Glowing Trees to Replace Glowing Lamps

Scientists from the Academia Sinica and the National Cheng Kung University in Taipei and Tainan have implanted glowing, sea urchin shaped gold nanoparticles, known as bio light emitting diodes, or bio LEDs, inside the leaves of a plant. The new nanoparticles could replace the electricity powered street light with biologically powered light that removes CO2 from the atmosphere 24 hours a days.

Semtech Delivers Industry's First Smart Current Sink LED Backlighting Platform

Semtech Corp announced the industry's first smart current sink LED backlighting platform with on-chip digital lighting effects for high-end handheld displays. This new platform incorporates Semtech's patent-pending, smart Automatic Dropout Prevention (ADP) technology to enable a new-generation of high-quality current sink drivers that can replace boost converters and charge pumps in high-end handhelds, while providing high-quality display backlighting. The new SC667 and SC668 current sinks with ADP technology reduce the total parts count and extend battery life compared to boost converters or charge pumps, and offer far superior illumination quality compared to conventional current sink drivers. Additionally, on-chip digital lighting effects provide the flexibility to incorporate fade, breathe and blink effects without changing the firmware.

White LEDs used in backlighting applications typically have a forward voltage up to 3.6V. When the battery voltage declines in portable devices, the supply voltage must be boosted to ensure the white LEDs have sufficient voltage to illuminate the display. Charge pump or inductive boost converter devices have typically been used to provide this voltage boost function. In an effort to maintain constant output power, these circuits increase current draw as the battery voltage declines, shortening battery life. Improvements in white LEDs have resulted in forward voltages as low as 3.0V, reducing the threshold at which conventional LED drivers need to boost the battery voltage. Because of this, LED backlight drivers increasingly are operating in a non-boost mode, making current sink drivers an attractive alternative. Current sink drivers eliminate the capacitors and inductor associated with the boost circuitry, reducing component count, board size and system cost, with the added benefits of eliminating any switching noise and extending operating time.
"With current sink topologies, the supply voltage available to the white LEDs is reduced toward the end of the battery discharge cycle," said Athar Zaidi, Director of Marketing in Semtech's Power Management Group. "Semtech's ADP technology ensures that the LEDs dim in uniform and imperceptible steps as the battery voltage declines. The current sink approach also extends battery life, because there are no boost converters to draw higher current as in conventional implementations."

Prior to the ADP approach, current sinks were not optimal for high-end handheld devices. This was because line transients caused by the heavy system loads (for example:RF transmission)(for example:camera)(for example:camera flash)(for example:Internet access) produced display flicker when these loads were enabled and disabled. Semtech's smart ADP topology eliminates this problem via automatic and simultaneous monitoring of each current sink to avoid dropout as the system loads turn on and off. Each time a current sink with ADP approaches dropout, the digital logic reduces the current setting for all of the backlight LEDs in small increments that are imperceptible to the human eye. This process continues until all current sinks have sufficient headroom to regulate their current at the reduced setting. When this point is reached, the ADP circuitry locks the current setting, thereby eliminating any display flicker.

The SC667 and SC668 are the first current sinks to incorporate ADP technology. These devices also integrate a number of functions to enable high-end features on portables, including an ambient light sensing/control circuit that sets backlight brightness based on surrounding lighting conditions. A PWM dimming interface that incorporates a digital low-pass filter is also included, providing the capability to perform content-adaptive brightness control (versus "always-on" illumination).
The SC668 provides eight current sinks, while the SC667 features seven current sinks plus an interrupt request indicator signal to tell the host processor when an ambient light threshold has been crossed. Both devices include an on-chip digital lighting-effects engine to control LED fade-in/fade-out, breathe, blink, auto-dim full, and auto-dim partial; an I(2)C interface to program and control the LEDs; and four programmable, 200mA low-noise LDO regulators to manage the power for multiple embedded peripherals.

