Seoul Semiconductor’s SunLike Series Natural Spectrum LEDs

Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. announced that it has achieved smart lighting design with SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs in cooperation with Casambi Technologies Oy, a developer of wireless lighting control systems based on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and it has been adopted for the Italian designed architectural lighting brand formalighting Ltd, a global manufacturer of Italian designed architectural lighting systems and solutions for a new product line which offers motorized luminaire with smart wireless controls.

The SunLike COB LED packages have been adopted by formalighting for the new fixtures, Moto-Zero 40 Compasso and Moto-Zero 66 Zoom, in track mounted motorized spotlight range. In this sector, the Moto-Zero 40 Compasso is known as the world’s smallest motorized fixture with the Moto-Zero 66 Zoom being focused on the best selection of LED lighting for museum, art galleries and commercial spaces. The integrated technology within the motorized luminaires offers more smart control over the beam angle and movements of the fixture, which is able to be tilted vertically 90° in two directions as well as rotated horizontally 360°. The intensity and white color tuning of the light is controlled by CASAMBI™ bluetooth technology.

The embedded SunLike Series LEDs are the world’s first LEDs to produce light that closely matches the spectrum of natural sunlight, optimized to natural light spectra and color rendering of CRI-97 – close to CRI-100 of sunlight, and higher than the CRI- 80 of conventional LEDs. The spotlight fixtures are designed to bring out the most natural color tones of objects which are particularly color-sensitive. They also deliver considerable benefits that include vivid color, detailed contrast, and homogeneous quality of light. This is achieved through restricting the blue light peak, similar to the sunlight spectral curve, which enables the reduction of scattered reflection and glare.

Shuji Nakamura Awarded Renewable Energy Prize by University of Lousiville for LED Lighting

A pioneer in sustainable energy technology, University of California-Santa Barbara materials professor Shuji Nakamura, has won the 2019 Leigh Ann Conn Prize for Renewable Energy from the University of Louisville. The prize recognizes outstanding renewable energy ideas and achievements with proven global impact. Nakamura is recognized for scientific innovations and commercialization of efficient solid-state LEDs. His innovations have enabled efficient use of energy, reduced the burden on the environment and helped create sustainable lighting worldwide.

2019: A Great Year for Light Bulb Freedom

Whatever else one may say about 2019, it was a banner year for consumer choice when it comes to light bulbs, culminating in the December 20th decision by the Department of Energy (DOE) declining to regulate them any further.  Like many bad ideas from Washington, light bulb regulations had bipartisan support. President George W. Bush signed a massive 2007 energy bill authorizing the DOE to set energy efficiency standards for light bulbs. These provisions were enthusiastically and aggressively implemented by the Obama administration, including some regulations expanding the reach of these rules that were finalized on January 19, 2017, one day before Donald Trump took office.

Cost to change Toledo's streetlights to LED drops

The cost to upgrade the city’s thousands of streetlights to light-emitting diodes just got a lot more affordable. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved a new cost of $207 per fixture to replace conventional high-pressure sodium lamps with LEDs, which is down from $344 per fixture. Toledo Edison also completed an updated inventory of streetlights in Toledo, which puts the count closer to 26,000 rather than the 28,000 that Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz originally thought were in the city.

Trump Administration Blocks Energy Efficiency Rule for Light Bulbs

The Trump administration announced Friday that it would block a rule designed to phase out older incandescent bulbs and require Americans to use energy-efficient light bulbs.In announcing the move, the secretary of energy, Dan Brouillette, who is a former auto lobbyist, said the administration had chosen “to protect consumer choice by ensuring that the American people do not pay the price for unnecessary overregulation from the federal government.” The new rule was unnecessary, he said, because innovation and technology are already “increasing the efficiency and affordability of light bulbs without federal government intervention.”

Trouble with your Christmas lights? Here's what to do

No matter what holiday you celebrate, there's a chance you may find yourself tangling with Christmas string lights this season. Burned-out bulbs, strands that light up only halfway (or not at all), and let's not forget those knots. You don't have to go too far down the internet rabbit hole on Christmas lights before encountering complicated electrical diagrams and DIY'ers offering tips on how to rewire your plugs. Fascinating? Yes. How I want to spend my December? No. For those of us not quite as skilled in the electrical trade, here are some common problems with string lights and how to solve them.

OmniVision Cuts LED Flicker in HDR

The company will start sampling its new 8.3 megapixel automotive image sensors capable of mitigating LED flicker in the first quarter of 2020. A vast number of things could blind a driver on the road. When exiting a tunnel with the sun low on the horizon, the sudden transition from dark to very bright can be dazzling. A machine vision unit fitted into a highly autonomous vehicle (Level 3+ or above) would struggle in the same situation. But it would also struggle in circumstances that humans can handle just fine, too. One of those is dealing with LED flickering. Designed to pulse to control brightness and power, LEDs flicker because they are not always on.

