Philips to sell majority interest in combined LED components and Automotive lighting business to consortium led by GO Scale Capital

Philips announced that it has signed an agreement with a consortium led by GO Scale Capital through which they will acquire an 80.1% interest in Philips’ combined LED components and Automotive lighting business, with Philips retaining the remaining 19.9%* interest. The transaction values the business at an enterprise value of approximately USD 3.3 billion. Philips expects to receive cash proceeds, before tax and transaction related costs, of approximately USD 2.8 billion and a deferred contingent payment of up to USD 100 million. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2015, subject to closing conditions, including customary regulatory approvals.

Following the transaction, the new company will continue under the name Lumileds, led by CEO Pierre-Yves Lesaicherre. Philips’ Lighting Solutions business will remain an important customer of Lumileds and will continue the existing innovation and supply partnership.

GO Scale Capital is a new investment fund sponsored by GSR Ventures and Oak Investment Partners. The consortium partners are Asia Pacific Resource Development, Nanchang Industrial Group and GSR Capital. The GO Scale Capital team has deep technology expertise and a track record in scaling up disruptive technologies. Current investments include Boston Power, a U.S.-based manufacturer of electric vehicle batteries, and Xin Da Yang, a leading Eco-EV company in China. The team brings deep knowledge of the LED components and automotive technology industries. Through their past investments in the LED industry, they have access to complementary technologies and manufacturing capacity. This uniquely complements Lumileds’ high-power LED manufacturing footprint and expertise, and the combination offers opportunities for the company to pursue further growth and scale.

Sonny Wu, co-founder and managing director of GSR Ventures and chairman of GO Scale Capital, who will serve as interim chairman of Lumileds following the completion of the transaction, stated that: “The Lumileds acquisition will be a perfect example of how GO Scale turns cutting edge technologies into world class companies. GO Scale Capital will focus on expanding Lumileds’ opportunities by investing in its global centers of operation and in the fast growing general lighting and automotive industries. Through Lumileds’ world-leading technology in key verticals such as LED chips, LED mobile flash and automotive lighting, together with a customer base including the likes of BMW, Volkswagen and Audi, we expect to see significant growth and unparalleled inroads into new opportunities such as electric vehicles.”

Lumileds is a leading supplier of lighting components to the general illumination, automotive and consumer electronics markets with operations in more than 30 countries and has approximately 8,300 employees worldwide. In 2014, it generated sales of approximately USD 2 billion and a double-digit EBITA margin.

Following the separation of Lumileds, Philips Lighting will focus on the exciting and growing lighting solutions markets in which it has leading market positions. As previously announced in September 2014, Philips has started the process of creating two market-leading companies focused on HealthTech and Lighting Solutions opportunities. As part of that strategic repositioning, Philips will transition the Lighting Solutions business into a separate legal structure and it is the current intention to effectuate the separation through an initial public offering, although other options will continue to be reviewed.

* including a 34% interest in the Lumileds US operations.

Act fast to save big on LED light bulbs

If, like me, you’ve been disappointed by the CFL bulbs that don’t last the promised nine or 10 years, there's an opportunity today to try LEDs at a great price. I've had to responsibly dispose of mercury-filled (and short-lived) CFL bulbs more times than I can count, and it's made me hesitant to invest in LEDs, which have a higher price than CFLs. LEDs are supposed to pay for themselves over time — but then again, so were CFLs. I've been waiting for a great deal on LEDs, and today I found one.

LED driver and component supplier Letaron Electronic Co establishes UK business

LED driver and lighting component supplier Letaron Electronic Co Ltd has arrived in the UK and is based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Letaron offers a great range of TUV approved LED drivers – constant current, constant voltage, dimming and IP68 types, all in various wattages and voltages. With high-tech manufacturing to ISO9001 quality standards in China, Letaron LED drivers, as well as traditional halogen transformers and electronic fluorescent ballasts, are great quality at realistic prices and come with good commercial guarantees.