LED pushbuttons come in vibrant color combinations

NKK Switches KP Series of illuminated miniature pushbutton switches provides design engineers with an array of options that enhance and complete front panels needing an innovative and modern look and feel. Product Series devices are available with built-in RGB LED illumination.

Fred Upton to revisit light bulb ban

Hoping to counter attacks from his right, Rep. Fred Upton is promising to reexamine a controversial ban on incandescent light bulbs if he becomes chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The Michigan Republican told POLITICO on Thursday that he's not afraid to go back after an issue he once supported but that has come under withering assault on the conservative airwaves, including on Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck's talk shows.

Colorful leds controlled by your iPhone or iPad

As we all know the saying “there’s an app for that“, here’s yet another new use for your iOS devices – remote-controlled LED lights. The iGloLEDset is a special color-changing LED light set which can be remotely operated using your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. The kit includes a 16.4 foot-long strip with 120 colorful LEDs, along with a Wi-fi controller unit. Once you install the iGloLED app on your Apple gadget, you’ll be able to choose from hundreds of color pattern sequences, or create your own.

PhlatLight LEDs Light Stage for Arcade Fire’s Madison Square Garden Concert

Luminus Devices, developer and manufacturer of ‘big-chip’ PhlatLightLEDs, announced that its CBM-380-RGBW PhlatLight LEDs were used inside Vari*Lite’s VLX Wash Luminaires lighting the stage for Arcade Fire’s recent live HD webcast concert from Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City. “Simply, the VLX was my big wash light during the concert. VLX Wash Luminaires have no match today and their brightness and intense range of color are incredible.”
The Canadian indie rock band enlisted assistance of lighting designer Susanne Sasic who used 40 VLX Wash Luminaries to light the band at MSG. Sasic overcome many lighting challenges during the band’s tour but during the live streaming show from MSG she had to not only ensure the lighting was great for concert-goers but also for fans tuning into the webcast.
“During the concert, the VLX’s were my main lights on the band. The true white from the Luminus LEDs inside the VLX Wash Luminaires were extremely successful for the band member skin tones. I was amazed at how great the band looked under this light,” said Sasic. “Simply, the VLX was my big wash light during the concert. VLX Wash Luminaires have no match today and their brightness and intense range of color are incredible.”
The heart of the Vari*Lite VLX Wash Luminaire is seven, replaceable custom PhlatLight CBM-380-RGBW LEDs. The system has been optimized to deliver a total light output of 14,000 white lumens with an LED lifetime of at least 10,000 hours at maximum output.
“The Luminus ‘big-chip’ LED and the VLX architecture were made for each other, and the resulting Wash Luminaires popularity with lighting designers is a testament to punch and color uniformity previously available only from discharge lamp fixtures,” said Don McDaniel, director, global entertainment, Luminus.
Sasic added, “I love using new technologies and I had seen the VLX Wash during a private demo so I knew that it would be a perfect fit for this tour because of its power, deep range of color, and the true white from the Luminus LEDs. I have used automated LED lighting previously as decorative elements, but never as a main lighting source. Because of its brightness I knew the VLX could easily be my main wash light for the tour.”
Big-chip Luminus LEDs enable new general illumination applications in lighting markets such as architectural, entertainment, retail, residential, roadways, industrial high-bay lighting, digital displays and signage and UV for industrial processing.

Lighting Companies Still Perfecting That 'Warm Glow'

A major complaint about strings of light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) is they don't have that warm glow of incandescent bulbs. The white and colored strings were can have a blue cast. Many companies are now selling warm and cool strings of LED holiday lights. 'They (light companies) are trying to perfect LEDs so it looks more like incandescent," said landscaping expert Phil Steinhauer.

Cree launches XLamp XM-L LEDs

Cree, a US-based LED lighting specialist, has launched Cree XLamp XM-L LEDs, which are said to be the brightest, highest-performance lighting-class LEDs that are commercially available. The new commercially available single-die XLamp XM-L LEDs claims to deliver 1000 lumens at 100 lumens per Watt. With breakthrough light output and efficacy, the new LEDs are designed for very-high-lumen applications, such as high-bay or roadway lighting.

