The light from an incandescent lamp is produced with the aid of an electrical current that causes a fine wire to glow. Around five percent of the electrical energy is converted into light. The rest is given off to the environment as heat.
Light bulbs - more than 100 years of success.
The German clock-maker Johann Heinrich Goebel invented the incandescent lamp in 1854. Thomas Edison then developed the concept and turned it into a useable product in 1879.
For many years artificial light hung by a delicate thread - a carbon thread in fact. OSRAM replaced this carbon thread with a much stronger metal filament.
Since then, lamps have undergone a process of continual improvement, new ways of generating light have been invented and new materials have been used. Recent innovations have been made with two main objectives in mind, namely improved economy and environmental compatibility.
The ordinary light bulb is still the most popular light source. Its warm light creates a pleasant atmosphere. The light bulb is still the number one choice for general lighting.