MechaTronix launches universal cooler for LED thermal management of BJB module

The BJB LED star cooler GH36d is specifically designed for LED thermal management in luminaires using the BJB GH36d series LED modules and various brands of COB LED modules mounted by BJB Zhaga Book 3 or Zhaga Book 11 LED holders. The compact module GH36d consists of a based and encapsulated LED lamp with suitable Twist & Lock lamp holder. The pre-tensioned leaf springs which are fixed with two standard screws, ensure a defined contact pressure of the light source to the heat sink and thereby a constant heat dissipation and stable LED thermal management.

Cree Adds New LED Arrays To Its Portfolio

Cree added a new chip-on-board LED to its industry leading CXA LED array family. The CXA2 LED arrays utilizes elements of Cree’s SC5 technology platform (introduced last quarter), which enables lighting designers to drastically lower system costs (by up to 60%) in the next generation of industry-leading lighting products. With the new CXA2 LED arrays, lighting manufacturers can achieve the same or better performance with a smaller LED compared to earlier products, enabling them to rapidly deliver more innovative solutions for applications such as track, downlight and outdoor lighting.

A simple method for determining the optimal operating point of an LED

Achieving optimal performance of an LED luminaire or LED backlight design requires numerous trade-offs. Understanding an LED’s power transfer characteristics empowers intelligent choices regarding cost, power consumption, and weight. While most LED datasheets publish pertinent data that can be used to make these decisions, data may not be formatted in a way that is readily applicable to the chosen application. Optimal performance requires finding pertinent information from manufacturer’s LED datasheets and utilizing methods to capture, reformat and analyze the data.

Cities look to challenge DTE over LED streetlight cost hikes

Some southeast Michigan cities are preparing to take on the state’s largest utility. At issue is DTE Energy’s plan to raise rates on municipal LED streetlight installations. Rick Bunch, director of the street lighting consortium with the Southeast Michigan Regional Energy office, said that’s a problem for cities that have already invested heavily in LEDs, which are more energy-efficient, but cost more upfront.

Dynamic Duo of Compounds Help LEDs Transmit Wireless Data At High Speed

Today nearly all computers, tablets, and cell phones have Wi-Fi capabilities, receiving and transmitting data over a range of radio frequencies. But a burgeoning technology known as visible light communication could someday carry those data in the same light that illuminates a room using “smart lighting.” Now a tag team of semiconducting organic polymers is bringing that dream one step closer. When excited with a light-emitting diode (LED), the polymer pair helps to create white light that can be rapidly switched on and off to encode information

Cree adds color tunability to LED fixtures equipped with SmartCast controls

Cree has announced that the CR Series of LED troffers equipped with the company's SmartCast adaptive control technology will also now feature field-tunable color temperature. The newly-enabled tunable lighting feature marks the first time that Cree has supported variable CCT in a solid-state lighting (SSL) product and the feature will come at no additional cost to customers. SmartCast is an adaptive lighting control platform that Cree launched one year ago for a number of SSL products including the CR Series, the CS Series of linear fixtures, and the KR Series of downlights.

Optical Antennae Amplify LEDs for Fast Interconnects

Because lasers are fast—their transmission rate can reach 50 gigahertz—they are widely used for data transmission. Now researchers from the University of California at Berkeley and Bell Labs, Alcatel Lucent at Homdel in New Jersey have shown that by equipping light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with tiny antennae, they will be able to match and even surpass transmission speeds of semiconductor lasers, which would be especially useful over short distances.

Deco Lighting partners with Nichia to integrate new LED sources in its fixtures

Deco Lighting, a LED lighting manufacturer based in Los Angeles, has joined forces with Japanese LED pioneer Nichia to develop new groundbreaking LED technologies. Nichia, arguably the top LED manufacturer in the world, remains at the leading edge of energy-efficient LED technology, producing LEDs with extended life cycles and minimal lumen depreciation. Deco Lighting selects the highest quality components in its lighting fixtures and their partnership with Nichia guarantees a future of innovation for both companies. Deco’s use of Nichia LEDs in its fixtures has enabled Deco to provide the industry’s first Ten Year, 100,000-hour warranty on its LED products, which includes an allowance for labor. Because the LEDs are so dependable, Deco includes lumen depreciation on the warranty, which means they guarantee the same lumen output on the ground even ten years after the product is installed.