LED Streetlights in Brooklyn Are Saving Energy but Exhausting Residents

The future is bright on the streets of New York. For Jolanta Benal and her neighbors in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, it is far too bright. “It feels like I’m in a strip mall in outer space,” Ms. Benal said while sitting in her house on Horace Court last week. Light from outside was spilling into the living room, around the velvet drapes she replaced her sheer curtains with. “I don’t want to come off as melodramatic, but it really is horrible,” she said.

A switch to LED lights brightens an electric bill

When Dave Lippert swapped the light bulbs in his house for energy-saving LEDs, he figured they’d pay for themselves in a little less than three years. Turns out the break-even point came faster than he anticipated, leaving Lippert with more money in his pocket. It’s a good case study for homeowners anywhere who are pondering the financial return on switching to LEDs. Lippert, a retiree from the electric utility industry, started the project in 2012 as an experiment. He was confident the switch would cut his electric bill substantially, and he wanted hard evidence to win over skeptical friends and family members.

New high-tech night-fishing light

Crossing a bridge over a southern reservoir on a summer night can treat you to a light show that really makes you want to wet a line. My earliest experience with this phenomenon involved a Coleman lantern clamped on the side of an open aluminum boat that was tied to standing timber or anchored under a bridge. The light drew flying bugs, and those we didn’t swat as they tried to eat us sometimes ended up fluttering on the water’s surface until they disappeared in swirls.

Philips To Fund HealthTech Through Lighting Biz IPO

Dutch conglomerate Royal Philips recently confirmed that it is planning an initial public offering (IPO) in 2016 for its lighting business. The company aims to use the proceeds from the IPO to jumpstart its standalone healthcare business called HealthTech. Philips said in a recent shareholders circular that it would likely offer a minority interest in the IPO scheduled for the first half of next year, according to a New York Times report. However, the company added that it is planning subsequent secondary offerings or transactions with the ultimate goal of a full divestment of its lighting business.

Can a light bulb be as cool as the iPhone?

What if, with the flick of a switch, you could turn your light fixture into a digital music player or a home monitor? As consumer technology increasingly resembles hardware plucked from "The Jetsons," a host of companies, including Google, General Electric and Samsung, are looking to make everyday appliances as ubiquitous, indispensable—and as cool—as a new Apple device. Count Sengled among those companies. The China-based company is one of several developing LED technology in what analysts at McKinsey estimate will grow into a $108 billion market by 2020.

Terralux Battles Commoditization By Integrating Smarts With LEDs

LED lighting technology has advanced in leaps and bounds in the last few years. Less than a decade ago, LEDs were both ineffective and expensive. Not only did they have low output, but they were expensive to boot. This is why, at least historically, most of the market for refitting of existing lights went to Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Fast forward to today and LEDs have greatly improved in efficacy, now demonstrating some of the highest light outputs, measured in lumens per watt, of any lighting type available. At the same time, the economics of LEDs are now comparable with other light sources. These changes have resulted in LEDs displacing CFLs as the choice for organizations looking to save money and deliver an environmentally friendly lighting alternative.

Homeowner finds switch of lighting saves money

When Dave Lippert swapped the light bulbs in his house for energy-saving LEDs, he figured they'd pay for themselves in a little less than three years. Turns out the break-even point came faster than he anticipated, leaving Lippert with even more money in his pocket. It's a good case study for homeowners anywhere who are pondering the financial return on switching to LEDs. Lippert, a retiree from the electric utility industry, started the project in 2012 as an experiment. He was confident the switch would cut his electric bill substantially, and he wanted hard evidence to win over skeptical friends and family members.

The promising future of LEDs

“The LED market is a complex but promising market,” commented Pars Mukish, Business Unit Manager, LED, OLED and Sapphire at Yole Développement (Yole). In 2015, companies are not relying on more technical breakthroughs, except at the LED module level, where integration remains an important issue. “However, there is still overcapacity,” said Mukish. “This is causing many changes in the supply chain, first at the chip level, then at the module/system level. The spin-off Royal Philips announced in July 2014 of its LED business, which grew from its acquisition of Lumileds in 2005, is one example.”

