New Ultra-Bright LEDs from Vishay Replace Incandescent Bulbs in Automotive, Traffic, and Outdoor Applications

5-mm Devices Offered in Red, Blue, True Green, and Yellow

MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA - June 7, 2002 - A new series of extraordinarily bright LEDs - sufficient to replace incandescent lamps in automotive and outdoor display applications - was released today by Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH).

Offered in red, blue, yellow, and true green versions, LEDs in the Vishay TLC series offer luminous intensity as high as 20,000 mcd, making them an energy-saving and more reliable alternative to incandescent lamps for central high-mounted stop lights in automobiles and for outdoor applications including panels, displays, lighting, traffic signals, and traffic signs.

Built on ultra-bright AllnGaP (for red and yellow) and InGaN (for blue and true green) technologies, the new TLC devices offer a choice of 8° (TLC.58xx) or 18° TLC.51xx) emission angles. Designers will choose between devices in the two series depending on luminous intensity requirements. The 8° LEDs combine the levels of light output from 2,000 mcd (blue) to 20,000 mcd (red), while the range for the 18° LEDs is 1,500 mcd to 11,000 mcd.

The new TLC series features an untinted, non-diffused lens with a diameter of 5 mm. Reverse voltage for all devices in the series is 5 V, with a maximum dc forward current of 50 mA for red and yellow and 30 mA for blue and true green devices. To ensure reliable operation in the rugged outdoor and automotive environments, ESD protection is 2000 V, and maximum junction temperature is 125°C, for the red and yellow LEDs; the comparable specifications are 1000 V and 100°C for the blue and true green LEDs. A luminous intensity ratio of 2.0 or less in each packing unit ensures even lighting.

Samples and production quantities of the new, ultra-bright TLC LEDs are available now, with lead times of four to eight weeks for larger orders.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, and optoelectronics and selected ICs) and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, sensors, and transducers). These components are used in virtually all types of electronic devices and equipment, in the industrial, computing, automotive, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and medical markets. Its product innovations, successful acquisition strategy, and ability to provide "one-stop shop" service have made Vishay a global industry leader. Vishay can be found on the Internet at http://www.vishay.com.