Osram boosts efficiency of blue LED chips by 8%

Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH of Regensburg, Germany claims that it has achieved one of the best values in the world in terms of forward voltage for blue high-current chips, leading to an increase in efficiency of up to 8%. Optimized indium gallium nitride (InGaN) chips featuring Osram's UX:3 chip technology are the basis for blue or white LEDs, and are already used in production. The firm also sees considerable potential for reducing forward voltage by a further 20-30mV by the summer, offering a further boost in efficiency.

Experts flip switch on LED light bulbs

Light bulbs used to be boring, says Consumer Reports. Dimming was about as high-tech as they got. But some LEDs have the potential to be much more, thanks to semiconductor chips and electronic circuitry. Some can alter the color of the light they shine, and others claim to help adjust your energy levels and mood. Consumer Reports put their unique claims through some tests, checked with sleep and lighting experts, and looked at how good they are as standard bulbs.

UV LEDs to find new markets in disinfection, purification

Now established in curing, UV LED technology is expected to find growth opportunities in disinfection, purification and other new applications by 2017, says a market analyst. Under its new technology and market report entitled UV LED – Technology, Manufacturing and Application Trends, Yole Développement reviews the traditional UV lamp business and its transitioning to UV LED technology. It says that a notable factor is that industry players have confirmed their interest in cheaper and more compact technology.

LED that mimics vintage bulb shines in market

Four University of Edinburgh graduates are aiming to shake up the lighting industry with their range of low-energy LED bulbs that mimic the glow of traditional incandescent lights. The spark for the entrepreneurs’ Tala LED start-up came from a shared desire to “do something that would impact on our generation and generations to come”, said director Ciaran Dawson.

Optronics launches SuperLamp technology at TMC

Optronics International has completed development and testing of its new LED SuperLamp technology – the result of more than two years of work. The new lamp sets a new standard for strength and durability for truck lighting, says Brett Johnson, Optronics president and chief executive officer. “This is the most robust light on the market today,” Johnson said. “In theory, LED lights are lifetime lights. SuperLamp allows LED to fulfill that promise through our combination of advanced electronics and our proprietary chemical coating for resistance to ultraviolet light damage.”

Cut through light bulb confusion

Buying a light bulb was at one time simple, uncomplicated and boring. When you needed one, you bought it. No more. Last year, with the incandescent bulb phaseout in favor of more energy-efficient technologies, figuring out what to replace that old 60-watt bulb with can be a bit puzzling. First, one type of incandescent, the halogen bulb, is still available. They're about 25 to 30 percent more efficient than old versions and last three times as long. While cheaper than CFL or LED bulbs, they save you less over their lifetime, about $2 a bulb. Second, the rating of bulbs has changed from watts to lumens. It makes a lot of sense, because watts are a measure of power, not light. Consider it simply a technology shift — like the sometimes uncomfortable coexistence of inches and centimeters.

Glasshouse LEDs save greenhouse gasses

UK plant researchers are looking into LED lighting to grow plants with less energy. While outdoors in the summer there is no real need for to provide plants with artificial lighting, it is increasingly used to extend the growing day and growing season inside greenhouses. It is not necessarily the efficacy of LEDs that is the advantage, as the high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps currently used can deliver up to 150 lm/W, but the ability save power by only delivering wavelengths useful to plants – green, for example, reflects off plants.

Intertek Helps MaxLite Test the First Enclosed-Rated LED Lamp

Intertek partnered with lighting product manufacturer MaxLite to bring its innovative new LED GU24 Puck Lamp to market quickly. An ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, MaxLite is strongly committed to the ENERGY STAR program, and to Intertek as our partner of choice for ENERGY STAR testing and approvals

Interteks services helped MaxLite launch the industrys first GU24-base light source rated for use in fully enclosed luminaires to earn placement on the ENERGY STAR Certified Subcomponent Database (CSD), which provides certified performance data for lighting subcomponents. As an EPA-recognized Testing Laboratory and Certification Body, Intertek conducts testing and certifies applicable energy efficient lighting products so they can bear the ENERGY STAR certification mark.

The MaxLite 850 lumen dimmable Puck Lamp is not only the first GU-24 base LED lamp available on the CSD for use in fully enclosed luminaires, but also the first replaceable light source with a compact form factor its about the size of a hockey puck which allows it to be used in products with shallow fixtures such as closet lights, ceiling fixtures, outdoor lights, and enclosed decorative fixtures.

Lumia uses edge-lit light guides in Galway LED panel lights

Galway Panels are thin, optically clear, acrylic sheets embedded with LED diodes along the edge. To make the light bright and achieve a uniform distribution, a very effective method is to create the light guide plate (LGP) with particulates in the acrylic itself.