Build Your Own Automatically Dimming Lamp with a Sleep Timer

Light plays an important role in sleep. Bright lights keep us awake and dim lights help us get to sleep. One of the best tricks for getting to sleep is to start turning off lights before you actually go to bed. By gradually reducing the amount of light, it helps you to more gently and easily fall asleep. But unfortunately, most lights aren’t dimmable. And it is pretty inconvenient to have to be constantly adjusting the lights. So I designed a simple LED Lamp with a sleep timer that will automatically dim itself over a set amount of time. Here is how to make it.

City adding LEDs to traffic lights

Fort Wayne will soon have closed-circuit traffic cameras at some of the city’s busiest intersections. The Board of Public Works also approved a project that will put LEDs in traffic signals at approximately 300 intersections. The LEDs will be energy efficient and black plates will be installed to help with visibility. Another project will include putting crosswalk signals with countdown clocks at places across Fort Wayne. The city will also connect 69 traffic signals with the city’s other 298 signals. That project will put every traffic signal in Fort Wayne into a central monitoring system.

This app uses your Android phone’s LEDs to create a light show for your music

On Android devices, the popularization of active display and imitators has basically negated the need for built-in LEDs. After all, what more can a blinking light tell you than a screen? Luckily, crafty developers are finding other uses for the neglected multicolored diodes. One app for Android, LED Music Effects, turns your device’s LEDs into a basic music visualizer. The app, which requires root access to work, reflects the rhythmic punctuation of songs on your smartphone’s built-in LEDs. As the app is currently configured, a single LED alternates between three colors (up to three work synchronously).

Smart bulbs acting up? Try a manual reset

Replacing your lights with connected LEDs is one of the easiest ways to smarten things up around the house. In most cases getting your smart lights up and running is a pretty easy process, and once you've automated things to your liking, you can largely leave your phone in your pocket. Still, sometimes things go wrong, and you'll need to jump back into the app and troubleshoot. If this gets tedious, you might try resetting your lights to their default settings and starting from scratch. Luckily, this is a lot simpler than it sounds -- here's how to do it.

Access Fixtures' 15W round bollard lights feature Samsung LED chips

Access Fixtures, a leader in commercial and sports lighting, is introducing new 15w LED bollard lights with specialized aluminum cone reflectors. The new 15w LED Round Flat Top Bollards with Aluminum Cone and 15w LED Round Dome Top Bollard with Aluminum Cone both feature 15w LED arrays with Samsung LED chips. The LEDs are mounted in the head of the LED bollard, facing down with a wide beam spread to effectively light the surrounding area. LED bollard lights are ideal for illuminating walkways, streets, and driveways of residential and commercial areas.

“This is the lowest price that Access Fixtures has ever been able to offer for LED round bollard lights with integrated drivers,” said Access Fixtures CEO, Steven Rothschild. “Haitz’s Law states that the cost per lumen falls as the amount of light generated per LED package increases. This is certainly demonstrated with these bollard lights.”

Cree LED fails early in Consumer Reports' tests

The great thing about energy-saving LED lightbulbs is that they’re designed to last a long time—often 23 years. And that’s why when some Cree LED spotlights died early in one of Consumer Reports’ tests—the most failures our lightbulb experts have seen for LEDs—it raised questions. The dimmable Cree PAR38 Bright White LED spotlight replaces a 90-watt incandescent lightbulb and has a 27° beam angle. We paid $24 apiece at Home Depot. The model number is BPAR38-1503027T-12DE26-1U100. Here's what we found.

ULBs in Karnataka to switch over to LEDs in phases

Urban local bodies (ULBs) in Karnataka will soon switch over to more efficient light emitting diode (LED) lighting system. While the city corporations in will be the first to switch over to LEDs bulbs, primarily for their bulk street lighting requirements and general requirement in the first phase, the other ULBs namely the city municipal councils will switch over to the same in the second phase, said D K Shivakumar, minister for power here. In an informal chat with STOI, Shivakumar said the move to switch over to LEDs is a project that the ministries for power and urban development are jointly working on.

