EMC Celebrates 20 Years of Delivering Energy Savings

EMC is proud to commemorate its 20th anniversary by reflecting on their achievements and environmental impact.

In 2012, EMC achieved one billion kilowatt hours (kWh) in customer energy savings. To date, EMC has delivered customers a total of 16.5 billion kilowatt hours in energy savings, with an impressive three billion kWh added in just the past 12 months.

This puts EMC well on track to reach their aggressive savings goal of 25 billion kWh by 2025.

EMC implemented thousands of projects annually surpassing 15 million LED fixture upgrades across diverse verticals including retail, commercial, industrial, health care and hospitality markets.

By 2016, 100% of EMC lighting services focused on LED lighting and today the company has established business units that are uncovering new energy savings opportunities in the areas of smart building controls, IoT solutions, UV-C disinfection lighting, ongoing maintenance and warranty support as well as EVSE.

New Musco LED System Featuring ams OSRAM LEDs Transforms Field of Play at Regensburg Baseball Stadium

ams OSRAM and Musco Lighting have unveiled the performance details of ams OSRAM’s OSCONIQ LEDs as part of a new field-of-play lighting system at the Armin-Wolf-Arena, a baseball stadium in Regensburg, Germany.

The stadium’s new floodlighting uses the Total Light Control—TLC for LED system from Musco Lighting, fitted with OSCONIQ P 3737 LEDs from ams OSRAM, which provide the 5700K light source for the TLC for LED luminaires.

Selected as a host stadium for the 2023 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, the Armin-Wolf-Arena was required to upgrade its field-of-play lighting to meet lighting standards set forth by Major League Baseball (MLB).

The floodlighting has transformed the stadium, increasing lux levels by 85 percent on the field of play while reducing power consumption by 13 percent compared to the previous lights, according to Musco Lighting. The lighting achieves extremely high consistency and uniformity across the field of play while producing low levels of glare, and very little spillover light outside the perimeter of the stadium.

The new system achieves MLB infield and outfield lighting requirements, and has enabled the Armin-Wolf-Arena to host matches at the highest level of world baseball, including this year’s World Baseball Classic Qualifier.

The global leader in sports lighting, Musco’s TLC for LED technology has been installed at some of the biggest and most iconic professional stadiums in the world. The decision by Musco to select the OSCONIQ P 3737 LEDs for use in its LED system came after an exhaustive evaluation of their performance in a demanding application mounted on top of a high mast.

Photo: Wikipedia

UV-C Radiation is Faster and More Cost Effective Than Disinfectant Wipes

A new white-paper study published by University of Texas PhD, Dr. Norman Horn, reveals that Seal Shield's ElectroClave UV-C sanitization system is preferable to healthcare-grade wipes for cleaning mobile devices in hospitals. According to the study, Seal Shield's ElectroClave UV-C System sanitizes medical devices in half the time and at a fraction of the cost of standard healthcare-grade cleaning wipes.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research has shown that mobile devices used for patient care are unintentionally becoming transmission vectors of pathogenic organisms to patients, and the CDC strongly recommends regular cleaning and sanitization of these devices. However, traditional methods such as disinfectant wipes are time consuming, costly, and environmentally unfriendly.

The study shows that the labor time spent sanitizing devices can be reduced by up to 50%. In a scenario where 1000 mobile devices are sanitized once per day, the Seal Shield's ElectroClave can save over $212,916 per year in labor costs alone, assuming a conservative hourly rate of $35 for healthcare workers.

In addition to labor cost savings, the ElectroClave offers substantial consumable savings. Disinfectant wipes cost an average of eight cents per wipe, and that expense can add-up quickly in facilities with a large number of devices. The ElectroClave, on the other hand, costs an average of less than one cent per sanitization cycle, resulting in consumable cost savings of up to 90%.

Northwestern students say implementing LEDs on campus long overdue

While Northwestern received the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year — Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy in March, environmental sciences Prof. Patricia Beddows said the University still has a long way to go.

She said NU’s energy consumption costs would be a fraction of what they currently are if the University converts to using LEDs rather than fluorescent lights.

She added the increased lifespan of LEDs can create positive financial benefits, including fewer maintenance costs and replacements.

