LED market spurs transformation in Europe's professional lighting industry

The European professional lighting industry is one of the largest and most innovative lighting markets in the world. With its transformation towards LED sources and solid-state lighting (SSL), this hive of activity is a very interesting market to be in at the moment. But take a step back, scratch the surface and observe what is going on and it becomes apparent that there is a clash of two fundamentally different industries with totally different DNA, who do not actually understand each other very well yet. A similar scenario in lighting is also playing out in other regions around the globe.

The ‘Most Tested Light Bulb in History’

Imagine never having to change your light bulbs. Researchers are testing a new LED bulb that they jokingly say could be written into your will. It could last that long. The first things you see when you walk in the Lumen Maintenance Test Facility are what look like two giant aluminum ovens.

This Expanding Lamp Is Beautifully Intricate

Designed by Erik Stehmann, this is called the Expanding Lamp, and it relies on the folding geodesic frame of the Hoberman sphere to collapse down to a fraction of its expanded size. That means the lamp can grow from desk lamp to floor-stander in one smooth, elegant motion: a simple tug sees hundreds of intricate hinges, all made from oak, fold out in unison

Lighting revolution shakes up industry

More than 130 years after Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan invented the incandescent lightbulb, regulation is gradually phasing out the bulbs in favour of more energy-efficient lighting sources, shaking up the global industry. The switchover is happening well beyond the European Union, which ended the sale of inefficient lightbulbs in September. The US and China are, for example, due to ban incandescent bulbs from shelves in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

100W LED High Bay Light from Zhongtian Lighting

The Chinese leading LED light manufacturer – Zhongtian Lighting released an energy efficient lamp for large area lighting – 100W LED high bay which provides high brightness and superior light quality. This light source is ideal for high bay lighting and low bay lighting – in fact, it's a perfect choice for any site that wants reduced electricity bills, and happier customers and staff. Classic, clean and simple styling helps this lighting fixture contribute pleasingly to almost any design scheme.
Zhongtian Lighting has made the [ZT-HB-1-100W] led bay light fully compliant with all relevant environmental certifications, in order to protect the environment and customers. The product does not contain hazardous chemicals, such as mercury. Unlike competing products, it does not emit harmful UV or IR radiation, making it far more eco-friendly than traditional lighting fixtures and other lighting technologies. The light source of 100W LED high bay light is Bridgelux high brightness LEDs. The100W high bay is composed of many LED emitters and its appearance is similar to traditional high bay lighting, but it has higher efficacy. The 100W high bay can deliver 13500lm. Besides, the 100W high bay light has the advantages of energy efficiency, long life time and easy installation which can replace mercury vapor lamp or HPS (high pressure sodium). Meanwhile, it can help customers to save the maintenance costs and the power consumption.

Windsor Lighting LED handrail installed at St. John’s College divinity school

Windsor Lighting installed an LED handrail at Divinity School in St. John’s College, at the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England, after a competition to refurbish the building. The refurbishment was meant to add modern technology to allow the building to be used for classes and research.
Due to the building’s stonework, traditional bulkhead methods of illumination were limited.

Precious metals boost performance of LEDs, chips

By the use of metals such as gold, copper or tin and associated special galvanizing processes, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS, Duisburg, Germany, are improving the function of semiconductors and simplifying the manufacture of microelectronic systems. Research project leader Prof. Holger Vogt says that the LED industry in particular could benefit from his team’s novel approaches to device production

All You Need For a Christmas Tree Is a Battery, LEDs, and a Little Know-How

When your cubicle desk looks like everyone else's, you'll do anything you can to differentiate your space. And if you're looking for a unique way to bring a little festive cheer to your 9 to 5 drudgery, check out this adorable and minimalist 9-volt powered LED tree by Redditor 'jingle_balls123'. For those of us who don't know the first thing about wiring up such a creation, other Redditors have even chipped in to help with instructions on how to build your own

2,000 LED Streetlights On The Way

This spring, a bright white light began shining in Newhallville. With a new approval from city lawmakers, the light is spreading, and may one day engulf nighttime streets all over New Haven. The light shines from new LED (light-emitting diode) streetlights, which offer better illumination with half the electricity of traditional streetlights. In May, at the behest of neighborhood organizers, the city installed 11 LED streetlights on Lilac Street. Along with saving energy, the lights are meant to increase public safety by keeping the street better lit at night.

