Light-emitting diode UV LEDs for sterilization. LEDs have also been used as a medium-quality voltage reference in electronic circuits. The forward voltage drop (e.g. about 1.7 V for a normal red LED) can be used instead of a Zener diode in low-voltage regulators. Red LEDs have the flattest I/V curve above the knee. Nitride-based LEDs have a fairly steep I/V curve and are useless for this purpose. Although LED forward voltage is far more current-dependent than a Zener diode, Zener diodes with breakdown voltages below 3 V are not widely available. The progressive miniaturization of low-voltage lighting technology, such as LEDs and
Light-emitting diode epoxy, synthetic rubber or silicone. Touching bare LEDs using synthetic rubber or silicone can damage the delicate wire bonds from LED to package or the LED itself, so they may be protected by a plastic or glass cover, such as in the LED flash in smartphones. It is this YAG phosphor which causes white LEDs without diffusers (such as those used in LED lamps and bulbs) to look yellow when off. There are three main methods of mixing colors to produce white light from an LED: Because of metamerism, it is possible to have quite different spectra that appear white.