TCL launches 4K Mini LED TV

TCL is launching a new range of televisions for the European market. The new C645, C745 and C845 use a Neo QLED display, a term for a Mini LED backlight using the quantum dots of QLED. Scheduled for the month of May, the 65C845 model is already benefiting from a reduction bringing its price from 1,490 euros to 1,190 euros thanks to a refund offer.

The TCL 65C845 is part of the new range of TCL 2023 televisions featuring the latest display technologies as well as several image processing. While several previous models made compromises on the frame rate, the latter is found optimized here and makes this TV perfectly cut for gaming. The 65C845 is not yet on the market and should be available from May 9 at our favorite merchants, but you can already take advantage of a refund offer of 300 euros.

The TCL 65C845 is a 65-inch panel using Neo QLED, a display technology developed by Samsung two years ago. Neo QLED TVs use a backlight with Mini LEDs as well as a layer of quantum dots, so it’s a simple evolution of QLED which uses a simple LED backlight. Neo QLED brings unparalleled contrast to an LED display and better brightness control that reduces blooming (luminous halo effect around light elements on the screen).

The TCL 65C845 is in 4K definition (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) and offers several image processing such as HDR HLG, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and Dolby Vision IQ to name a few. The manufacturer announces a peak brightness of 2000 cd/m² and thanks to the AiPQ Processor 3.0 processor, image rendering is optimized on several characteristics such as definition, brightness, contrast or even frame rate. Finally, the audio part uses two Onkyo speakers of 20 W each and supports Dolby Atmos.

Global LED Lighting Market to Reach $119.63 Billion by 2028 at a 9% CAGR

According to a new report, the global LED lighting market attained a value of USD 70949 million in 2022.

Aided by the increasing focus on energy efficiency and the growing adoption of smart lighting solutions, the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.0% between 2023 and 2028, to reach a value of USD 119639.17 million by 2028.

LED (light-emitting diode) lighting is a type of solid-state lighting technology that converts electrical energy directly into light. LED lights are known for their energy efficiency, long lifespan, and environmental friendliness. They consume significantly less energy than traditional lighting technologies, such as incandescent and fluorescent lights, and produce minimal heat and UV emissions.

The LED lighting market growth can be attributed to several factors, including the increasing focus on energy efficiency and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Governments across the world are implementing strict regulations and promoting the adoption of energy-efficient lighting solutions to minimise energy consumption and lower carbon emissions. LED lights offer a viable alternative to traditional lighting technologies due to their superior energy efficiency and lower environmental impact.

Another key driver for the LED lighting market is the growing adoption of smart lighting solutions. These systems enable users to control and customise their lighting preferences through remote access, automation, and advanced features like colour tuning and dimming. The integration of LED lights with smart lighting solutions not only enhances user experience but also contributes to energy savings and sustainability, fuelling the growth of the LED lighting market.

Smart lighting solutions not only offer greater energy savings but also enhance user convenience, safety, and overall lighting experience. The growing demand for smart homes and smart cities has further propelled the demand for LED-based smart lighting solutions.

In the commercial and industrial sectors, LED lighting is increasingly being adopted for office spaces, retail outlets, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities, driven by the need to optimise energy usage and reduce operational costs. The LED lighting market is also benefiting from technological advancements and innovations in LED lighting design and manufacturing.

Jingcai Technology provides new Micro LED inspection solution

Jingcai Technology provides a series of inspection solutions including Micro LED, Micro OLED, FOPLP, TFT LCD, Touch Panel, electronic paper, OLED and other products, including Chip On Wafer/Carrier for the production process of Micro LED display.

The company’s newly developed series of Micro LED inspection and testing equipment are equipped with a new generation of high-speed embedded AI real-time inspection architecture. In terms of Chip On Wafer/Carrier grain inspection machines, they can handle huge orders of magnitude of die Defect detection and grain offset and rotation measurement after giant rotation.

To sum up, Jingcai Technology applies AI AOI real-time detection and measurement technology to Micro LED, Micro OLED, TFT LCD, Touch Panel, e-paper, OLED and other products, effectively avoiding the backflow of abnormal products, and can be faster, more accurate and more accurate. To better meet the needs of customers, while improving product quality and production efficiency.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth bets big on LED

Rivers Casino Portsmouth, an entertainment venue based in Portsmouth, Virginia, has unveiled an indoor and outdoor digital transformation featuring 10 Daktronics LED displays, according to a press release.