How to Upgrade From Incandescent Bulbs to LED

We have all heard that LEDs (light emitting diodes) will soon replace traditional incandescent light bulbs and the more recent CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps). But until recently, LEDs have been relegated to commercial or specialized use due to expense. Now, LED bulbs are better and cheaper and are already cost-competitive when length of service is taken into account, though it might be as well to wait a little longer as prices are falling fast.A great deal of information can be found online, but much of it is specialized and may not be helpful to the average consumer. This guide hopes to correct that.

OSRAM SYLVANIA Helps Retailers Develop Custom Designed LED Solutions

Lighting can play a crucial role in winning over savvy consumers beyond just illuminating product for sale. It can create an inviting environment to draw people into and throughout the store, showcase the vibrant colors in a blouse to create purchasing desire, focus attention on an important profit-driving item for sale and serve as a creative wayfinding technique that enhances the shopper's experience. Recognizing the impact lighting can have on forward thinking retailers, North American lighting leader OSRAM SYLVANIA unveiled today the U DESIGN Lighting Experience Center at its Winchester, Kentucky manufacturing plant, where retail lighting designers can customize an LED lighting solution that meets their unique design requirements and helps increase sales and profits.
At the U DESIGN Center, retailers can vary beam spread, color temperature, color rendering, optics and drivers and review the ROI for their specific application, comparing LED versus traditional lighting technologies. Depending on their specific requirements, building blocks of components are selected to create a unique lamp for their ambient or accent lighting needs. After selection of components, OSRAM SYLVANIA will build the specified product at the Winchester plant and ship directly to the retailer for evaluation in their installation. Retail lighting designers can also see how the LED solutions are assembled and quality tested to ensure reliable performance at the Winchester plant, which has been in operation since 1953 and has a current staff with over 363 years of combined engineering experience.

Little Sun solar lamp bridges art and outreach

For school-aged children across much of the developing world, access to electrical lighting remains precarious. Many rural farming villages exist “off the grid.” Major cities from Nairobi to Kolkata are subject to regular blackouts — a phenomenon from which even the United States, as Hurricane Sandy demonstrated, is not entirely immune. Enter the Little Sun. Designed by Danish artist Olafur Eliasson and engineer Frederik Ottesen, Little Sun is a small, powerful and inexpensive solar-powered lamp. The almost shockingly bright LED, encased in tough, cheerful yellow plastic, shines up to five hours on a four-hour charge.

Philips Lumileds announces workhorse Luxeon T LED family

Philips Lumileds has introduced the new Luxeon T series of high-power LEDs that target solid-state lighting (SSL) applications with directional-beam requirements including downlights, and MR16 and PAR retrofit lamps. The LEDs set new efficacy milestones for Lumileds achieving 140 lm/W at 350 mA of drive current. CEO Pierre Yves Lesaicherre touted the benefits of the new family, discussed Lumileds LED manufacturing technology, and commented on the development of the lime-green LED that was critical to the recent launch of the color-tunable Hue lamp by Philips lighting.

Bill Watkins' bright LED idea at Bridgelux

Bill Watkins' $200,000 Bentley convertible is littered with leftovers from Jack in the Box. He's collected $160 million in investor money for his latest company, a high-tech lighting manufacturer called Bridgelux, but rails against venture capitalists. He calls himself a liberal and is against corporate taxation. None of which is to say he's difficult to pin down. If you want to know what Watkins thinks about something - anything - just ask. For example, the details of his 2009 departure from disk-drive maker Seagate Technology, where he served as chief executive officer for more than five years.

Augmented Light Bulb Turns a Desk Into a Touch Screen

Powerful computers are becoming small and cheap enough to cram into all sorts of everyday objects. Natan Linder, a student at MIT’s Media Lab, thinks that fitting one inside a light bulb socket, together with a camera and projector, could provide a revolutionary new kind of interface—by turning any table or desk into a simple touch screen.

GE Acquires LED Lighting Startup Albeo Technologies

General Electric Lighting, a division of General Electric (GE), has signed an agreement to acquire the Boulder startup Albeo Technologies. The purchase will help GE boost its ability to offer all-LED solutions to customers, especially in the area of industrial lighting. "This acquisition is a big boost for GE customers moving aggressively toward an all-LED building envelope in new construction and retrofits, including retail, commercial and industrial high-bay applications," Maryrose Sylvester, president and CEO of GE Lighting, said in a statement.

