As opposed to laser printers, the printed image is not brought onto a drum by a laser beam, but by a row of densely located light diodes.
An electro photographic printer that uses a matrix of LEDs as its light source. The LED mechanism is much simpler than its laser printer counterpart. A stationary array of LEDs is used instead of numerous moving parts, and the LEDs are selectively beamed onto the drum. In electronics terms, a diode is a semiconductor device through which current can go in only one direction. As a side effect, light-emitting diodes produce either visible or infrared light. LED printers utilize the latest printing technique, producing laser-quality printouts while utilizing less energy. LEDs require very little power and are often used as indicator lights, including (most likely) the drive access lights on your computer. LEDs are also found in some "laser-quality" printers.
n. Short for light-emitting diode printer. An electrophotographic printer similar to LCD and laser printers. The significant difference between LED and laser or LCD printers is in the light source; LED printers use an array of light-emitting diodes. See also electrophotographic printers, light-emitting diode, nonimpact printer, page printer. Compare ion-deposition printer, laser printer, LCD printer.
LED printers are identical in principle to laser printers except for the light source used. LEDs are more efficient mechanically than normal laser printers, since there are fewer moving parts.