The type of acrylic used in Galway Panels is extremely durable. The acrylic is shatter proof and resistant to most chemicals. Also, despite heat, cold, sunlight and humidity, the acrylic will maintain its original appearance and colour. Even with its strength and durability, diffusers typically weigh half as much as glass. Galway Panels’ lifespan is another major benefit over traditional lighting. LED’s on average last 50,000 hours or 17 years if powered for 8 hours a day. Compared to CFL’s and incandescent lighting, LED’s will last more than 5 times longer. Galway Panels are typically installed in applications where maintenance and replacement is difficult so a long lifespan is extremely important.

Due to the construction of the Galway Panels there is a minimal or no-maintenance cost during its lifespan. Furthermore, given that we use the best components in the market, the lifespan is not limited by a potential deficiency on those other components and makes it a perfect solution for any situation. We can also provide IP rated panels with up to IP 54 and emergency light solutions with our panels if needed.

IES selects five Green Creative LED lamps for 2014 Progress Report

Green Creative, the commercial grade LED lighting manufacturer, announces the selection of its BR30 8W CLOUD, A19 9W, A19 9W 277V, MR16 7W and MR16 4W lamps by the Illuminating Engineering Society for the 2014 Progress Report.

Each year the Illuminating Engineering Society’s (IES) prestigious Progress Report showcases unique and innovative products significant to the lighting industry. The IES Progress Committee is dedicated to following developments in the art and science of lighting throughout the world and prepares the Progress Report as a yearly review of achievements for the Illuminating Engineering Society. Accepted products were presented at the IES Annual Conference held in Pittsburgh, PA on November 3rd.

Submitting products for the second time, Green Creative went five for five on submissions. “We are very happy to have five of our products selected for the IES 2014 progress report.” Says Green Creative’s Marketing Manager Matt Leonard, “These products are a statement of our ability to not only stay current on technology, but also stand with industry leaders in terms of energy efficiency, quality and innovation.”

Palm Coast Begins Conversion to LED Street Lights

LED lighting—or light emitting diodes—is in your hands and all around you: it’s the backlighting to your smart phone, it lights up your television and your computer screen, and it’s increasingly lighting the way ahead as you drive at night, with white LEDs replacing yellowish headlights. At the western end of Palm Coast Parkway, it also lights up the street from above, as Florida Power and Light installed a run of LED lights a couple of years ago as one of a handful of such pilot projects in Florida cities.

Prefix Your Phone Alarm with a Desk Lamp

If you are like [Gbola], then you have a hard time waking up during the winter months. Something about the fact that it’s still dark outside just makes it that much more difficult to get out of bed. [Gbola] decided to build his own solution, by gradually waking himself up with an electric light. He was able to do this using all off-the-shelf components and a bit of playing around with the Tasker Android application. [Gbola] started out with a standard desk lamp. He replaced the light bulb with a larger bulb that simulates the color temperature of natural daylight. He then switched the lamp on and plugged it into a WeMo power switch module.

Thin Light Technology products are suited for zero-plenum application

Lauren Illumination introduces its TILT panel and downlight system which provides an answer to long-standing problems for tight plenum spaces. The system's simplicity allows you to separate driver from fixture for problem areas and maintain full control over dimming and switches. All TILT lights are high color quality, high energy efficiency and utilize an engineered design that easily installs in ZERO plenum spaces. At 3/8” maximum height on downlights and panels, all TILT lights possess high CRI (90+) and high R9 (>50) for natural, consistent color from fixture-to-fixture. The Low voltage distribution system easily to installs, saving time and labor.

Tiny LEDs pave way to transparent gadgets

Published in the scientific journal Nature Materials, University of Manchester and University of Sheffield researchers show that new 2D 'designer materials' can be produced to create flexible, see-through and more efficient electronic devices. The team, led by Nobel Laureate Sir Kostya Novoselov, made the breakthrough by creating LEDs which were engineered on an atomic level. The new research shows that graphene and related 2D materials could be utilised to create light emitting devices for the next-generation of mobile phones, tablets and televisions to make them incredibly thin, flexible, durable and even semi-transparent.

New graphene display creates LEDs at an atomic level

Graphene has had a rough go of it of late. After years of breathless reporting on its potential as a long-term solution for logic circuits (computer processors and memory), interest as waned as fundamental research problems have refused to resolve. This doesn’t mean that graphene has no electronics applications, however, and a research team from the University of Manchester has published a report detailing how flexible 2D graphene arrays could be used in the next-generation of LED screens.