Proposed DTE increase on LED streetlights leaves local cities split

A DTE Energy proposal that would raise rates for light-emitting diode streetlights has drawn criticism from a number of cities that have converted to the more energy-efficient light, but the response from some Pointe leaders is mixed. Some city leaders from around the state are protesting what they say would be a hike in the cost of using the newer LED streetlights, combined with a decrease in the price for operating the older sodium-vapor lights. They say the proposed price change would discourage communities from moving to more energy-efficient LEDs because it would largely eliminate the savings that communities now enjoy from these streetlights.

Need a light bulb? Study this guide first

Light bulbs used to be so simple to buy: Run to the hardware store and get what you need.
Now, not only are light bulbs sold everywhere, some stores have rows and rows to choose from and there are even specialty stores for just the Thomas Edison invention. Cree, a leading maker of LED light bulbs, has put together an LED bulb overview to help consumers read the label on light bulb boxes and choose the right one for specific needs, including cost. The numbers to identify light output of bulbs is measured differently; it's now in lumens instead of watts. Brightness is the key word you're looking for here and that is the lumens measurement: the higher the number, the brighter the light.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/12/6118487/gadgets-need-a-light-bulb-study.html#storylink=cpy

More Oroville street lamps converted to LEDs

Crews are working this week to convert half of Oroville’s street lamps to energy-saving LEDs. City engineer Rick Walls said the crews, contracted by PG&E, were swapping out about 100 per day. He said the crews were working faster than the city could do in-house. The LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are replacing high-pressure sodium lights. Compared with the old lights, which cast an orange tone, the LEDs produce a better quality light with better distribution over the street.

Eaton's Cooper Lighting linear LED luminaire provides direct/indirect illumination

Power management company Eaton has announced the introduction of the Corelite RZL light-emitting diode (LED) Suspended Luminaire. The energy efficient linear direct/indirect LED continuous row system provides a cost effective solution in large open ceiling environments, offering up to 55 percent in energy savings over fluorescent luminaires.

“The Corelite RZL product’s propriety LED platform offers customers a high-performing solution for new and retrofit open offices, retail and educational spaces,” said Mark Eubanks, president, Eaton’s Cooper Lighting Division. “The luminaire’s compact profile, aesthetically pleasing low glare design and powerful performance provide high efficacies, surpassing 100 lumens per watt, while also offering low power consumption.”

Super Bright LEDs adds decorative edge-lit LED flat panel lighting to product line

Super Bright LEDs introduces their new Decorative Edge-Lit LED Glass Flat Panel Lighting, a perfect addition to new construction applications or for retrofitting existing fluorescent light fixtures. Available in round and square versions with edge-lit glass bezel for an elegant and decorative glow. Super Bright LEDs' newest model of LED panel lighting has a decorative edge-lit glass bezel, ideal for various home and commercial applications. Decorative panels can provide both accent as well as task lighting, making them a useful light in an elegant package. Their super-thin flat panel design installs in tight spaces such as finished basement ceilings and around duct work.

Competitor To LEDs Could Soon Have A Better Lifespan

The disadvantage of LEDs is that they are complex, multi-layered devices that require high-vacuum and high temperature techniques for their preparation. They also need to be rigorously protected from exposure to air or water. LECs are much simpler devices, comprising only one layer of active material, which can be solution-processed in ambient conditions, but they are terrifically expensive and have such short lifetimes that they are not a serious alternative for the mass market. Basel and Valencia teams created LECs with lifetimes exceeding 2,500 hours using molecular components stabilized by so-called aromatic rings.