Definitely a brighter christmas with LED

LEDs have been around for a long time, but only caught on for use as Christmas lights in recent years. One reason is that older LEDs originally came only in red. Incandescent bulbs, on the other hand, emit only yellow light but are encased in colored glass. Another problem was a lack of brightness of LEDs. The potential was there, however, and advanced LEDs solved these problems. Today one can find LED Christmas lights in all kinds of shapes and sizes and in a wide range of colors.

Mitsubishi Electric Unveils 638 nm Red Laser Diode for Pico Projectors

Mitsubishi Electric has introduced a new 638 nm red laser diode (LD) that is ideal for portable display systems and pico projectors requiring bright red light sources. The ML501P73 diode offers 1W output power, which is the highest among the 638 nm LDs.

Luminus Devices Awarded 50th U.S. Patent For ‘Big-Chip’ LEDs

Luminus Devices, developer and manufacturer of ‘big-chip’ PhlatLightLEDs, announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently awarded the company its 50th patent. Having pioneered big-chip LED technology, Luminus has aggressively filed intellectual property (IP) for protection of big chip LED devices, packages and systems. In addition, the company has also been granted 13 non-U.S. issued patents in China, Korea and Taiwan that extend big-chip LED protection into those countries.
In addition to filing for new patents, Luminus has a track record of granting licenses to other LED companies, including: Forepi, Epistar and Nichia. Designed to provide an ultra-bright, reliable light source, PhlatLight big-chip LEDs are used in display applications by some of the world’s largest electronics and lighting companies such as Acer, Guth, LG, Philips Lighting and Samsung. They enable new general illumination applications in lighting markets such as architectural, entertainment, retail, residential, roadways, industrial high-bay lighting, digital displays and signage and UV for industrial processing.

LED driver IC supports automotive head, tail lights

NXP Semiconductors N.V. has just announced the availability of fully integrated, highly flexible driver IC solutions designed for vehicle LED headlights and tail lights, based on automotive-qualified technology. The ASL1010NTK and ASL1010PHN are automotive LED driver ICs which incorporate critical functionality such as direct LED temperature feedback, LED fault detection, internal PWM control for dimming and short circuit protection.

Grand Central Stars Shine Once Again

After nearly a year of renovation, the lights in the ceiling constellation inside Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan are back on. The 59 lights, representing stars in the galaxy, were first installed in 1913. That system has now been replaced with LEDs, which the Metropolitan Transportation Authority says uses 60 percent less electricity and will save $8,000 a year.

Eco-Friendly LED Solar Lamps

Gama Sonic USA, solar lighting manufacturer, has rolled out a new lighting system called the Royal Lamp Post. The lamp relies on solar light and is suitable for outdoor lighting applications. The Royal Lamp Post follows the company’s Imperial Solar Lanterns and is available in six diverse models. The new solar lamp designs incorporate the cone reflector technology and features bright white LEDs, which provide illumination in the required place

'FLAT' LED Lighting from Altatensione

Altatensione, in conjunction with FW Lighting launch their latest range of high Power LED Eco friendly light fixtures FLAT, that are aimed squarely at architects and lighting designers. Aesthetics, Performance, Technology and Reliability are the primary design criteria for the Flat range which is manufactured from die cast aluminium.

Rensselaer Smart Lighting research center deploys first LED bulbs on its campus

The new Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center (ERC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) of Troy, NY, USA has transformed a key building on RPI's campus into a test bed for high-efficiency lighting. Led by director Robert Karlicek, the Smart Lighting ERC worked with campus officials to replace some of the conventional incandescent bulbs in overhead lights with LED bulbs in the nine-story George M. Low Center for Industrial Innovation (CII). The initial batch of 119 replaced bulbs is expected to pay for itself via energy and labor cost savings within 12–16 months. Following the payback period, the bulbs are forecast to result in annual savings of $5608.

LED lighting at the crossroads: country road or expressway?