Why I Don't Like Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

The theory is that traditional (incandescent) light bulbs waste lots of energy by producing more heat than light. Let's look at the bigger picture. I'm a big fan of saving energy: I go shopping with my car just once a month, I keep the thermostat at 50 degrees, I turn off lights when I leave the room. By far my biggest energy expense here in Massachusetts is heating my house. Ideally, I'd like to heat just the part of the house where I am. I accomplish this partly with space heaters, but it's hard to have them everywhere. It would be nice if there were little heat sources all around the house that would come on when I go there -- and there are! They're called incandescent light bulbs. They help keep my big heating bill down from October through May.

On Semi's high-brightness LED driver

How many times have you screamed while driving, "Turn your high beams down!" Semiconductors are coming to the rescue. On Semiconductor talked with EE Times Brand Manager Alexander Wolfe about the company's new driver for high-brightness LEDs that addresses individual pixels on the LED array. That enables automotive designers to build subsystems for moveable headlights. If you're turning left, for example, the light swivels to left to illuminate where you'll be in a second or so.

LUMEN Bluetooth LED bulb

Office building converts to LEDs

When it came time to begin calculating the potential payback on installation of energy-efficient systems in an office building at 245 E. Liberty St., the family executives of McKenzie Properties of Reno were undaunted in thinking about decades rather than months.“We’re long-term, generational holders,” says Todd McKenzie, whose family developed the building in 1980. Working with lighting contractor Have Lights Will Travel of Sparks, McKenzie Properties just completed conversion of all 1,115 fixtures in the downtown-area building from fluorescent to LED bulbs.

SunLED Launches New 1206 Domed Right Angle SMD LED

SunLED reveals a new right angle package; 1206 domed, bi-polar Red & Green LED. The traditional domed 1206 package is now available in a right angle version. The domed lens package provides a narrow viewing angle of 30 degrees which allows a brighter intensity output and eliminates any light bleeding issues. Typical issues with side fire LEDs when designed on arrays are light bleeding, overshadowing or dim light outputs. These issues can be resolved by using this new domed package. Red & Green dies/chips are proportionally mounted in the center under the encapsulated domed epoxy lens allowing uniform light output for both colors and achieving the maximum intensity possible. This 3.2x1.6 package is excellent for network devices, consumer electronics, medical equipment, hand held products and icon/text indications

LEDs brighten Providence Place garage

A recently-completed lighting upgrade is giving customers a brighter experience at Providence Place Mall. On Thursday, mall officials unveiled two thousand new LED light fixtures installed in the parking garage, some equipped with motion sensors.

WAC Introduces Early Electric Collection of Energy Efficient LED Pendants

WAC Lighting, an innovator of LED and many other lighting products, has introduced the Early Electric Collection, which integrates traditional lighting styles with state of the art LED Technology.
Using just five watts of energy, WAC’s new nostalgic Milford Schoolhouse glass pendants provide warm illumination but are cool to the touch. A timeless classic featuring clean lines and authentic period perfection, good lighting design is always a welcomed constant. Introduced in the new Early Electric Collection, the Milford pendant brings the softer side of schoolhouse to a variety of spaces with a milk white glass shade that creates a warm glow, radiating charm and nostalgia for discriminating designers and homeowners.
Prismatic sparkles softly illuminate from the exquisite Cambridge pendant, intricately sculpted of faceted crystal with meticulous attention to detail and integrated with sophisticated LED technology. Ideal for luxury homes, fine restaurants, hotels and retailers, Cambridge was designed around an energy efficient LED light source to provide sparkle through crystal without the glare of a filament lamp.
Handcrafted to reflect the understated beauty, uncompromising quality and durability of authentic period styling, Sheffield features a classic ginger jar style with milky white cased glass. The soft curves and fresh profile of this shapely shade feel right at home in both restored historic and eclectic interiors.
All of the energy efficient lighting solutions featured in the attached image offer a long life of 50,000 hours and are backed by a 5-year warranty.
WAC Lighting is a leading global manufacturer and innovative designer of lighting for Luxury Residential, Commercial, Hospitality, Institutional, Retail and Architectural applications, specializing in track, recessed, under cabinet, monorail and decorative lighting.
WAC has developed a stellar reputation for upscale decorative and task lighting lines backed by an extraordinary level of service, an unprecedented shipping record, and a Five Year Product Warranty. To reflect Green energy saving strategies, social progress and community involvement, WAC uses the brand standard “Responsible Lighting” that reflects the company’s holistic approach to business, encompassing a deep commitment to responsible eco-friendly manufacturing, extensive research/development, energy saving technology, and altruism.
WAC offers a broad range of award-winning products: LED and Low/Line Voltage Track and Rail Systems; LED Low/Line Voltage Recessed Downlights; InvisiLED®, LED tape systems for indoor and outdoor applications; Artisanal Glass Pendants and Wall Sconces; Display Lighting; LEDme® Step and Wall Lights; and SMART Transformers.