USB Powered CD Lamp

[Artificial Intelligence] has made a desk lamp out of parts he had kicking around in his parts bin. Most recognizable are the 4 CDs that make up the base and the shade. To start this project, [Artificial Intelligence] sketched out a circular pattern on one of the CDs and marked 7 locations where the LEDs will be. Holes were drilled at those marked locations, the LEDs inserted and hot glued into place. Each LED has its own current limiting resistor soldered in a series configuration. The company mentions the resistor value was determined by a nice LED resistor calculator he found online, ledcalc.com. Then each LED/resistor combo was wired together in a parallel configuration and covered up by another CD to clean up the look and protect the wiring.

LEDs go residential and they’re pretty cool

Since its start nine years ago, the annual LEDucation expo has grown dramatically, as has the popularity of LEDs. The show, intended mostly for lighting and design professionals, has been a mecca for cutting-edge commercial lights such as replacements for linear fluorescents, strip lights (the kind that you’d put under kitchen cabinets), and recessed lights. As an architect who also designs light fixtures, I’ve always been a bit disappointed by the lack of decorative offerings.

Steinel unveils brighter and smarter LED sensor-driven indoor lighting fixture

Market leading lighting sensor technology specialist, Steinel (UK) Ltd, has launched its SensorLight RS LED A1 for LED indoor lighting applications that include corridors, halls, landings, stairwells and bathrooms. This 11W sensor-switched light offers impressive brightness and reach, and turns on without a sound. The Steinel SensorLight RS LED A1 features an integral LED system and high quality opal glass and aluminium construction, delivering high aesthetic and trendsetting appeal able to harmonise with any interior design.

LED Light Bulbs: An Innovative Alternative to Traditional Lighting

Is LED lighting right for you? You've probably heard of LED lights before, but you may not know much about them. We've taken the time to compile some of the biggest advantages to LED lighting, so read on to find out why everyone is talking about this new technology. Normally it is believed that LEDs have a seemingly infinite lifetime. However, their actual life is around 50,000 hours which makes them usable for around 17 years. This life span is 50 times that of incandescent and 25 times that of halogen bulbs.

LEDs and electronics assembly provider Distron expands automated SMT capabilities

Distron Corporation, a North Attleboro, MA based leading Electronic Contract Manufacturer of Circuit Board Assemblies and Electromechanical Assemblies, has announced the addition of a fourth automated SMT assembly line. The company’s new assembly line has been purchased to support increased production demands during a continued business expansion. This new production line will be fully operational in mid-December of this year. Distron’s expanded capacity is expected to allow for continued growth into the medical and robotics market segments.

Bright full-visible-spectrum LEDs

Most device physicists and engineers would agree that a native-substrate approach is the natural course for optimal semiconductor device fabrication and performance, since it guarantees atomic-level lattice and thermal-expansion matching as well as processing compatibility. However, for certain semiconductor materials, such as gallium nitride (GaN), this approach is not a straightforward option because the crystal is not readily found in nature and cannot be grown from the melt owing to the high vapor pressure of nitrogen.

In the light bulb aisle, bright ideas and plenty of confusion

While shopping at Ikea recently, Liz Halsall confronted a dilemma that's confused many shoppers the past few years: what light bulb to buy. The incandescent bulb of Thomas Edison is phasing out of production, thanks to a 2007 federal energy efficiency law. When consumers now enter the lighting aisle, they find bulbs of various shapes, technologies and price points that make comparison shopping more difficult. On top of all that, one new type of light -- a light-emitting diode, or LED -- is undergoing the rapid transformation of price and capability that shoppers more often see in computers and smartphones.

Fulham unveils field-installable LED retrofit kits

Fulham Co., Inc., a global manufacturer of sustainable and intelligent lighting components and solutions, has announced the release of its field-installable cULus Classified ThoroLED™ brand Retrofit Kits for round ceiling-mounted fixtures.

Fulham ThoroLED brand Retrofit Kits allow round ceiling-mounted fixtures to easily be converted to efficient LED technology. Each kit includes a ThoroLED Driver, ThoroLED Module, all required hardware, and installation instructions. The RoHS Compliant kits are cULus Classified, making them well-suited for both field or factory (OEM) installation. They are TRIAC dimmable and available in 7-inch and 9-inch diameters to fit most standard fixtures. Fulham ThoroLED Retrofit Kits are available in 80 and 90 CRI and a range of color temperatures.