Indoor renovations included a 1.3mm LED video wall measuring 12.5-feet by 64-feet for betting information and sports broadcasts along with a 208-square-foot 2mm LED video wall providing a stage backdrop in live entertainment venue The Sound Bar. Outdoor displays included 10mm LED façade and ticker displays.

AUO is pioneering the mass production of the 1.39-inch Micro LED Smartwatch

At Touch Taiwan 2023, AUO and its ecosystem partners showcased a variety of modules, systems, and solutions ranging from LED chips, mass transfer technology, and packaging, highlighting its crucial milestone in the commercialization of Micro LED technology.

Since 2012, AUO has been investing in the technological developments of Micro LED, continuously cultivating its display technologies and manufacturing capabilities, and has launched a series of industry-leading, differentiated products for diverse applications in various fields.

Micro LED displays offer advantages including high brightness, high contrast, wide color gamut, wide viewing angle, and high reliability. Furthermore, 4K2K displays consist of millions of microscopic LEDs similar in size to butterfly scales. When combined with AUO's leading low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) active driving method, inorganic LED materials, and self-emitting features, they create near-perfect display quality with faster response times, longer lifespans, and ultra-high transparency.

Thousands of drivers sign petition calling for ban on 'blinding' vehicle headlights

The Soft Lights Foundation is calling for a ban on what it calls blinding headlights, circulating a petition that has more than 41,000 signatures.

The Soft Lights Foundation says another factor is LEDs. It says the intensity and color temperature distract drivers, causing accidents and illness, like migraines and more.

'We're very concerned about long term health of our eyes such as macular degeneration. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests and rates headlights for visibility and glare.'

The IIHS says recent research shows nighttime crash rates per mile are nearly 20% lower for vehicles with headlights rated good in its evaluation, compared with those rated poor. But it also says it sees improvement.

'Overall, even with all of those three things, think the amount of glare that an average vehicle is putting out is actually coming down over the past few years'.

Lighting contactor market APAC expected to grow to US$ 377.87 million by 2028

The lighting contactor market in APAC is expected to grow from US$ 217.40 million in 2022 to US$ 377.87 million by 2028. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.7% from 2022 to 2028.

The governments of countries all over the region are introducing various initiatives. For instance, the Australian government is encouraging citizens to replace halogen lights with LEDs.

According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the Government of Australia, if households replace 10 halogen bulbs with LEDs, they can save up to US$ 650 in 10 years on electricity bills.

Furthermore, the Government of India's 'Street Light National Programme (SLNP)' is the world's largest streetlight replacement program, under which over 1.3 million smart LED lights have been installed as of 2020. Such government initiatives will increase the installation of lights and, consequently, the demand for lighting contactors over the forecast period.

The presence of emerging economies and the rise in the uptake of advanced and sophisticated technologies is contributing to the overall growth of APAC. Australia, China, Japan, and India are the main contributors to the development of the lighting contactor. To implement technologically advanced solutions across different sectors in the country, rapid technological developments, digitalization of economies, and adequate government support contribute to the smooth evolution of these economies from the developing stage to the developed stage.

The integration of IoT enables the remote control of lighting fixtures using smartphones. Further, LEDs are integrated with healthy lighting technology to reduce heat and UV emissions. In medical facilities, healthy light technology is used to assist patients in relaxing during critical surgeries and speed up recovery.

Governments of a few Asian Pacific countries promote energy-efficient lighting solutions. The primary factors driving the APAC lighting contactors market are rising awareness about energy-efficient products such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), technological developments, and supporting government policies.

Volvo EX90 Electric SUV Will Feature Seoul Semiconductor’s SunLike LED Lighting

Seoul Semiconductor Co. has announced that the new Volvo EX90 Electric SUV will feature its SunLike LED lights. This is the first application of the SunLike technology with sun spectrum in production vehicles.

