On Tue, 10 Apr 2007 08:14:24 -0500, "Anthony Fremont"
Gave us:

Look again. Please refer to Figure 6 (Maximum Tolerable Peak Current vs.
Pulse Duration) It goes without saying, that you can't keep Tj at 25C once
you turn it on.


Max Tolerable is NOT the recommended operating current for 100%
duty.

Nearly ALL visible spectrum LEDs are meant to be ON ALL the time
without detriment to lifespan. I would actually bet that it IS ALL.

They are meant to be used as indicators, whether in a panel, or on
the rear of a car.

It is silly to think otherwise. Their original purpose was as a
replacement for panel lamps, and as a replacement for digit segments
in gas numeric digital displays. Among many other applications.

High brightness LEDs are just now coming into being, and had to have
many years of field level testing to iron out deficiencies in physical
design and packaging as well as chemical makeup. In those cases, a
less than 100% duty rate MIGHT be a particular of a given makers' spec
on a device. Not likely though since they are fighting to win a
particular market that IS 100% duty rate. It matters not how long
some biker "typically" leaves his "gang boy" lights on his bike
running.