Castor designs gold-foil reflector floor lamp in nod to company's namesake

The reflector floor lamp, by Canadian studio castor design, features gold-foiled leather stretched across a circular frame. An LED bulb housed in the lamp’s stem directs light toward the diffuser, where its foil texture catches and reflects an ambient an embedded power switch occupies the top of the stem, and the diffuser clips on via friction-fit. a black, powder-coated finish gives prominence to the leather reflector.

Philips Lumileds recognized as Illumineer of the Year at LEDs Magazine Sapphire Awards

Lumileds is awarded for innovation and its ability to catalyze an entire segment with its LUXEON CoB (Chip-on-Board) LED with CrispWhite Technology. Being named Illumineer of the Year continues an impressive streak of both recognition and breakthroughs for Lumileds. In addition to this award, Lumileds recently won a prestigious LFI Innovation Award, introduced the world’s first hot color targeted LEDs, and announced the world’s first chip-scale packaged LED that can be directly surface mount reflowed onto a luminaire board. LUXEON CoB with CrispWhite Technology is another quality of light breakthrough in the Lumileds portfolio.

Solid Apollo LED receives Intertek certification on LED linear lighting

Solid Apollo LED has received Intertek (ETL) Certification for low voltage 24V LED Strip Lights, ranging from 5 different white colors, to color changing RGB strip lights, for both indoor and outdoor LED lighting. The ETL certification means that after rigorous and extensive testing, each low voltage strip light meets all of the safety, quality and durability requirements for national standards in both the U.S. and Canada. Every 24V strip light from Solid Apollo with ETL certification is guaranteed to meet the standards set for design and operation of low voltage lighting, and the requirements for health and safety to ensure long lasting and resilient products.

Trio Electric guarantees LED pay back

Trio Electric, a Houston based full-service electrical contractor, recently completed a lighting retrofit of nine locations for Star Furniture, converting the retailer's showrooms to LED lighting to increase energy efficiency and light quality. The new energy-efficient LED technology has delivered on Trio's promise of savings and financial return on the cost of the retrofit. In fact, Star realized a 100% return on investment within one year of installation of the new LED lamps. Trio was instrumental in guiding Star through the process of applying for utility rebates and incentive programs that covered a significant portion of the retrofit costs.

A lighting retrofit is a quick and easy way to make a good return on your investment. Trio provides customized programs that produce sustainable savings by lowering electric bills, HVAC and maintenance costs while also decreasing a company's carbon footprint. Industry experts forecast that production and usage of LED products will continue to escalate as thousands of square feet of real estate are slated to be retrofitted, including office buildings, manufacturing facilities, schools, multi-family housing, medical facilities and retail spaces.

New polycarbonate sheet products from Bayer provide OEMs with additional options for lighting lenses

LEDs are advancing lighting options, both in design and functionality, yet consumers are looking for more. They look for high-quality lighting, durability, safety and attractive aesthetics. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) require these same properties in materials to meet consumer needs. Bayer MaterialScience LLC offers OEMs a broad range of polycarbonate sheet materials for their lighting needs.

Bayer is further expanding its broad range of polycarbonate sheet products for lighting applications, launching two material grades at Strategies in Light 2015. 

Makrolon DX-NR polycarbonate sheet provides high optical performance, balancing light diffusion and transmission. Its outstanding outdoor weathering performance, enabled by co-extruded, UV-resistance technology, makes it ideal for exterior applications. OEMs using Makrolon DX-NR polycarbonate sheet for lenses are able to achieve enhanced aesthetics thanks to the material's non-glossy and non-reflective appearance.

Also debuting at Strategies in Light is Makrolon Lumen XT LC0 polycarbonate sheet. Joining the extensive Makrolon Lumen XT polycarbonate product line, this new grade further expands the diffusion level options, and enables lighting designers to create even more energy-efficient lighting fixtures.

