Light Pipe Combo Obviates The Need For Through-Hole PCBs February 2004 Issue Published Date: February 09, 2004
The combination of new SMPT surface-mount LEDs and existing flexible light pipes (FLPs) eliminates not only the need for through-hole PCBs for installing the pipes, but also secondary post-reflow operations. Previously, the FLP series provided an adapter for use with SMT LEDs, with the adapter requiring through-holes in the PCB for mounting purposes. To overcome this situation, the SMPT Series integrates the adapter and SMT LED into a single, surface-mountable package compatible with pick-and-place equipment. The SMT housing measures 0.218" in diameter and stands less than 0.296" high. Each module can be used as an individual, full-color pixel in fixed or moving messages, providing brilliant LED displays capable of being extended from 2.5" to 328' via the FLP mono-fiber. And the polycarbonate-encapsulated modules allow press-fit installation of the two-piece flexible light pipes. In production quantities, price is $0.40 each. For more details, contact Anthony Vilgiate at BIVAR INC., Irvine, CA. (800) 772-2377.