LUMEN Bluetooth LED bulb

Not too long ago Phillips unveiled its green LED bulb called the Hue. The coolest part about the Hue was that it was designed to use a standard socket and can be turned on or off as well as being color controllable via an app from your smart phone. A company called Lumination is looking to bring a very similar competing product to market called the Lumen.

New LED fixtures light the way

For close to two years, almost half of the street lights and parking lot lights on Peterson AFB have been disabled in an effort to cut energy costs. This past summer, the lights started coming back on in anticipation of new light-emitting diode fixtures being purchased. According to Jim Jacobsen, 21st Civil Engineer Squadron energy manager, in late 2007 Air Force Space Command put together a cross-functional team to conduct market research, identify requirements, and develop specifications and an implementation strategy.

Applebee’s reduce lighting-related energy use by 88% with LEDs

Lighting Science Group Corp. has collaborated with Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar to monitor, evaluate and markedly reduce energy usage for lighting in Applebee’s 23 company-owned restaurants. Through the installation of ultra-efficient and design-enhancing LED lamps, Applebee’s should net an energy reduction for lighting of 88% per year. “Replacing outdated incandescent and halogen bulbs made economic sense to us,” said Bill O’Keefe, Applebee’s executive director of development. “The new LED lighting systems make our restaurants more energy efficient and match our design standards, and Lighting Science has been a valuable partner in this process.”

LED Lights Transform Park into Wonderland

Japan’s Nabana no Sato Botanical Garden, located on the island of Nagashima in Kuwana in the northern Mie prefecture, looks like a magically wonderland. Millions of LED lights have been used to create illuminated hedgerows, tunnels and trees. One installation replicates Mt. Fuji, the iconic strato-volcano in Japan.

Energy-efficient GaN-on-Si LED lighting

More and more countries, including the US, are phasing out the sale of incandescent bulbs, which offers an increasing market opportunity for energy-efficient LED lighting. President Barack Obama actively supports LED lighting and his Recovery Act legislation included hundreds of millions to support this industry. Clean energy technology such as solar, wind and electric cars, coupled with increased energy-efficiency are the two-prong approach being executed globally to reduce carbon emissions, which are being increasingly linked to global warming and the influx of weather disasters such Hurricane Sandy, which recently wreaked havoc in the US.

LEDs tackle outdoor displays in extreme conditions

The Displix black and Displix blackprint multichip LEDs by Osram Opto Semiconductors are designed to address the environmental demands of such large-format outdoor displays as those used at rock concerts, sports events, or perimeter advertising. The robust LEDs are high-contrast and high-power, and can withstand high humidity levels, torrential rain and wide temperature fluctuations.
Both LED options produce high levels of brightness. The light intensity at the illuminant D65 white point is 1450 millicandela (mcd) at an operating current of 20 mA, which is very bright in its black package.  The blackprint version is even more intense at 2960 mcd with good contrast.

