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It was almost impossible to make the blue LED [video]

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Re: It was almost impossible to make the blue LED [video]

#31
post #4

Thanks for the billions in revenue, but remember how I told you to quit trying to use GaN to solve the blue LED problems? Well here's $147 for your patent and clean out your desk, because you're fired.

a good leader need to be humble enough to spot when they are wrong and correct course. This guy sounds like he had control issues, and kept a grudge. very childish behavior.

Re: It was almost impossible to make the blue LED [video]

#32
post #27

I'm looking for __pink__ leds, but can't find a good source. Digikey has only very limited options with many packages like 0805 missing.

Pink LEDs need a custom phosphor so they may not be available in some sizes. They are also not in high demand, so not a lot of different parts are made.

Re: It was almost impossible to make the blue LED [video]

#33
post #2

Assuming everything is reported fairly, I really can't imagine being Nichia's customer. Ever. Sacking and not compensating the employee that single-handedly made Nichia successful by inventing a working blue LED and saving Nichia from bankruptcy is just not acceptable.

It's complicated. For 1 employee which disobeyed orders and saved the company you'll have 99 which disobeyed orders and don't produce anything useful or even made harm. This is called the Halo effect.

Yes, but the odds that someone who invents the blue LED also invents something else amazing is much better than a random employee who did not invent the blue LED inventing something amazing.

Re: It was almost impossible to make the blue LED [video]

#34
post #2

Assuming everything is reported fairly, I really can't imagine being Nichia's customer. Ever. Sacking and not compensating the employee that single-handedly made Nichia successful by inventing a working blue LED and saving Nichia from bankruptcy is just not acceptable.

It's complicated. For 1 employee which disobeyed orders and saved the company you'll have 99 which disobeyed orders and don't produce anything useful or even made harm. This is called the Halo effect.

Well, if they really thought it was a waste of time, they could have fired him in the first few years, but instead they kept funding his research. The company was doing one thing with its right hand, and something entirely different with its left.

I'm not saying the halo effect isn't real or not applicable here. But a multi-billion dollar invention warrants Extenuating Circumstances, and it's oh so very convenient that the CEO can say "well we don't want to inspire this kind of behavior in other employees!" after the profits are realized.

Re: It was almost impossible to make the blue LED [video]

#35
Blue LEDs are the bane of my light-sensitive eyes' existence, and it pains me so to know they almost never existed at all. I keep a PC repair kit with me, even though I dont have a desktop computer, because I need to take all of my electronics apart and take these stupid blue LEDs out of them.

Re: It was almost impossible to make the blue LED [video]

#36
post #28
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's your point? That statement has nothing to do with the problem at hand.

The problem is that he was unfairly compensated by the economic system (capitalism) he works in, and had to fight for years only to just about break even on legal fees. The guy's gumption led to the invention of a multi-billion dollar pear year industry, and he got basically none of it.

The inverse also happens, though, because socialism fails to capture the value. According to the labor theory of value, for example, his work would’ve been valued at some function of (training * hours worked). Despite creating billions in value for humanity, he would’ve been treated very similarly to the rest of his coworkers

Re: It was almost impossible to make the blue LED [video]

#37
post #22

As someone who has trouble sleeping and particularly needs dark sleep I wish it had been impossible to make a blue LED.

You could, you know, tape over them or something, about 5 mins of work.

Nail polish on my bluetooth keyboard LED for the win.

Re: It was almost impossible to make the blue LED [video]

#38

As someone who has trouble sleeping and particularly needs dark sleep I wish it had been impossible to make a blue LED.

Maybe try an eyemask? I will admit the feeling takes a little bit getting used to but I get way better sleep with it than without.

Re: It was almost impossible to make the blue LED [video]

#39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

White LEDs were/are also made using a UV LED and phosphor.

That sounds dangerous, since not all emissions will be converted.

Wait until you find out about fluorescent lamps...

Re: It was almost impossible to make the blue LED [video]

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

White LEDs were/are also made using a UV LED and phosphor.

That sounds dangerous, since not all emissions will be converted.

If they (or you) use a cap that's opaque to UV but transparent to the visible spectrum, then there won't be any issues with this.
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