Re: Luxeon uping the ante on the Rebel
I thought that was the case when I saw the pics but didn't have the time when I posted to do an in-depth examination. That has a pretty big ramification on the optics used and results seen from use in certain applications. I would much rather have seen them rename it even though it is the same package more like Cree does. It makes it really confusing to call two products by the same name.:shakehead
With the larger die size in mind I rescind the remark about them maybe passing up Cree as that was based more on the assumption/hope that the die was still 1mmx1mm. So now Lumileds has an XP-G competitor. Sort of.
I have been fooled before by assuming die size changes when the actual change can be simply optical properties of the package as a whole. I am not saying the new die is larger or not, but in the end, what matters are the results.
I got a little nervous when you reminded me that this new part could results a different radiation pattern, so I needed to double check it. (on paper for now, later of course with real parts)
I looked at the data sheet spatial radiation pattern (data sheets, typically page 18 or 19) from the older Rebel parts of various CRI types, colors, and the newer upgraded part. I compared 5 points from each of them and they are virtually a match, "indicating" that these will be really close in focus results.
Philips Lumileds has such a large base of customers and related firms banking on being able to use any Rebel in any optic interchangeably, that I can't imagine them not engineering this part to optically match the others. Keep in mind that these are the guys that took a beating in the past for making a very small change to a dimension in the Lux III that was not even an engineered spec dimension.
OK, yes, I am still hoping that it is the same, not proven, although their data sheets are usually pretty darn accurate.
BTW - if you want tighter binning of a CCT or CRI, just look a little closer at the white p/n selection. Some of those are simply tighter binned versions of the more generic white parts. There is a slight price premium for them, but it is relatively small, and much less painful to purchase an "off the shelf" p/n than the old method of being on the hunt for a specific bin.