95% of US Cities Satisfied with LED Streetlights

Among cities and municipalities in the United States that have implemented Light-Emitting Diode (LED) streetlight projects, 95% were satisfied with the overall performance of the streetlights. The more efficient LED streetlights were found to save on average nearly 60% in combined energy and maintenance costs, according to a new survey published today by Washington, DC-based research firm Northeast Group, LLC. The firm surveyed nearly 100 cities and municipalities across the US that have implemented some form of LED streetlight initiatives.  The results were published today in the new study "United States Smart Infrastructure: LED and Smart Street Lighting."
"LED streetlights are transforming cities and municipalities across the US," said Northeast Group. "Not only are LEDs helping save money through reduced energy and maintenance costs, but 95% of the cities and municipalities we surveyed said both they and residents were very happy with the performance and light quality of the new streetlights. Many reported that law enforcement officials in particular had praised the lights for improving visibility and public safety. The success of these LED projects is also helping to set the stage for more advanced 'smart' street lighting systems, which will reduce energy consumption by a further 20-30%. In total, the LED and smart street lighting markets are expected to reach a cumulative $4.7 billion in the US by 2025."
But there are also some challenges facing the market. The survey revealed that 45% of the respondents had funded their LED streetlight projects almost entirely with stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). A further 36% relied on ARRA funding or other grants for at least a portion of their financing. As this stimulus funding recedes, financing for future LED streetlight projects has been more difficult to secure, despite the success of early projects. However, the price of LED streetlights is steadily falling and on track to hit parity with legacy technology within a few years. As a result, the payback period for these projects is becoming more favorable and within the reaches of budget-constrained cities and municipalities. As the LED streetlight business case continues to improve, the number of projects is expected to expand rapidly in the coming years.
Northeast Group's study identified nearly 400 US cities and municipalities that had either already begun or had considered installing LED streetlights. After conducting interviews with nearly 100 of them, the survey was able to draw conclusions such as the actual savings captured by pilot projects and full deployments, the public reaction, the most common financing mechanisms, and the vendors serving this market. Northeast Group found that over 25 vendors were already active in the US LED streetlight market and that, with expected strong growth, the market will continue to attract many vendors offering diverse solutions.

LED Lamps target commercial applications

Using 13 W, Model BR30 replaces 65 W incandescent lamp while delivering 750 lumens. Model BR40, using 17 W, replaces 90 W incandescent lamps while delivering 1,000 lumens. BR lens conceals LEDs from view and evenly distributes light in 120° flood beam spread for accent lighting, wall washing, and general lighting. Designed with solid aluminum bodies molded into fin shape that acts as heat sink, both dimmable lamps are available in warm white 2,700 K CCT with standard Edison E26 base and 80+ CRI.

Philips launches the first commercially available first connected lighting system for the home

Royal Philips Electronics enters a significant phase in the digital transformation of lighting, reinforcing its leadership in lighting. With the launch of Philips hue, consumers can now wirelessly control and personalize their home lighting experience – from the palm of their hand. With an intuitive app on their smart device (iOS or Android), users can remotely tune the shades of light to suit their mood, style and need, or control lights remotely, program timers and more.
Philips hue is the latest innovation that builds on Philips’ 120-year heritage in lighting and its leadership in LED. Connectivity and interoperability , as well as a continued commitment to providing exceptional light quality are the fundamentals which Philips believes are crucial for unlocking numerous new opportunities and business models.
“Digitization and personalization are the key market trends driving the launch of Philips hue and they are central to the transformation of our lighting business,” commented Rene van Schooten, CEO Business Group Light Sources & Electronics at Philips Lighting. “Connected lighting presents a world of new lighting applications. We are proud to be at the forefront to create groundbreaking, open and interoperable solutions that will truly transform lighting and creates value to enhance our lives.”
Philips hue will be available from October 30th onwards in Apple retail stores in US, Canada and Europe.

Forest Park borrows locally to pay for LED lighting upgrade

The Forest Park Village Council (US) voted Monday to borrow $1.8 million from Forest Park National Bank to pay for the replacement of all streetlights, alley lights and traffic lights in Forest Park with low-wattage LED bulbs. The village's 1,200 fixtures will be replaced starting this fall, according to Village Administrator Tim Gillian. At Monday's meeting, the village approved a contract with Meade Electric, Inc. of suburban McCook. According to company representative Michael Knutson, the company will order the new fixtures for the lights and start installation between December 1 and January 31.

More than 2,000 energy-efficient LED tube lights installed in West Farms Center

LED lighting manufacturer Seesmart Technologies, Inc. has completed a $140,000 project with Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State that will help the organization's new West Farms Center achieve LEED design certification. After comparing costs with T-5 fluorescent tubes, the center found that Seesmart LEDs would save more than $100,000 in installation costs alone, in addition to $25,000 a year in energy savings.
"Installing LED lighting in new construction projects is the best way for facilities to see the highest return on investment over the life of the building," said Ray Sjolseth, president of Seesmart Technologies, Inc. "We were happy to help Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State save thousands on energy and maintenance costs in its West Farms Center facility."
Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State is a multi-service organization providing support and services for more than 100,000 individuals with cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities and their families. Its Metropolitan Division, which serves all five boroughs of New York City, recently opened the new West Farms Center in the Bronx at 1880 Bryant Avenue.
To aid the facility in its sustainability goals, Seesmart installed 2,000 LED tube lights, which will save the center 66 percent in energy costs - or $2,100 a month - compared to fluorescent lighting.
The areas that will see the benefits of LED lighting include exam rooms, rehabilitation rooms, offices, soffits, hallways and waiting rooms. The new 51,000-square-foot building offers day opportunities, medical and rehabilitation services and an enhanced curriculum of support and program services for individuals with physical and/or developmental disabilities and the entire community.

