Bivar LEDs and indicators
TME – LED components from a renowned manufacturer.
In the past, constructors and designers used bulb-based controls to signal the operating status of devices (start-up, failure, or the current stage of the cycle). Over the years, these have been replaced by LED diodes. Thanks to their small size, durability, and low power requirements, they have become the industry standard. Nowadays, it is hard to find a device that does not use these semiconductor elements. One of the companies specializing in LEDs and LED indicators is the American company Bivar.
- SMD LED Diodes
- THT LED Diodes
- UV LED Diodes
- Fibers for LEDs
- LED Mounts
- Bushings and Spacers for LED Diodes
- LED Indicators for PCB Mounting
The brand’s history begins in the mid-1960s with the dynamic development of the computer market. Initially, Bivar offered only mechanical plastic components for electronic applications – spacer bushings, insulating elements, levers, and guides. As the market developed, the company also introduced LED diodes to its offer, which over time evolved into a wide range of solutions enabling flexible and efficient optical status signaling for device operation.
Bivar’s solutions are used among others in industrial automation, laboratory equipment, measuring devices, telecommunication systems, and consumer electronics.
Bivar SMD LED Diodes
Thanks to the miniaturization of electronic components, SMD LED diodes (surface-mounted directly on the printed circuit board) can be used for device operation signaling. This solution works well wherever space-saving is important. Bivar’s offer includes SMD LED diodes in amber, red, green, and yellow colors. Additionally, bicolor versions can be found: red-green and green-yellow. They come in several types of housings – 0402, 0603, 0805, 1204, 1204, and PLCC4. It is also worth mentioning that their front can be flat or convex.
The diodes are available in several housing types – 0402, 0603, 0805, 1204, 1206, and PLCC4. It is worth adding that miniature LED diodes in the first two mentioned housing sizes are gaining popularity. They are used in devices with high-density mounting – for example, IoT modules, mobile equipment, or compact control panels.
Besides surface-mounted LEDs, Bivar also produces the classic version of these components designed for through-hole mounting (THT). The diodes come in various colors – the TME catalog includes yellow, green, blue, and red, though this is not the complete list. They have diameters of 1.8mm, 3mm, or 5mm and feature various beam angles ranging from 15° up to 160° (an even 180° beam angle model is available).
UV LED Diodes
The TME offer also includes LED diodes emitting UV light with wavelengths from 387.5nm to 407.5nm. These elements have a convex front and beam angles of 15° or 30°. These THT mounted diodes are used in specific applications such as fluorescence detection systems (verifying the authenticity of banknotes and documents), photopolymerizing heads, and bactericidal elements in air purifiers.
Fiber Optics for LEDs in Many Variants
Fiber optics dedicated to LED diodes are small elements that allow extending or directing the light emitted by the diode. They are placed directly above the diode, and the light it emits passes through the plastic. Thanks to this solution, the LED status can be seen on the device panel, even if the luminous structure itself is located inside. This solution allows separating the light-emitting element from the device’s front panel, which increases the freedom of electronic design and facilitates component placement on the PCB.
Bivar provides various types of fiber optics that should be chosen for specific applications. Available are elements with flat or convex fronts, in different colors and shades – white, blue, and also transparent or smoked versions. Fibers may vary in size, depending on the type of LED diode they are meant for. They also come with various mounting options.
LED Mounts
Mounts dedicated to 5mm LED diodes are also part of the American manufacturer’s portfolio. They make placing the diode on the device’s front panel much simpler.
Bushings and Spacers for LED Diodes
The producer’s offer also includes spacer bushings for LED diodes, which facilitate their proper mounting on printed circuit boards and maintaining the appropriate distance between the light-emitting element and the PCB surface. These accessories are especially useful in designs where the diode should be precisely positioned relative to the front panel or other housing elements.
Bivar bushings are made of plastics with good insulating properties and are available in many height and diameter variants, allowing them to be adapted to popular THT diodes with diameters of 3mm or 5mm. LED spacers improve mounting stability, facilitate production repeatability, and help maintain panel aesthetics by eliminating the problem of uneven diode protrusion.
Bivar LED Indicators for PCB Mounting
An interesting element fulfilling signaling functions in electronic devices are so-called LED indicators. These elements are made of plastic and can be equipped with one or multiple LED diodes placed in one housing, often in the form of a linear indicator. This solution facilitates control panel design and allows clear presentation of various device operating states using a single component. The minimum number of diodes in the indicator is 1, while the maximum is as many as 16. The indicator itself is mounted in a through-hole manner (THT). The diodes come in various colors, including white, amber, red, blue, green, and yellow. It is also worth mentioning that their lenses can be transparent, diffused, or white. Additionally, these types of indicators feature various brightness levels and diode beam angles (from 20° to 120°), so everyone can find something suitable.