A Tree Of LEDs That Blows Out Like A Candle

The beautiful workmanship in Andrew’s LED tree is gorgeous all on its own, but of course there’s more going on than meets the eye. This  LED tree can be blown out like a candle and it even playfully challenges a user to blow out all the lights at once in a single breath. Some of you may remember the fascinating example of an LED you can blow out like a candle which had the trick of using the LED itself as a sensor. Like any diode, the voltage drop across the LED changes very slightly based on temperature. By minimizing thermal mass with surface-mount LEDs and whisker-thin wires, it was possible to detect when the LED was being blown on.

Amerlux's Weather-Proof Step Lights Win Product Innovation Award

Amerlux, a design-and-manufacture lighting company, announced its game-changing Passo step light has been recognized as one of the most innovative solutions in the industry, according to Architectural Products magazine.

Weather-proof Passo step lights boast an independently sealed LED optical chamber that eliminates water infiltration. Water seepage causes headaches for lighting designers, landscape architects and energy service companies who recommend step lights to end users, such as facility managers and city managers, who are responsible for addressing the ongoing maintenance issues and safety problems associated with subpar fixtures. The luminaire is typically used for steps, staircases and in walls to light walkways and add aesthetics to building facades.

Passo's engineering increases its return on investment in two ways. First, its advanced LED core uses significantly less energy than traditional fluorescent lamps. Secondly, its sealed optical chamber eliminates the high cost of labor associated with burnt-out, water-infiltrated light sources common to even the priciest competitors.

Each luminaire is available in a choice of two output levels to tailor the desired illuminance for the project. A standard 0-10v dimmable drive provides more integration options with controls, which can dramatically magnify an LED lamp's energy reduction and savings by 10-fold, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Pfingsten Invests in Environmental Lights

Environmental Lights announced it has been acquired by Pfingsten Partners, L.L.C. Pfingsten is an operationally-driven private equity firm focused on long-term value creation. Pfingsten has acquired 139 manufacturing, distribution and business services companies since inception in 1989.

"Pfingsten's experience in the lighting industry, growth-oriented approach and focus on the customer will enable us to continue delivering industry-leading products and solutions with superior technical service," said Jamison Day, CEO of Environmental Lights, who will continue leading the business.

Environmental Lights was founded in 2006 in San Diego, California, and has been listed on the Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America for seven years in a row.

Man says spiral light bulb filled with ladybugs almost burned down house

A Kentucky man’s warning about a spiral light bulb nearly causing his home to catch fire is as gross as it is shocking. Jason Whitaker took to Facebook to share the results after he discovered a four- to five-year-old bulb that could’ve burned down his house. “I kept smelling something like electrical fire. I tore my house apart trying to find it and finally did,” Whitaker wrote. “These light bulbs will burn your house down.”

Amazon’s Ring is making its first smart light bulb

Amazon-owned smart home security company Ring makes a variety of smart lighting products. According to FCC documentation, the company is about to enter the replaceable bulb market dominated by companies like Philips Hue with a floodlight-style bulb, as spotted by tech writer Dave Zatz on Twitter. There are not a lot of details on the new Ring light bulb, but the FCC filing does indicate that it’s got Bluetooth (which would make sense, given the “smart” designation).

Acuity Brands Announces Strategic Partnership with CIRCADIAN ZircLight, Inc.

Acuity Brands, Inc. announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with CIRCADIAN ZircLight, Inc. This business partnership includes licensing of CIRCADIAN ZircLight intellectual property, and a collaboration intended to accelerate commercialization within North America of CIRCADIAN’s Zirc™ branded technology through Acuity Brands’ portfolio of indoor luminaires.

Over the past five years, CIRCADIAN ZircLight has created evidence-based specifications for workplace lighting and developed specialized Zirc™ LED chips, light engines, control systems and luminaires to address the need for circadian lighting. This partnership reinforces both companies’ commitment to innovation that advances the value proposition of lighting designed to enhance human productivity, alertness and health.

Is it worth switching to LED holiday lights?

As homeowners begin decorating their homes for the holiday season, some are wondering if LED lights are worth the higher price. According to the Department of Energy, LEDs use a lot less energy. It says lighting a 6-foot Christmas tree with traditional mini-lights will raise your electric bill by $10 a month. The cost with LED lights – 27 cents. If you decorate your whole house with LED lights, you could save $50 to $100 a month – and LEDs last longer.