Happy Birthday! The LED Enters Middle Age

Ikea announced earlier this month that it will switch to selling only LED bulbs and lamps by 2016, becoming the first U.S. home furnishing retailer to do so. The announcement is fitting, as LED lighting technology celebrates its 50th anniversary. In October 1962, a scientist at General Electric, Nick Holonyak, invented the first practical visible-spectrum light-emitting diode, commonly known as LED.  “Boy, those were the golden years,” Holonyak, now 83 years old, said in a statement. “When I went in, I didn’t realize all that we were going to do. As far as I am concerned, the modern LED starts at GE.”

LED lights help museum save energy, preserve items

A spectacular collection of original oil paintings by emeritus Indiana University art professor Barry Gealt is on display in the IU Art Museum's Special Exhibitions Gallery, along with exhibits of baby carriers from China's minority groups and German expressionism. But look toward the ceiling instead of what's hanging on the walls, and it is evident that the paintings are illuminated by clean, cool, white lights, while the other exhibits bask in a warm, yellowish glow.

LEDs Will Eliminate All Other Lamp Sources in 6 Years

According to an industry consulting firm, LEDs will displace all other forms of residential light sources in just six years. The conclusion from Navigant Consulting means LEDs are definitely a disruptive technology in that it will render its precursors obsolete. In terms of lamps sold, according to the data, incandescents will disappear by 2017. Likewise, halogen bulbs and compact fluorescents (CFLs) (not linear fluorescents that are common in commercial installations) will go the way of the dodo bird by 2018.

Streets could be gloomy for years

Most Hamilton streets are below new standards for lighting but residents concerned about the danger could be waiting several years before older suburbs are brought up to standard. Hamilton City Council is looking at upgrade options but, with the cost of installing 11 modern LED lights on one street being close to $25,000 and the council's current budget for light renewals being $395,000, a city-wide revamp could take years. This follows new research that says driving at night is almost three times more dangerous in New Zealand than in other developed countries because of our poor street lighting.

LED industry has begun moving into a new era with the ALT brand

To create important advantages in the LED market, the world's biggest leading LED chipset supplier CREE has announced the latest 2200K color chipset to meet the market demand for golden light. While comparing LEDs with the traditional lighting products, its exceptional lifespan, eco-friendliness, energy-saving, and efficiency were vindicated and enjoyed by many users worldwide. Through this opportunity, Cree and ALT have co-developed the 2200K XTE high power LED chip. The XTE engine is known for high stability plus being a perfect replacement for incandescent and halogen lamps.
High power LED manufacturer Aeon Lighting Technology Inc. continues to spend tremendous effort cultivating high power LED products, and through the newly developed 2200K chip from Cree, ALT has integrated the super bright 2200K low color temperature chip into, but not limited to, the MR16 series, A55 bulb, PAR lamp, floodlight, and streetlight.
Cree and ALT, together, have overcome the problem of providing a warmer color while having a high luminous efficacy, especially with indoor applications, such as restaurants and galleries. In fact, the A55 bulb and PAR lamp were specifically designed for this exact type of market.
Additionally, the penetration through limited visibility conditions by yellow light has become a critical requirement for road lighting. Yellow lighting has been known to be able to cut through low visibility conditions like fogs. By utilizing the 2200K LED streetlight, the low temperature warm light provide the driver a safer driving experience with more visibility.
As for the chips, the CEO of VantagePoint, Alan Salzman, estimated that the price of LED chips will drop from one cent per lumen to a quarter cent per lumen. For example, the new XTE chip, though its performance has improved a lot, its price isn't as high as it deserves. From the return on investment point of view, the LED markets appear to be on the verge of a take-off. Backed by more than 2,000 LED lighting products, ALT pledged to lead the LED market into the next High-Growth-Era.
According to past experience and the future development in the LED industry, the CEO of Aeon Lighting Technology, James Liang, said that LED lighting has become the main source of lighting for the next generation; the LED industry will grow exponentially. The LED industry itself is too new for the public, and the quality of products is uneven throughout the market; thus, people have started to question the viability of LEDs, and the size of market cannot grow quickly. In order to provide high quality and safe LED products, CREE and ALT have decided to cooperate in their research for suitable products for varied customers and establish proper service processes to facilitate the growth of the LED industry.
 