The advantages of the new LED lighting technology are well attested and beyond doubt. Nevertheless, LED lamps have achieved little market penetration so far and are predicted to make far slower market progress than comparable disruptive technologies. McKinsey research conducted by the firm’s LED Competence Center has revealed the underlying reasons behind the slow uptake, and this article presents the means to address them and so accelerate LED penetration. If manufacturers, retailers and regulators collaborate to overcome the five major barriers to adoption that the research has identified, LEDs could dominate the lighting marketplace by 2015

Arrow Electronics and Cree Plan Upcoming Lighting Fair

Arrow Electronics, Inc. and Cree, Inc. said they have teamed with manufacturers of complementary components to host a lighting design seminar and solutions fair Dec. 1-2 at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach, Calif.
According to a release, the free, two-day event is ideal for West Coast lighting engineers, specifiers and designers, and professionals looking to accelerate the conversion to solid-state lighting.
Chuck Swoboda, chairman and chief executive officer for Cree, will kick off the event with the keynote address on the current state of the solid-state lighting market and accelerating the transition from tradition lighting to LED lighting.
Guest speakers include local energy and municipal specialists such as Michael Seaman, with UC Davis' California Lighting Technology Center, Aaron Klemm, energy project manager with the City of Huntington Beach, and Teren Abear with Southern California Edison Design and Engineering Services.
Seminars and technical training will be provided by Arrow, Cree and related manufacturers on topics such as LED design, the latest in LED drivers and controls, optics and thermal considerations, converting municipalities to LEDs and more.
"Arrow works with partners like Cree to offer customers a complete lighting solution from concept development to production," said Gary Zullo, director of Arrow's lighting segment. "As LEDs become more widely accepted, we'll continue to identify new ways to support our customers with the knowledge, training and tools they need to move ahead with their solid-state lighting projects."
Manufacturers participating in the seminar and solutions fair include Analog Devices, Inc., Autec Power Systems, California Eastern Labs, Cypress Semiconductor, Diodes, Inc., Emerson Network Power, Fraen Corp., Infineon Technologies, Linear Technology, Micrel, Molex, National Semiconductor, NXP Semiconductors, ON Semiconductor, RECOM Power, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, and Tyco Electronics.

Exposure Six Pack

This monster light takes Exposure’s self-contained Cable Free Design range to the maximum output. Six XPG LEDs packed intothe front give it the most powerful lux punch of any of the lights we’ve tested this autumn.

As you’d expect, that means long range illumination is outstanding,with dramatic blue-white clarity even at a distance for fast, confident riding. Bounce-back glare and the sharp edged, relatively narrow beam can be tiring on the eyes though.

Momentive to Extend Service Life of LEDs

Momentive Performance Materials, Inc., a provider of specialty chemicals and materials that offers solutions and products that help industrial and consumer companies, will launch a new series of thermally conductive silicones to be considered for use in light emitting diodes (LED) manufacturing and assembly.

ATMI Invests in Lake LED Materials

ATMI, Inc announced it has purchased a minority interest in Lake LED Materials of Daejeon, South Korea, a materials technology start-up focused on providing metal organic precursors to the LED (light-emitting diode) market. Under the agreement, ATMI will help accelerate commercial LED materials introductions, with select marketing and technology rights. The collaboration highlights ATMI's technical expertise in process materials for LED applications with its global infrastructure in conjunction with Lake LED Materials' technology. This collaboration represents ATMI's first step in a multi-faceted strategy for addressing process efficiency opportunities in the LED market.
"Light-emitting diodes are the wave of the future for lighting -- for TVs, personal electronics, and business and home lighting," said Dan Sharkey, ATMI Executive Vice President, Business Development. "LEDs are a type of semiconductor, and while the basic technology has been around for decades, moving it into cost-effective mass production requires developing the enabling materials that can be readily incorporated into high volume production. Just as ATMI has created a pre-eminent position in materials with traditional semiconductor manufacturers, we believe that, working jointly with Lake LED Materials, we can establish a similar enabling materials position with leading global LED manufacturers."