SALC marks a move by pole owners to monetize assets

As always, the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Street and Area Lighting Conference (SALC) featured a broad array of presentations focused on improving the nighttime lit environment, leveraging connected and smart lighting technologies, the importance of sensors, and even the impact of LED lighting on crime in cities. But the Sept. 22–25 event that took place in San Diego, CA will also be remembered for a capitalistic undercurrent where municipalities and utilities that own street-light poles have realized that those poles represent valuable assets and provide the potential for new revenue streams — streams that may or may not have anything to do with lighting. And yes, of course the Internet of Things (IoT) was a steady mention, although many presenters are trying to figure out exactly what the IoT is.

Plymouth Ice Center Gets Bright, LED Lights

The Plymouth Ice Center has all new LED lights, which produce brighter, whiter lights than the fluorescent tubes. It took more than a month to replace more than one thousand lights at the rink.
“Our ice is the highlight of why people are here,” said Erik Halverson, Plymouth Ice Center manager. “That’s what we want to highlight for people and that’s what the lights do for us.”

Sensor Electronic Technology Obtains Permanent Injunction against U.S. UV LED Companies

Sensor Electronic Technology obtained a permanent injunction in a patent infringement lawsuit against Bolb, Inc. (“Bolb”), and Quantum Egg, Inc. (“Q-Egg”).

The California Northern District federal court issued a permanent injunction against the sales of an accused UV LED sterilizer device, as well as any mere colorable variations, according to the parties’ stipulation. The Court will therefore prohibit the sale of similar products if they prove to be mere colorable variations of the accused products.

The asserted patents in this litigation cover fundamental UV LED technology, encompassing UV LED sterilizer structures and drivers, chip fabrication, and epitaxial layer growth.

Bolb is a UV LED company co-founded by former SETi employees, and Q-Egg was the distributor of the accused UV LED sterilizer device.

The UV LED market has expanded to a range of fields, including air and water purification devices, as well as medical and bio devices for skin care. The UV LED market value will grow up to $1.2 billion in 2022 according to a market report from LEDinside (2018).

SETi has also collaborated with South Korean UV LED company Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd. (“SVC”), resulting in the development of Violeds technology for UV LED-based disinfection, deodorization, phototherapy and curing. Violeds technology has been used by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) aboard the International Space Station (ISS). SETi also supplies UV LED products to America’s largest heating and cooling manufacturing brand company. This product has been recognized by customers for its high performance in sterilizing various bacteria that live inside air conditioner equipment and preventing it from spreading inside a home or office during operation.

Environmental Lights Launches 5-in-1 LED Light Sheets

Environmental Lights, a leader in LED lighting solutions, announced the launch of the new 5-in-1 LED Light Sheets. The 5-in-1 LED Light Sheet is a cuttable and modular light sheet designed specifically for backlighting applications where bolder colors or softer pastels are of critical importance. Five LEDs are packaged in every node on each light sheet. All five colors can be mixed to create an extremely wide range of color options. Individual light sheets feature 12 cut segments containing six 5-in-1 nodes, for a total of 72 nodes per sheet.

5-in-1 LED Light Sheets take backlighting solutions to the next level by enabling users to create bolder, more vibrant colors and softer pastels than ever before possible. Multiple sheets can be connected to cover larger surface areas, or sheets can be cut to fit a variety of applications.

"5-in-1 LED Light Sheets are ideal for scenic, stage and retail environments because they provide customers with the ability to create any light box color imaginable," stated Environmental Lights CEO Jamison Day. "We are very enthusiastic about these light sheets because they empower customers to create incredible backlighting solutions, while also reducing installation costs."

Pilkington Automotive taps smart lights for space analysis

In the first known industrial installation of its lighting-based IoT technology, Signify has equipped a Pilkington Automotive warehouse with LED luminaires linked to sensors that gather information and transmit it for data analysis, helping managers improve operations. Signify hung 1300 ceiling luminaires around 11m (36 ft) above a new 47,000m2 (506,000 ft2) logistics facility in Gelsenkirchen, Germany for Pilkington, which makes automotive glass including windshields. Signify attached sensors to the same trunking lines that feed electricity to the luminaires, at roughly the same 11m height.

Google Maps reportedly working on feature that shows streets with good lighting

Google Maps, which is continually releasing new features and updates to further improve the experience for its millions of users, reportedly has another one in the pipeline that will focus on making navigation at night safer. XDA Developers spotted code in the Google Maps v10.31.0 beta that reveal the Lighting Layer, which will show streets that have good lighting. Activating the feature will highlight well-lit streets in yellow, and there will also be indicators for streets with poor to no lighting.

Colour consistency metric proposed for LED lighting

French optical firm Gaggione has proposed a way to compare the evenness of colour in ‘white’ light beams produced by LED lighting – generally those with separate RGBW die as light sources. The aim is to produce a single number which sums up how even a beam will appear when shone on to a white surface, allowing different LED and optical combinations to be compared. “It is very difficult to quantify the quality of colour because everyone has a different way to perceive colour,” according to Gaggione. “We found it necessary to create a unit of measurement that enables the quantification of the quality of colour mixing in a scientific way.”