Largest light picture using LEDs

The light image created as part of the naming ceremony for OLTIN YO'L GTL was built across an area of approximately 750,000m² and contained1,012,840 LED lights,  setting the new world record for the Largest image made from LED lights, according to the World Record Academy

Control the Lights With Your Smart Phone

This amazing LiFX comes from prolific Aussie developer and inventor Phil Bosua who’s new light bulb has just surpassed 1.3 million dollars in funding on Kickstarter. After 6 months and a dozen prototypes Bosua has quite possibly done something revolutionary: bring the light bulb into the 21st century.

LED phosphor market to boom soon

Independent phosphor companies are freeing the market from IP blocking by big players. In the early 2000’s, most of the LED phosphor industry was controlled by major LED players that held key IPs and selectively granted licenses and cross-licenses. The landscape changed in the mid 2000’s with the emergence of phosphors that were “IP-free,” credible alternatives to YAG and TAG. These were commercialised on the open market by independent phosphor manufacturers which were unaffiliated with LED manufacturers. This is detailed in a new publication by Yole Développement. The firm's report provides a detailed list of more than fifty companies that are involved in LED phosphor manufacturing.

Nanoco sign follow-on agreement with lighting giant

Quantum dot developers and manufacturers Nanoco, based in Manchester, has signed a follow-on joint agreement with one of the world’s largest lighting companies, the identity of which is as yet undisclosed. The agreement follows the announcement of the successful completion of a joint development with the same undisclosed lighting company in August last year.

Signature headlights are easy with smallest LED

The Oslon Compact prototype, according to Osram Opto Semiconductor, is the smallest high-power LED targeting the automotive market. Based on a flexible arrangement of small LEDs, unique signature LED headlights are now easier and more cost effective to create. The small size of the Oslon Compact enables a single LED to be used as a default light source for all automotive forward lighting applications, and the light points in the headlight can be placed in any arrangement.

Fairchild Semiconductor's LED Backlight Boost Switches Reduce Power Losses

Designers of high-power LEDs are challenged with preventing power losses and sub-harmonic oscillations associated with inefficient discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) boost converters. Fairchild Semiconductor's (NYS: FCS) FAN7340 and FAN73402 single-channel boost controllers with integrated high-voltage dimming MOSFETs address these challenges by helping designers achieve greater efficiency, performance and better reliability in high-power lighting applications such as LED backlighting for 3D televisions and monitors.
These backlight driving boost switches use a current-mode control topology with programmable slope compensation to prevent sub-harmonic oscillation. Designed with an internal dimming and analog pulse-width modulation (PWM), these devices overcome the short falls of a DCM boost converter by achieving a fast PWM dimming response.
Both devices offer integrated protection features such as under-voltage lockout, open LED protection, and over-voltage protection that help to minimize component count. Additionally, these devices provide error prevention by generating a FAULT signal with delay if an abnormal LED string condition occurs.

GE Lighting Announces Investments in Cleveland-Area Landmarks and Education

GE Lighting announced the company will provide more than $200,000 in energy- and maintenance-cost saving LED (light-emitting diode) lighting systems for two Cleveland landmarks—the historic West Side Market and Cleveland's Public Square—as part of a day-long GE Works celebration of its employees, heritage of innovation and Cleveland roots.
GE Lighting CEO Maryrose Sylvester presents a check to Downtown Cleveland Alliance President & CEO Joe Marinucci. GE announced it will provide the Downtown Cleveland Alliance $125,000 in new LED roadway lights and lampposts to light Cleveland's Public Square. (General Electric: Business Wire)
"This investment reflects our commitment to Northeast Ohio and desire to better showcase two truly iconic and beloved Cleveland gathering spots," said Maryrose Sylvester, president & CEO of GE Lighting. "We take great pride in GE Lighting's more than 130 years of innovation and the century of industry firsts conceived in research labs right here at Nela Park."

