Cree has unveiled a new single-die LED with extremely high performance in a compact 5x5 mm package. The Cree XLamp XM-L LED is designed for very-high-lumen applications, such as high-bay or roadway lighting.

The cool-white (6500 K) XM-L delivers 1000 lumens with 100 lm/W efficacy at 3 A. This is a huge amount of light from a single package, and as well as the applications mentioned above it could also offer an interesting solution for directional lamps.

Predictably, the XM-L offers higher efficacy at lower drive currents, delivering light output and efficacy of up to 160 lm and 160 lm/W at 350 mA, and up to 315 lm and 150 lm/W at 700 mA.

At this point it is important to note that the die size is significantly larger than many other "high-power" or "lighting-class" LEDs on the market that tend to use dies around 1x1 mm in size. LEDs Magazine has ascertained that the XM-L contains a 2x2 mm die.

Cree says that the XLamp XM-L LED has gone from concept to commercial availability in less than eight months.

“The XLamp XM-L LED can fundamentally change the way Cree customers look at LED light,” said John Edmond, Cree director of advanced optoelectronics. “An LED with this level of light output and this level of efficacy can accelerate the development of high-output commercial lighting products and could enable applications we haven’t even thought of yet. This sets a new standard for LED performance.”

XLamp XM-L LEDs are available in sample and production quantities with standard lead times.