What is mini LED and what could it mean for iPad and MacBook?

Over the last year or so, we’ve been hearing more and more about new LCD display technologies, and we may see Apple adopt them in its devices as soon as next year. While OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays have become the current choice for many flagship smartphones and smartwatches like the iPhone 11 Pro and Apple Watch, mini LED and microLED are set to bring further improvements to displays.

Traditional LED-backlit displays will have anywhere from several dozen to several hundred LEDs. As the name suggests, mini LED displays make use of miniaturized backlighting and can feature over a thousand full array local dimming (FALD) zones.

Add LEDs To Your Stained Glass

Stained glass is an art form that goes back many centuries, with the churches and cathedrals of Europe boasting many stunning examples from the mediaeval masters of the craft. You do not however have to go to York or Chartres cathedrals to experience stained glass, for it remains a vibrant and creative discipline with many contemporary practitioners. One thing the stained glass of today has in common with that of yesteryear though is that it remains static, being composed of pieces of glass held together by metal strips. This is something that [Frank Zhao] has addressed as he has evolved a technique that allows him to incorporate LEDs into static stained glass, making for a particularly eye-catching effect.

It's lights out for startup Den Automation

Den Automation, the once-promising UK smart home startup that raised nearly £4.5m via equity crowdfunding and boasted former Amstrad chief Bob Watkins as CEO, has agreed to go into liquidation, Documents show Wilkin Chapman Business Solutions Limited has been appointed as liquidators, with Ian Michael Rose and Karen Tracey Potts the named practitioners. UK law prioritises creditors according to a set order. Liquidators take precedence and shareholders get the leftover scraps. It's therefore extremely unlikely that any of the 1,104 investors who backed the company on Seedrs will see much – or any – of a return on their investment.

LED Energy Solutions Is Helping Cities Light the Way Forward, for Free

LED Energy Solutions is moving buildings and companies away from the use of commercial power sources and saving them thousands of dollars annually on their energy bills. In 2007, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act and created the Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative. "Eventually there will be mandates to use less energy for every single corporation out there," LED Energy Solutions founder Steve Hotz. "LEDs are the first step to that process because it provides every company with an instant positive cash flow."

Quantum dot LEDs go cadmium-free

Coming soon to a television near you: next generation, quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QD-LEDs) that will illuminate displays without using cadmium, a toxic metal. Researchers led by Eunjoo Jang of Samsung Electronics report QD-LEDs made with quantum dots that feature an indium phosphide core surrounded by a thick inner shell of zinc selenide and a thin outer shell of zinc sulfide. The core’s size determines what color light it emits. This InP/ZnSe/ZnS structure has been reported for quantum dots before, but defects in those materials resulted in decreased performance.

Mike Harrison Knows Everything About LEDs

Driving an LED and making it flash is probably the first project that most people will have attempted when learning about microprocessor control of hardware. The Arduino and similar boards have an LED fitted, and turning it on and off is a simple introduction to code. So it’s fair to say that many of us will think we have a pretty good handle on driving an LED; connect it to a I/O pin via a resistor and that’s it. If this describes you, then Mike Harrison’s talk at the recent Hackaday Superconference will be an education.

Vancouver begins replacing streetlights with energy-efficient LEDs

Forty-nine down, 13,451 to go. That’s how many bulbs have been swapped out in Vancouver as of Monday afternoon as the city kicks off a project to replace all of the sodium bulbs in its cobra-head streetlights with energy-efficient LEDs. Crews with Magnum Power, a contractor from Kelso, began the work late last week in the northeastern corner of the city. They’ll continue to work their way across Vancouver over the coming months, with an estimated completion of the project scheduled for fall 2020.

Mile High Tree, Featuring 60,000 Strands Of LED Lights, Makes Denver Debut

A 110 foot Christmas tree attraction, the tallest installation of its kind, now calls Denver home. “The Mile High Tree” is 39 feet in diameter and is covered with more than 60,000 strands of LED lights that are choreographed to a wide range of holiday music. The display, located along Speer Boulevard at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, is the biggest light-up tree in North America.

Lighting Industry's Future Dims As Efficient LED Bulbs Take Over

A revolution is upsetting the lighting business as LED lightbulbs replace energy-hogging incandescent ones. This is good news for consumers and the environment; using less energy reduces the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. But this shift comes with a cost, exemplified by a century-old lightbulb factory in St. Marys, Pa., that is the latest to shut down. For much of its long history the LEDVANCE facility, 120 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, produced lightbulbs under the Sylvania brand. Now all it produces is scrap metal.