Backlighting is a common component of many touchscreens, switches, keypads, human machine interfaces (HMIs) and other devices. As the name suggests, it’s a lighting solution that’s installed or embedded in the back of a given device. While there are types of backlighting, two of the most common are electroluminescent (EL) and light-emitting diode (LED). What’s the difference between EL and LED backlighting exactly?
What Is EL Backlighting?
EL backlighting is characterized by the use of phosphor compounds. They generate light using electroluminescence. Phosphor compounds are considered electroluminescent, meaning they illuminate when exposed to an electrical charge.
For EL backlighting, a single layer of phosphor is sandwiched between two conductive layers. The conductive layers are made of a material that conducts electricity. When the respective device is turned on, electricity will flow through the two conductive layers as well as the phosphor layer in the middle. The phosphor compounds will then illuminate, thus generating light through projects out the front of the device.
Some of the top benefits of EL backlighting include:
- Offers uniform lighting with no dark or bright spots
- Supports multiple colors
- Available in low-profile designs
- Energy efficient
What Is LED Backlighting?
LED backlighting is an alternative type of backlighting. As the name suggests, LED backlighting involves the use of LEDs. LEDs are simply semiconductor lighting devices. They don’t feature a wire filament like other bulbs (e.g. incandescent). Rather, LEDs feature a semiconductor that generates light when exposed to an electrical charge.
Some of the top benefits of LED backlighting include:
- Offers uniform lighting with no dark or bright spots
- Low heat production
- Long-lasting
- Supports multiple colors
- Available in low-profile designs
- Energy effcient
Choosing Between EL and LED Backlighting
EL and LED backlighting share many of the same benefits. They are both energy efficient, available in low-profile designs, offer uniform lighting and support multiple colors. Therefore, you can’t go wrong with either of them. EL and LED backlighting simply use different technologies to generate light.
For EL backlighting, phosphor compounds are responsible for generating light. Phosphor compounds are electroluminescent, so when connected to a power source, they illuminate. LED backlighting, on the other hand, doesn’t use any phosphor compounds, nor does it use a wire filament. LED backlighting uses a semiconductor to generate light. An electrical charge will travel through the semiconductor in each LED, which in turn illuminates the LED and its respective device.
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