporated into the thermal design and assessments of whether the product can pass ENERGY STAR certification review.

　　Although Cree is not yet able to fully perform LM-79 testing, Cree is making improvements and plans to install a Type C goniophotometer with a moving mirror, which is required for LM-79 testing. This raises a question of whether Cree will seek official recognition as a certification body, enabling it to provide LM-79 and ENERGY STAR testing to customers. However, McClear says the company currently has no such plans.

　　Cree claims that it can keep the testing cycle within just a few days, thereby helping customers accelerate their time to market. Sampling testing costs only $300, and a full TEMPO-21 test costs $1,200. The company obviously cannot profit much from this, but this may be another way for Cree to express its mission of accelerating the adoption of LED lighting. The TEMPO testing service was officially launched in late September, and Cree has provided services to several companies.