Modeling of non-Lambertian sources in lighting applications

The photometric modeling of LEDs as generalized Lambertian sources (GL-Sources) is discussed. Non-Lambertian LED sources, with axial symmetry, have important real-world applications in general lighting. In particular, so-called generalized Lambertian sources, following a cosine to the nth power distribution (n≥1), can be used to describe the luminous output profiles from solid-state lighting devices like LEDs. For such sources, the knowledge of total power (in Lumens [Lms]), the knowledge of the output angular characteristics, as well as source area, is sufficient information to determine all other critical photometric quantities such as: maximum radiant intensity (in Candelas [Cd = Lm/Sr]) and maximum luminance (in nits [nts = Cd/m²]), as well as illuminance (in lux [lx = Lm/m²]). In this paper, we analyze this approach to modeling LEDs in terms of its applicability to real sources.