SunLike, developed and mass-produced by Seoul Semiconductor for the first time in the world, is a healthy light technology that replicates natural light, protecting the 24-hour biological cycle of a human body. For the past five years, Seoul Semiconductor carried out multiple clinical trials with Harvard University in the States, the University of Basel in Switzerland, and Seoul National University in Korea, confirming that the use of the solar spectrum, SunLike, can improve myopia Improvement, regenerate cells, improve memory, and replicate natural colors.

Not all lights are the same, and not all lightings are the same. The closer it is to natural light, the better it is. Light is a mass of particles with energy, so the longer our eyes are exposed to high levels of blue light with high energy, there is a greater chance of damaging our photoreceptor cells and developing myopia. This is why children in Asia who spend more time indoors than outdoors under natural light have a high prevalence of myopia.

According to the “Recovery From Form-Deprivation Myopia in Chicks Is Dependent Upon the Fullness and Correlated Color Temperature of the Light Spectrum(2020)” by SERI_Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), myopia can be improved by using SunLike.

Amaran 150c and 300c LED Lights, Light Dome Mini SE and Spotlight SE Introduced

Aputure just released the new amaran 150c with 150W and the 300c with 300W. Both point-source LED lights come with RGBWW color control, optical and soft light Bowens Mount, and integrated controls, and are available for preorder now.

The amaran 150c retails for $359, the 300c for $569, the Light Dome Mini SE for $69, and the amaran Spotlight SE for $335.

Signify climb European Patent Office worldwide rankings

Signify continued to extend its industry-leading IP portfolio with a record year for submissions in 2022, placing in the top 10 European-headquartered companies, first in the lighting industry, and climbing to 22nd worldwide in the European Patent Office (EPO) rankings.

The patents filed in 2022 reflect the company's long-term commitment to many dimensions of sustainability including horticultural lighting to protect food availability, circular production including 3D printing, and light that optimizes people's health and well-being.
 
Signify has expanded the impact of its innovations through its pioneering EnabLED licensing program. Through the program, more than 1,500 companies can now access over 5,000 of Signify's patents and incorporate leading energy-efficient LED technologies into their own products.

New Nichia Light Cluster Type L

Nichia has debuted Nichia Light Cluster Type L in the market, the strengths and features include the thinnest and light weight lighting fixtures, easy to be installed, and high quality of light without glare.
 
By super wide batwing directivity design, Nichia Light Cluster Type L can provide the thinnest lighting fixtures, which means one-third (1/3) thickness compared with the conventional one. Since the thinner fixture design can create the lighter weight fixture, it contributes to reduce not only on material of fixture itself, but also installation/holding material.

The way of installation for lighting fixture can be changed, too. Lightweight fixture needs just spring or magnetic support, and these kinds of installation can reduce installation time up to 50%. These advantages can contribute to sustainable society, in terms of save material and labor time. In addition, the super wide light distribution creates a soft light that envelops the entire space. That feature can support to design a comfortable ambient lighting.

The potential market applications include panel lights, linear fixtures, light walls, and artificial / indirect lighting in the buildings. Nichia Light Cluster Type L has already been installed in Japanese lighting markets and is available for the global lighting market segments.

Texas Tech to install new LED lights

As part of its continued football renovations, Texas Tech will install a new artificial playing surface to Jones AT&T Stadium beginning this summer as well as a new LED lighting system. Both projects were approved by the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents during its scheduled meeting this past February.  

Texas Tech last upgraded its playing surface with a FieldTurf product that was installed prior to the 2017 season. The two projects are estimated to cost roughly $2.2 million and will be funded through philanthropic gifts to the athletics department.

Texas Tech has already contracted the services of Hellas for its next playing surface, which will be its Matrix Helix® turf, the company's latest technology that has been installed recently at several NFL facilities, namely The Star in Frisco and AT&T Stadium (Dallas Cowboys), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Rams), Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders) and the University of Kansas Health System Training Complex of the Kansas City Chiefs.

ROHM’s New 4ch/6ch LED Drivers for LCD Backlights Contribute to Lower Power Consumption in Medium to Large Automotive Displays

ROHM Semiconductor announced new 4ch/6ch LED driver ICs (BD83A04EFV-M, BD83A14EFV-M, BD82A26MUF-M) designed for medium- to large-size automotive displays in car infotainment and instrument clusters.