Centre to light up 100 cities with LEDs

Dubbed as the largest energy efficiency programme in the world, the Union Government has launched a national programme to replace conventional streetlights with LED lights and distribution of LED bulbs to households in 100 cities. Energy Efficiency Services Limited, a joint venture company of PSUs of the Ministry of Power and the Government of India, will implement the programme. Over a period of two years, one crore streetlights will be replaced and 20 crore LED bulbs distributed in the 100 cities spread all over the country, Managing Director of EESL Saurabh Kumar told The Hindu .

As LED prices drop, it's time to make the switch

New Englanders can brag about their fall foliage. New Yorkers have plenty to boast about too, and we will, given a chance—same for Californians. And is there anything not to like about Hawaii? The one thing they all have in common, along with Alaska and a few other states, is their electricity is more expensive than other parts of the country, according to the Department of Energy. LED lightbulbs are one way to trim your electric bills. Here’s a look at some of the best from Consumer Reports’ tests.

Tucson Looking to Replace Street Lights With LED

Compared with the job Phoenix has ahead of it, replacing Tucson’s 20,000 street lights will seem easy. Both cities are planning to replace their current high-pressure sodium bulbs with LED bulbs, which are significantly longer lasting than what is used now in most cities. Phoenix will replace 90,000 bulbs in a plan city officials announced Wednesday. Tucson will release its plan in about six months, said city Transportation Director Darrell Cole.

MaxLite and National Grid discover LED reliability advantages in ‘equiculture’

MaxLite has announced an LED lighting retrofit at the Blue Star Equiculture facility located in Palmer, MA in partnership with utility National Grid. The sanctuary for rescued draft horses had struggled with lighting in the relatively harsh environment of a barn. The solid-state lighting (SSL) retrofit has eliminated the constant need to replace lamps, and the facility has realized much improved lighting and energy savings as well. The Blue Star project was enabled by funding via the National Grid Small Business Energy Efficiency Program. Small businesses can receive incentives under the program for 70% of the cost of qualifying energy-efficiency projects. The utility said more than 2000 small business in Massachusetts took advantage of the program last year.

Salem moves to replace old streetlight bulbs with LEDs

The city recently purchased its streetlights at minimal cost and now plans to replace the old light bulbs with energy-efficient LED lights, saving taxpayers an estimated $3 million over the next 10 years. Mayor Kim Driscoll has asked the City Council to authorize a seven-year, lease-to-own agreement with Century Bank to pay for the new LED lights, which will be provided and installed by Siemens. The cost is $1.3 million at an interest rate of 2.61 percent. The city chose to finance the purchase through the bank with a short-term, lease-to-own agreement, rather than putting more pressure on the operating budget to pay the entire $1.3 million up front, Driscoll said. She said the council has to sign off on the lease since it’s longer than three years.

Optical antenna may allow LEDs to replace lasers in host of devices

By applying 120 year old radio frequency antenna theory to the much newer field of photonics, researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory claim to have produced a prototype optical antenna that increases the intensity of emission from a nanorod light source by more than 115 times. This technique may offer the opportunity to replace power-hungry lasers in short-range optical communications devices with enhanced low-power LEDs. Over short distances – say in optical links or in future light-coupled computer chips – lasers are largely unsuitable due to their cost and power consumption. Ideally, LEDs would be used in these applications, but until now spontaneous emission rates from LEDs were incapable of achieving the requisite light power levels.

How LEDs Can Send a Coupon to Your Phone

Imagine stopping to look at something in a store and suddenly a coupon for that product appears on your smartphone. It’s possible through a technology known as Li-Fi, which uses the flickers from LED lights to communicate information to a sensor, such as a smartphone. 'Li-Fi is beginning to revolutionize the opportunities in retail because they communicate directly from the LEDs to another entity,' said Ken Black, co-chairman of E Source, a strategic partner of Touchstone Energy and NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network.

LEDs slim down with atom thick materials

Ultrathin, flexible and semi-transparent LEDs made from a mix of different atom thick materials have been created by researchers in the UK and Japan. Beyond their scientific importance, the researchers believe the design could have significant commercial potential. Other researchers agree, but says that a suitable method for producing the devices is still needed

What impact do airport LED systems have on ops?

General aviation pilots who have experience with airport LED systems are encouraged to complete a questionnaire that seeks to discover whether LEDs affect the approach, landing, ground movement, and takeoff phases of flight. For example, what are the visual effects of looking at LEDs through a moving propeller? How do LEDs appear on rainy nights through a windscreen without wipers or blowers? How well can pilots see the LEDs when their aircraft is not aligned directly with the runway or lighting systems, like during a circling approach?

