LIGHT EMITTING DIODES

What is a light emitting diode? A Light emitting diode, aslo known as LED is a semiconduc -tor device that emits visible light when electric current is passed through it.

The 20% Project The 20% Project is a year long project that is meant to help the student ask questions and ideas and provide them the ability to complete in-depth research on a topic of their choice. Trimester 1 products: letter, survey, interview, and timeline. These specic products (above) helped me with my communication skills, giving me the chance to talk to other people that knew about my subject. time line. These specic products (above) helped me with my communication skills, giving me the chance to talk to other people that knew about my subject.

History of LED The rst known report on light emitting diodes was written by the experimenter H.J. Round in 1907. After, The Wireless World and Radio Review magazine writes that Oleg Vladimirovich Losev makes worldwide fame in his discoveries of a real working diode. In 1961Gary Pittman and Bob Biard work on a project to invent a specic type of diode, discovering that this type of diodes gives off light in the infrared region. Finally, in 1968 The Monsanto Company is the rst organization to produce visible LEDs that could be store bought.

20% Project, Trimester 1: letter

Dear Mr. Schubert, I am a seventh grade student at Beechwood Elementary in Fullerton California and Im in an IB prep class that requires that I do a project called the 20% project. IB prep stands for International Baccalaureate Preparation. The 20% project usually lasts over a year or even longer! This project is used to help students and others nd out more about a subject they are interested in by collecting data. It is also to help them relate and ask questions about their subject. The student or persons research may even help them in their career and education choice. This is only a small part of my 20% project! I have an interest in learning about light emitting diodes and part of my research involves writing a letter to experts who specialize in this subject matter. I wanted to write a letter to you about this subject because I believe your knowledge will help me in my developmental comprehension in learning about LED and will also enable me to gain condence in this topic. Your book, Light-Emitting Diodes has inspired me and has expanded my knowledge in formulating strategies to have a reason to help people in this world. First of all, I would like to ask you a few questions: 1. Of all the career options you could have chosen why did you choose to study light emitting diodes? 2. Are diodes complicated or easy to learn about? 3. Do light emitting diodes help in learning about other subjects? 4. Have you ever hurt yourself in experimenting and or trying to learning more about LED? 5. Have you ever thought about putting diodes into different designs or machines?

I have only scraped the surface in learning about this. Ive thought about placing diodes in objects that are non-related to the usage of what diodes are usually used for. For example, making a picture out of diodes instead of sound boards or on various types of devices. I hope to learn about other kinds of diodes and also want to keep my interest in this subject. I wish to follow my dreams in becoming helpful to others throughout my life with my knowledge or in my studies. I would greatly appreciate your response as soon as possible, it will insure my understanding on this subject matter and will bring positive results to the grade I receive from the completion of this task. Sincerely, Jaclyn Kimoto

Interesting facts How did Oleg Losev discover the diode? He notices that diodes used in radio receivers are lit when an electric current is passed through! Oleg publishes detailed measurements on LED current, but he is unable to nish papers because of an evacuation from the city of Leningrad. In 1942, Losev dies from starvation.The rst color LED that was made was red (because it is the rst color of the rainbow). Today diodes are used to direct people. When you wake up in the morning, look at your clock and you may nd a small red light somewhere. Look at your T.V. remote and press on, you might see a little green light go on! Odd Connections The Monsanto Comp. rst was founded by a man named John Francis Queeny. His company invented many fake sugar sweeteners and chemicals. Monsanto also funded Walt Disney and the U.S army. After Queenys death, engineer Edward J. Bock took over. The Monsanto Company then became the rst mass producer of visible LEDs, and smaller chemical mixed products! Be Careful Diodes can be dangerous if over powered. CAUTION: IF YOU TRY TO OVER POWER THE DIODE, IT WILL EXPLODE!!!