In recent years, the continuing evolution of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and enhanced car infotainment functionality have led to the use of larger displays. Consequently, LED drivers for LCD backlights in automotive displays are required to provide high efficiency drive that improves rated output current while reducing power consumption. In addition, as flickering of automotive displays can lead to poor visibility and unsafe conditions, LED drivers must be capable of avoiding this issue.

Conventional LED drivers that consume relatively large amounts of power are susceptible to flickering during PWM dimming. In contrast, ROHM has developed LED drivers for LCD backlights that combine proprietary low power technology with seamless PWM dimming. This eliminates flickering when changing the display brightness from low to high.

These new products leverage proprietary low power consumption technology to reduce losses in LED driver current control circuits. The result is 20% lower overall IC power consumption compared to conventional products under typical conditions (80mA/ch LED circuit current, 12V power supply). This contributes to lower power consumption in medium- to large-size automotive displays where power consumption is an issue.

At the same time, all models are equipped with both DC and PWM dimming to meet a wide range of requirements. As there no longer exists a need to switch current feedback mode for low/high brightness change with ROHM’s original seamless PWM dimming technology, flickering that occurs with general PWM dimming is reduced, improving system reliability.

All new models products are equipped with both DC and PWM dimming for broad applicability. ROHM’s seamless PWM dimming enables smooth, flicker-free dimming from low to high brightness. View the product details here: BD83A04EFV-M, BD83A14EFV-M, BD82A26MUF-M

Guidehouse Insights Explores Opportunities for Lighting Manufacturers to Capitalize on Mercury-Containing Light Source Bans

A new report from Guidehouse Insights explores opportunities for lighting manufacturers to capitalize on bans on mercury-containing light sources, the challenges the lighting industry will encounter as new restrictions are implemented, and ways in which regulations concerning the sustainability of materials used in lighting products are likely to eventually affect LEDs.

Energy efficient lighting technologies have historically been exempted from many restrictions on hazardous substances, but bans on light sources containing mercury that are soon going into effect in some regions are likely to become widespread. According to a new report from Guidehouse Insights, though prohibitions on mercury-containing light sources will effectively ban multiple lighting technologies, users of the large global installed base of linear fluorescent lamps will be most affected, increasing demand for linear retrofit LED products.

Though current policy developments primarily target light sources that contain mercury, increased scrutiny of facets of sustainability beyond energy efficiency are likely to affect LED products in the future, according to the report.

Guidehouse Insights recommends lighting manufacturers and energy services companies offer a variety of inexpensive replacement options for the linear fluorescent installed base, governments prepare for mass disposal of fluorescent lamps, and the lighting industry proactively assess the sustainability of materials used in all products.

The report, Lighting Bans Will Predominantly Affect the Linear Lamp Market, analyzes opportunities for lighting manufacturers to capitalize on bans on mercury-containing light sources while easing the transition for reluctant customers. It describes the challenges the lighting industry and local communities are likely encounter as new restrictions are implemented, and considers the future trajectory of regulations concerning the sustainability of material used in lighting products. An executive summary of the report is available for free download on the Guidehouse Insights website.

NANLUX Evoke 900C Released, A Powerful 940W RGBLAC LED Fixture

Chinese lighting manufacturer NANLUX has just released its first full-color LED spotlight: the Evoke 900C. This 940W fixture features RGBLAC LED chips, can go from 1,800K to 20,000K, has multiple RGBW/HSI/XY/Gel color modes, and has an impressive output of 12,940 lux at 3m with a claimed CRI/TLCI over 96+.

The NANLUX brand focuses on high-output LED lights for professional filmmakers and content creators. With fixtures like the NANLUX Evoke 1200 and 1200B bi-color we reviewed, these lights are designed as alternatives to small HMIs.

JD Martin Selected to Represent DIALIGHT in Florida

DIALIGHT has named JD Martin as its manufacturers' representative in the Florida market, effective April 3, 2023.

Electrical customers in Florida can now work with the JD Martin team as their local resource for sales, service and support for the entire Dialight portfolio — over 40,000 total fixtures and accessories which are stocked, and ready to ship in 48 hours — for their industrial applications.

