Cree: Difference between revisions

Cree classifies tints generally as being warm, neutral, and cool, but has recently added "outdoor white" in between and overlapping neutral and cool (4000-5300K). Tints are binned using a system based on the [[ANSI White]] standard. Cree's tints subdivide and expand on the ANSI regions giving bins such as cool 1B, neutral 5B1, and warm 7D2, though many other tints and subdivisions are available. Click on the graphic at right to see all of the bins, though not all bins are available.

Below are numbers taken at certain currents for the various brightness bins of LED models. There is more information available with the [http://pct.cree.com/ Cree Product Characterization Tool], an online calculator that allows you to look up output based on more factors. The numbers on this page, like those given by the PCT, are based on charts in the LED datasheets.

A 4-die LED available with four of the same color dies or the MC-E Color with four different color dies (white, red, green, blue). The maximum current is 700mA with a Vf of 3.4V, though this varies from one color to another. Bins run from G (240 lumens) to M (430 lumens) at 350 mA. The white quadrant of the MC-E Color is available in cool white (A5) or neutral white (A4).

[[File:Creexb-d.jpg|thumb|Cree XB-D is similar to the XT-E but smaller.]]Very compact LED (the die is mounted on a chip 2.45 mm square opposed to 3.45 mm square for XP series) introduced in February 2012, promising lower cost. Should provide similar brightness to XP-E LED's. First available units were warm white with Q2 brightness bin (at 350mA). This LED is used in some budget Ozark Trail 3xAAA lights at Walmart. The XB-D is binned at an operating temperature of 85° C instead of 25°, so in order to directly compare its output to other LED's that are typically binned at 25 degrees, the numbers in the table below have been increased by 14% (see [[XB-D output]] for the 85° numbers). Can be driven up to 1000mA. [http://www.cree.com/products/pdf/XLampXB-D.pdf Datasheet], [http://www.cree.com/news-and-events/cree-news/press-releases/2012/january/120111-xbd press release].

[[File:Cree-xml.jpg|thumb|Cree XM-L LED with 6 yellow strips and 3 brass bonding wires]]Larger die LED first available in November 2011, offering efficacy of 160 lumens per watt at 350mA. Output is 260-280 lumens at 700mA (bins T5 and T6) therefore it is more efficient and puts out more light at any current than earlier single-die Cree LED's. However the biggest improvement to overall output is the XM-L can be driven to 3000mA for 910-975 lumens of output. The LED die is 2mm x 2mm on a 5mm x 5mm substrate with 6 yellow strips and 3 bonding wires as opposed to the XP-G with 4 strips and 2 bonding wires and the XP-E with 3 strips and 2 bonding wires. The first production lights to feature the XM-L were versions of the [[ThruNite]] Catapult V2 (first to ship), [[EagleTac]] M3C4, a [[4Sevens]] Quark MiNi, and the [[JETBeam]] M1xm, introduced in December 2010, but budget retailer KaiDomain had LED's and [[P60]] drop-ins as well as P60 lights around the same time. Neutral and warm tints began shipping in March 2011. [http://www.cree.com/news-and-events/cree-news/press-releases/2010/november/101110-xml Press release] [http://www.cree.com/products/pdf/XLampXM-L.pdf Cree XM-L datasheet]

Introduced in September 2012, this redesign is similar to the XP-G2. Cree claims 20% more output than the original XP-E at half cost in terms of lumens per dollar. [http://www.cree.com/news-and-events/cree-news/press-releases/2012/september/xpe2 Press realease], [http://www.cree.com/led-components-and-modules/products/xlamp/discrete-directional/~/media/Files/Cree/LED%20Components%20and%20Modules/XLamp/Data%20and%20Binning/XLampXPE2.pdf datasheet]. The XP-E2 is binned at 85°C, but for ease of comparison, the output numbers below are increased by 16% to get 25° values.

Same size package as the XP-E, but with a larger die. Therefore the resulting beam has a little more flood. It is available in varying output bins from R2 to S3. Maximum current is 1500mA and Vf of 3.3V with efficacy of 141 lumens per watt. [http://www.cree.com/products/pdf/XLampXP-G.pdf Cree XP-G datasheet], [http://www.cree.com/news-and-events/cree-news/press-releases/2009/september/090930-xp-g-led press release].

Introduced in July 2012, the XP-G2 is an all new design with the same size as the earlier XP-G. Like Cree's other 2012 offerings, the XP-G2 is binned at 85°C, but for ease of comparison, output is increased by 13% to get 25° values. In August 2012, [[Foursevens]] was the first company to adopt this LED, claiming 20% more output and a 5% smaller hotspot for greater throw compared to the same models using a XP-G. [http://www.cree.com/news-and-events/cree-news/press-releases/2012/july/xpg2-intro Press release], [http://www.cree.com/led-components-and-modules/products/xlamp/discrete-directional/~/media/Files/Cree/LED%20Components%20and%20Modules/XLamp/Data%20and%20Binning/XLampXPG2.pdf Datasheet]

This LED was very widely used, featured in flashlights by [[Fenix]], [[JETBeam]], [[NiteCore]] D10, and [[EagleTac]] P20 and T20 series, and is still available in some [[budget lights]]. The neutral white version is used in Nitecore EZ series. It is easily recognized by the metal ring around the die with 3 yellow strips and 2 bonding wires.<br clear="all">

[[File:Cree-xte.jpg|thumb|Cree XT-E LED]]Introduced in February 2012, the XT-E has the same size chip as the XP series but seems to have a wider viewing angle for more flood and less throw. Can be driven up to 1.5A and available in bins up to R5 (at 350mA). This LED is binned at an operating temperature of 85&deg;&nbsp;C instead of 25&deg;, so in order to directly compare its output to other LED's that are typically binned at 25 degrees, the numbers in the table below have been increased by 14% (see [[XT-E output]] for the 85&deg; numbers). Cree introduced the XT-E as a low-cost, high efficiency LED capable of 148 lumens per watt at 350mA, offering higher lumens per dollar. The LED is not a flat square, but has an X shaped hill on the surface. The beam is like a small XM-L with a large hotspot and some varying tint across the beam. [[EagleTac]] was the first company to feature the XT-E in a production light, making it an option in the D25 clicky series in April 2012. At about the same time, KaiDomain offered P60 drop-ins and flashlights with the XT-E. [http://www.cree.com/products/pdf/XLampXT-E.pdf Datasheet], [http://www.cree.com/news-and-events/cree-news/press-releases/2012/february/120207-xte press release].