Bin Codes Explained
that web page is what i reference when i'm determining the bin codes.. a lot of people consume brain cells with mezmorizing such, but i'm of the type that it's best to remember where to look than memorize.
The basics are this:.. there is a wide range of variance on the LEDs off the assembly line... so just like most things of the sort, (pun oops).. like say CPUs or RAM... they are tested, and grouped or sorted (hence the pun) into 'bins' based on how bright they are, what color they are and what voltage it takes to operate them.
When people brag about or clamor for a special bin.. typically it means one of three things..
1) Very bright... the same model emitter can vary by more than twice the brightness...so a 'bright' bin means with the same power, more lumens.
2) Very white... some emitters are very green or yellow or sickly.. others are perfectly white.. the lux3s are soo white in general they split up white in to several 'almost white' bins
3) Very low operating voltage (this can be bad or good depending on your design).... if you want to direct-drive.. having a high Vf can be beneficial, because you can operate the light w/o using a resistor or drive circuitry.. in addition.. some circuit designs need the Vf to be above the Vbat... and a high Vf will help.. in other designs.. Lowest Vf wins... because you can use a battery with less voltage to operate it full-power.
there ya go, hope it helps.
-awr