JD Martin also represents Dialight in the Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Louisiana, Mississippi markets. For more information, about Dialight fixtures and products visit www.dialight.com.

JD Martin Company is an electrical manufacturers' representative agency that sells and markets premier lines of electrical products to OEM and MRO contractors, and end-user markets through wholesale distribution. For more than 68 years, we have supported industries such as oil & gas, mining, steel, wastewater treatment, wind power generation and commercial construction.

Silanna UV Presents High Power 235nm far UVC LEDs Using New SPSL Technology

New technology that pushes the boundaries of far UVC LEDs to emit at shorter wavelengths, at higher power, and with longer lifetimes, will be presented by Silanna UV at the International Conference on UV LED Technologies & Applications (ICULTA) in Berlin, Germany from April 23 to 26, 2023.

This UVC LED technology from Silanna UV offers huge advantages for applications as diverse as disinfection, water quality monitoring, gas sensing, liquid chromatography, and chemical and biological analysis.

Old-fashioned AlGaN-based far UVC LEDs in general suffer from poor carrier injection, low light emission and high drive voltage, due to the inherit limitations of high Al-content AlGaN.

Silanna's new short period superlattice (SPSL) far UVC LED structure helps overcome these issues. In a SPSL device, composed of repeating layers of AlN and GaN, the presence of GaN maintains the TE dominance of the emission as well as lowering the activation energy of donors, resulting in more efficient devices compared to LEDs made with the conventional AlGaN technology. Furthermore, the emission wavelength can be easily tuned using the thickness of the GaN well, a process that is significantly easier to control than tuning of Al composition in the barrier and well.

ams OSRAM completes the transaction to sell the Digital Systems business in Europe and Asia to Inventronics

ams OSRAM has closed the disposal of the Digital Systems business in Europe and Asia to Inventronics, a global supplier of LED drivers.

The Digital Systems business in Europe and Asia employs around 600 people and operates widely across a large number of European and Asian countries. Inventronics is a publicly traded company headquartered in Hangzhou, China.

Inventronics maintains global operations including manufacturing facilities in China, India and Mexico in addition to distribution centers in the US and the Netherlands. Sales offices in major markets around the world service customers in more than 100 countries.

With this closing all risks and benefits of the Digital Systems business in Europe and Asia have transferred to Inventronics. This closing represents the completion of the communicated planned divestitures following the acquisition of OSRAM. ams OSRAM will continue to focus on the high technology semiconductor business and its automotive and specialty lamps business. The announcement represents an important milestone as ams OSRAM implements its strategy to divest businesses that are not core to the company’s strategy and to focus on core technology areas in illumination, visualization, and sensing.

The total proceeds from these divestitures have increased to well above 550 million euro which is meaningfully higher than the initial expectation.

Aldo Kamper officially joins ams OSRAM as CEO

ams OSRAM announced that Aldo Kamper has become active in his role as CEO and Chairman of the Management Board at the company. He was appointed and announced in this role by the ams OSRAM Supervisory Board on 30 January 2023. Aldo Kamper has also been appointed CEO of ams OSRAM group subsidiary OSRAM Licht AG as of 1 April 2023.

With almost thirty years of experience, Kamper is a veteran of the semiconductor industry and a seasoned CEO. He joins the company from Leoni AG, where he was President and CEO of the Leoni Group. Aldo Kamper started his career with OSRAM, and after various roles including numerous management positions, he assumed the role of President and CEO of the Opto Semiconductors business unit. During his career he pioneered the development of microLED technology, dynamic forward lighting and LED performance roadmaps for new applications such as horticulture lighting.

As of today, Aldo Kamper also assumes the role of CEO of OSRAM Licht AG, which is a subsidiary of ams OSRAM Group. He succeeds Ingo Bank who will leave ams OSRAM at the end of April 2023.

Every street lamp in Wellington at risk of falling down

Residents in New Zealand’s capital urged to report ‘drooping’ lights as council starts work on fixing all 17,000 lamps, which weigh more than 11kg each.

Every single street lamp in New Zealand’s capital city is at risk of plunging without warning on to the footpaths below them.

Wellington city council announced on Wednesday afternoon that all of its street lamps were suffering from the same fault, and urged 'anyone who sees a drooping light' to report it.