Light-converting materials point to cheaper, more efficient solar power, LEDs

Engineers are shining new light on an emerging family of solar-absorbing materials that could clear the way for cheaper and more efficient solar panels and LEDs. The materials, called perovskites, are particularly good at absorbing visible light, but had never been studied in their purest form: as perfect single crystals. Using a new technique, researchers grew large, pure perovskite crystals and studied how electrons move through the material as light is converted to electricity.

Smoke Got In His Eyes And Inspired A New Kind Of Lamp

When Evans Wadongo was a schoolboy in a rural village in Kenya, he'd study for exams by the light of kerosene and firewood. The smoke and poor lighting made it difficult to finish his homework and irritated his eyes. But you know that old cliché: "Necessity is the mother of invention." That's the story of Evans Wadongo. In 2004, at age 19, he designed a portable, solar-charged LED lamp. He calls the lamps "MwangaBora" – Swahili for "good light."

Japanese Scientists Perfected Revolutionary Deep UV LED Technology

After nearly a decade of research, two Nobel laureates made a breakthrough with LED light emitters. Finally, they produced a prototype of running water purifier that is compact and can operate on batteries. Contractor Nikkiso, the industrial pump manufacturer, hired and financed for a ten years the work on deep UV LED compact system. Finally, the company prepares for mass production of the unique product on the marke. According to the report, these deep UV LEDs emit even shorter wavelengths of light than blue LEDs, and they have promising applications in at least three fields.

LumaStream Trinity DMX Power Supply Finalist in LEDs Magazine Inaugural Sapphire Awards

LEDs Magazine today announced the LumaStream Trinity DMX power supply as a finalist in the first annual Sapphire Awards, selecting it in the LED driver category. The inaugural awards gala - covering the greatest achievements in solid-state lighting - is the first in the lighting industry to focus on the LED-based market from an enabling-technology and elegance-of-design perspective.

"What's unique about the Trinity remote LED driver is its tremendous value proposition," says Pedro Meirelles, Sr. Director of OEM Sales at LumaStream. "No other LED driver offers the performance and flexibility of the Trinity."

A single LumaStream Trinity DMX unit can deliver power and control to up to 36 LED fixtures, with 12 independent channels, and the ability to send low-voltage power using 18/2 speaker wire from driver to fixture without voltage drop over best-in-class distances. With 12 controllable channels managed in a single box, the Trinity DMX opens the door to more creative, controllable lighting scenes in restaurant, retail, health care, and other applications by maximizing light for positive human response. The Trinity DMX power supply creates a hyper-efficient ecosystem that significantly improves the reliability and performance of LEDs. The Trinity also offers a unique, 3-in-1 approach, transforming power, delivering constant current, and controlling smooth, flicker-free dimming to near 0%.

LumaStream's low-voltage DC distribution also reduces multiple points of inefficiency that exist in other LED systems, carrying a best in class 87% efficiency over wide power load. With 226W and 12 output channels, Trinity can significantly reduce the electrical infrastructure needed to power LEDs in a commercial space, providing a greener, lower cost LED lighting solution.

Future dim for GVMC's LED streetlight plans?

A month after it embarked on the project of illuminating the Cyclone Hudhud torn city's streets with LED lights, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation's (GVMC) dreams do not seem to have sparked off the desired results with an increasing number of citizens lodging complaints against the new streetlight system. Not only has GVMC failed to replace all the sodium vapour lamps in the city with LED lights as per schedule, nearly 30% of the newly installed LEDs in all the wards are not working properly much to the chagrin of citizens.

Bond Testing of Wire Bonds within LEDs

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) provide a low maintenance and energy efficient form of illumination. These solutions are increasingly becoming the choice for lighting design, from display systems and architectural lighting systems through to automotive lighting, street lighting and medical equipment. Most LEDs exhibit a natural lifetime. Although degradation failures could not be prevented, proper LED manufacturing processes make sure that they do not fail within the intended life of the product. Figure 1 shows a standard LED device.

LEDs cast new light on auto design

Light-emitting diodes, more commonly known as LEDs, are revolutionizing functionality and styling of automotive lighting. The technology, once found only on luxury cars, is becoming standard on many headlamps and taillights of mainstream vehicles to set them apart from the competition. The increase in usage comes as the price of LEDs declines and automakers are finding new ways to use them.