Daktronics Lights Up Barclays Center With Customized LED Displays

Barclays Center has installed a integrated super system from Daktronics. The high definition video scoreboard and surrounding LED displays create one of the largest and most technologically advanced video displays of any arena. Daktronics, the world's leading provider of full-color LED video displays, provided Barclays Center with 7,895 square feet of LED as part of an alliance with the venue, which will be the new home of the Brooklyn Nets.
In addition to the grand display in the center of the bowl, the exterior of Barclays Center features the signature "oculus," a one-of-a-kind, 3,000 square foot, 360-degree LED marquee, which hangs above the main entrance.
Upon entering Barclays Center, guests will see 6-foot high, 73-foot long ribbon displays in the GEICO Atrium, programmed with wayfinding information, event times and dates, and sponsor messages. Installed inside the bowl are a 360 degree ribbon display and two other ribbon displays that measure nearly 190 feet in length. Two additional large displays hang on the end walls of the bowl. The Daktronics technology continues on shot clocks, ticket windows, entrance points into the bowl, and other areas throughout the venue.

Falling LED Cost Yields Virtual Device Efficiency Gains

LED systems have traditionally run below the LED datasheet efficiencies. In addition to power conversion losses, LED efficiency drops as they are driven harder, and also as they run hotter. The former phenomenon, called “droop,” follows a cube law (and is currently ascribed to a phenomenon known as indirect Auger recombination). A cutting-edge LED, when driven at its nameplate power rating, might output only 60 percent of its nameplate efficiency rating, which is often specified at reduced drive level. In a case recently brought to the attention of Greentech Media, a special-application LED lamp that used only passive fin-cooling showed a 30 percent increase in output when customers started pointing fans at the units.

Palo Alto streetlights changing to LEDs

Palo Alto (US) streets will be getting brighter in the next months as the city Utilities Department embarks on the latest phase of a multi-year project to replace all the city's streetlights with Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs. But the lights are getting mixed reviews. Some residents find the bright, bluish light jarring; others are pleased, city officials said.

TI introduces the first wide-input voltage, high-power LED driver

Texas Instruments Incorporated introduced a six-channel LED driver with dynamic headroom control for high-power applications, which accurately and efficiently drives up to six strings of LEDs. The LM3463 is the industry's first wide-input voltage LED driver with multiple dimming control modes that maximizes system efficiency and reduces complexity in LED area lighting applications, such as street, high-bay and ceiling lights. For more information and samples, visit www.ti.com/lm3463-pr.
The LM3463 is a 12-V to 95-V wide input voltage, six-channel LED current controller. It drives up to 28 LEDs per string with dimming control that is easily managed by an external microcontroller via the dimming input pins. It works in conjunction with external N-channel MOSFETs and sense resistors to accurately and individually regulate current to each LED string. Dynamic headroom control improves system efficiency by automatically adjusting the LED supply to the lowest level required for LED current conduction. This reduces component count and increases system efficiency while reducing system complexity and cost.

LEDs deliver up to 20% more lumens per watt

The XLamp XP-E2 LED by Cree delivers higher lumens per watt and lumens-per-dollar over the original XP-E LED. The XP-E2 LEDs increase the lumen output of XP-# designs for the same cost and power or lower system cost with fewer LEDs for improved lighting systems with little redesign. The same XP footprint (3.45mm x3.45mm) is used, ensuring compatibility with existing XP LED designs and the new brighter XLamp features 128 lumens power watt.

Global lighting partnership to lead transformation in corporate real estate

Philips Electronics have entered into a partnership agreement to deliver energy-efficient lighting and energy management solutions to all Jones Lang LaSalle clients. This is the first time two leaders in the corporate real estate and lighting industries are working together on this scale to change the way commercial and industrial interiors are illuminated with LED and energy-efficient solutions. The global agreement starts in Asia Pacific and will be scaled up to cover the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Michael Raphael, Head of Supply Chain Management and Procurement for Jones Lang LaSalle, said: “Jones Lang LaSalle is pleased to partner with Philips to present a global lighting solution to companies worldwide. This agreement has the potential to drive environmental change while meeting corporate aspirations to move to LED and other low energy options. Our partnership with Philips is an important step in helping our clients to identify opportunities to lower energy usage, deliver more productive workspaces and, in some cases, obtain carbon credits.”
Both companies will also provide consultancy on energy management with intelligent lighting solutions and controls with new and existing customers.

LEDs promise brighter future

Illumination never been more important in combatting global warming. According to a report prepared by independent non-governmental organisation Climate Group, lights around the world accounted for 19 per cent of grid-connection electricity generation and nine per cent of global energy use in 2006. The six per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions attributed to lighting is equivalent to 70 per cent of the emissions from the world's passenger vehicles, the report stated.