Toyoda Gosei develops LED Shadow Illumination for vehicle interiors

Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. has developed an LED lamp unit that projects patterns in vehicle interiors using shadow. This product will be used on the new Lexus RZ battery electric vehicle from Toyota Motor.

A plate with delicate decorative patterns is built into the LED lamp unit that was mainly used in the interior lighting. This projects an attractive ornamental design on the door interior to present a fresh impression at night, as if the vehicle interior had been given a makeover. Toyoda Gosei’s optical technology prevents passenger shadows by projecting light diagonally from the front, while at the same time the pattern is vividly projected even at sites separated from the light source.

The newly-developed illumination product can provide different light colors and pattern variations. Different appearances are also expressed depending on the interior materials, which will contribute to diversity of interior design suitable to vehicle grade.

Global phototherapy market was valued at USD 389.5 million

In 2021, the global phototherapy market was valued at USD 389.5 million, with an estimated revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% during the forecast period.

The market growth is being driven by the increasing adoption of LED-based phototherapy, greater awareness of skin diseases, and the introduction of advanced phototherapy equipment.

Phototherapy, also known as light therapy, uses Ultraviolet (UV) light to promote healing. It is widely used around the world to treat chronic skin conditions, such as eczema, vitiligo, and severe psoriasis. Unlike other medical treatments, which may have a general impact on the immune system, UV radiation can target the local immune system of the skin. Phototherapy can also delay the development of thick, scaly skin in conditions such as psoriasis, and increase the activation of melanocytes, which produce skin pigmentation. It is a preferred treatment option for those who prefer natural therapies, want to avoid steroids, or have more control over their treatment.

Phototherapy is an effective therapeutic treatment for many dermatological conditions and has a significant impact on their management. Non-ionizing radiation from the UV region of the electromagnetic spectrum is carefully administered to the skin, using a variety of techniques, such as Ultraviolet A (UVA), Ultraviolet A-1 (UVA-1), Psoralen-Ultraviolet A (PUVA), and Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, including Narrowband Ultraviolet B phototherapy (NB-UVB) or Broadband Ultraviolet B (BB-UVB) therapy.

Recently, on 22 August 2022, Sewon NC, based in Korea, announced its plans to launch Organic Light-emitting Diode (OLED)-based phototherapy solutions for pain management and skin conditions. The flexible OLED optical patch, developed by KAIST, is less than 1 mm thick and can be easily fastened to the body. The patches have produced positive results in preclinical experiments, and Sewon aims to expand their use to treat various skin conditions, such as wrinkles, skin cancer, dementia, and other skin disorders.

The increasing adoption of LED-based treatments is a major driver of revenue growth in the global phototherapy market. Phototherapy utilizes light radiation to treat physical or mental ailments, with cells and tissues responding differently depending on the wavelength and therapeutic dosage of the light. One key benefit of LED-based phototherapy is the increase in collagen levels in the skin, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of aging. LED light therapy can also be used to treat acne, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, scarring, and sun damage.

Additionally, LED light therapy has an antimicrobial effect that can effectively kill various types of bacteria that contribute to breakouts by clogging pores and oil glands. In a study, LED phototherapy treatment improved acne in 77% of cases after five weeks. To drive further revenue growth of LED-based phototherapy, major companies are launching new and advanced technologies. For example, Elipsa, the latest LED light treatment from LightStim, seamlessly integrates with BeautyHealth's Syndeo next-generation HydraFacial system and is expected to experience exponential growth in 2022. The new LightStim Elipsa enhances treatment outcomes and the provider experience, and is now available for retail and business use in the United States, with plans for international expansion in partnership with Syndeo.

Mojo Vision Secures Series A Round for Development of Micro-LED Technology

Mojo Vision, a high-performance micro-LED company, announced a new Series A investment round led by New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) and Khosla Ventures.

This investment will propel the development and commercialization of its micro-LED display technology — a market forecasted to exceed $160 billion by 2026.

Mojo Vision’s micro-LED technology delivers a world-record pixel pitch of over 14,000ppi. Their High Performance Quantum Dot (HPQD) technology creates small, bright, and efficient RGB pixels. The design uses an advanced semiconductor manufacturing process to deliver ultra-bright and slim pixels, setting a new standard for display quality.