This high-performance material has achieved a UL 94 V-2 flammability rating. Additionally, Makrolon Lumen XT polycarbonate sheet resists high temperatures while providing outstanding, uniform LED light diffusion and minimizing hot spots while maximizing light transmission.

Phoenix converts street lights to brighter LEDs

If Phoenix streets are starting to appear brighter, it's not the moon nor the viewer's imagination. The city has begun installing new street light fixtures with LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, that shine a noticeably whiter, clearer light. The city has begun an effort to convert its about 90,000 street lights to the more energy-efficient fixtures by summer 2017, replacing older high-pressure sodium bulbs that give off an orange-yellowish light.

Don’t Take the Tech Behind Stadium Lighting for Granted

Ephesus Lighting, a US-based company that manufactures high-output LED lighting solutions for applications in industrial and sports markets recently announced the Ephesus Arena Pro-Court. This latest Ephesus product offers multi-purpose basketball venues a single lighting system that can meet the many lighting requirements of professional and college basketball. Joe Casper, CTO of Ephesus Lighting, discussed this new Pro-Court lighting system, “There is a major distinction in the quality of lighting requirements for pro and college basketball venues. We now have a product that focuses on improving the player performance, increasing fan experience, and exceeding HDTV broadcasting requirements for both professional and college basketball.”

This Is Why You Should Set Up Philips Hue LED Smartbulbs

If you're interested in smart lighting, resources to help you can get overwhelming in a hurry. Generally, setup isn't a big deal, but once you have them, then what? For people who are mildly curious, here's a gentle introduction to the world of Light Bulbs You Can Boss From Your Phone: For now we'll mostly deal with the "regular" light bulbs, specifically the Philips Hue line of LED smartbulbs. There are others from companies such as Wink and WeMo, and most of the same concepts apply to these bulbs.

SmartThings adds support for Cree and WeMo LEDs

Belkin and Cree are headlining a new round of products integrated into the SmartThings ecosystem, with the Cree Connected LED and the Belkin WeMo LED joining the popular smart-home platform's list of supported devices. Cree's ZigBee smart LEDs originally pitched compatibility with the Wink Hub, with Wink-specific pairing instructions printed right on each bulb's packaging. That was never an exclusive partnership, though, and sure enough, people soon began running Cree lights through other control hubs, including the Philips Hue Bridge.

The Beam smart projector doubles as a light bulb

Developed by a Los Angeles-based startup of the same name, Beam is essentially an Android-based LED pico projector that can also serve as a smart LED light bulb. Screw it into an existing E26/E27 light socket or connect it to a power cable, the choice is yours. It packs a 1.3GHz dual-core processor, 8GB storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, 12 LEDs, and a couple of 2-watt speakers. Support for IFTTT (If This, Then That) means you’ll be able to automate many of its operations—be they standalone, or those performed in conjunction with other devices—using a series of simple if-then statements. For example: If it’s 9:00 PM on Sunday, then open YouTube.

Don't like flat LED lightbulbs? No problem, says Philips!

What was special about it was that the flat shape - providing ample surface area to each individual LED to dissipate heat - allowed Philips' engineers to do without the heavy heatsink that could be found on pretty much all LED bulbs up to that point. This greatly reduced the cost and weight of the bulb, allowing it to go on sale for less than $10 (even less in many places where utilities offer rebates for energy efficient lighting).

The organic LED age is here: Meet the U of T engineers behind OTI Lumionics

Google “OLED,” and you’ll find scores of articles confidently predicting that this is the year of the organic light-emitting diode. Some of those articles are ten years old. Still, there are reasons to believe the OLED age is finally dawning. In fact, engineering alumnus Michael Helander (EngSci 0T7, MSE PhD 1T2) is betting on it. Three years ago, he was a PhD student with an important discovery just published in Science—a rising star who could have had his pick of academic postings. Instead, he gave up a life in research to start a technology company he named OTI Lumionics. The failure rate of technology startups, by some estimates, is 90 per cent.