Philips Releases Ultinon Pro6000 LED H4 Bulbs

Philips announced the Ultinon Pro6000 LED H4 bulbs to illuminate the way for older motorcycle models.

Available in the X1 variant, the plug-and-play add-on fits into existing H4 plugs without mechanical or electrical changes.

Philips claims that the Ultinon Pro600 LEDs shine up to 230 percent brighter than their halogen counterparts. While the bulbs last for 3,000 hours each, registering the units with Lumileds yields a three-year warranty.

Federal ban on certain light bulbs coming soon

From Tuesday, Aug. 1, retailers will be banned from selling incandescent light bulbs in the United States, with regulators saying the move toward light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs will save consumers an estimated $3 billion annually on utility bills and will cut carbon emissions by 222 million metric tons over the next 30 years.

Under the new rules, incandescent and similar halogen light bulbs will be prohibited in favor of LED alternatives.

According to the most recent Residential Energy Consumption Survey, 47% of U.S. households use mostly or only LEDs.

Only 39% of households with incomes of $20,000 or less annually currently use LEDs.

Circadian Light Research Center Survey Confirms Harmful Health Effects of Blue-Enriched LED Light

The Circadian Light Research Center released the results of a consensus survey of 248 leading scientists, which confirms that human circadian clocks are highly sensitive to blue wavelengths, and exposure to insufficient daytime blue-rich light and excessive blue-rich light at night, leads to many major health disorders.

Lead author Martin Moore-Ede, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Circadian Light Research Center and a former professor at Harvard Medical School, said, "Fewer than 0.5% of lights sold today protect circadian health by altering their blue content across day and night. Many people in the lighting industry claim that the circadian science is not sufficiently mature to incorporate into lights. So, we asked the leading scientists who work on circadian rhythms and light whether they agreed."

The study titled Lights Should Support Circadian Rhythms: Evidence-Based Scientific Consensus was published online on Research Square, a preprint server, and submitted for peer-reviewed journal publication. It reports there was a scientific consensus on the following:

Robust circadian rhythms are essential for maintaining good health
Disrupting circadian rhythms can cause ill health.
Repetitive and prolonged exposure to light at night bright enough to cause circadian disruption increases the risk of breast cancer in women, increases the risk of obesity and diabetes and increases the risk of sleep disorders
There was also Consensus about the key role of the blue wavelengths in white light:
The most potent wavelengths for circadian entrainment are 460-495 nm blue light near the sensitivity peak of the ipRGC melanopic receptors
Blue-enriched light in the evening (during the three hours before bedtime) disrupts nocturnal sleep, phase shifts the circadian system and disrupts circadian rhythms
The blue content of light entering the eyes is much more important in determining circadian health outcomes than the correlated color temperature (CCT) of the light source.
The scientists also agreed that:
There is now sufficient evidence to support the widespread introduction of circadian lighting that adjusts light intensity and blue content across day and night to maintain robust circadian entrainment and health
Light used in the evening (during the three hours before bedtime) should have as little blue content as practically possible
LED lights with high 460-495nm blue content should carry the warning label "may be harmful if used at night"
Increasing lights' energy efficiency is desirable, but not if it increases the risks of causing circadian disruption and serious illness.
Professor Sean Cain of Monash University in Australia, an author of the study, said: "Exposure to blue-enriched LED light in the evening and night hours raises significant health issues because the human circadian system is highly sensitive to blue light near the 480 nm peak sensitivity of the melanopic intrinsically-photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in the human retina. Even small amounts of blue content in white LED light during nocturnal hours can cause circadian disruption and increase the risk of health disorders."

6200 new LED lights for Sky Stadium will save energy and money

More than 6,000 energy efficient lights are to be installed at Sky Stadium after a grant application was partially approved at today’s Council meeting.

The Wellington Regional Stadium Trust will receive $750,000 to partly fund the purchase and installation of 6,200 LED lights, an essential step in its Energy Transition Plan. The stadium, which is part owned by the regional council, will fund the balance of the work.

Greater Wellington Climate Committee Chair and Stadium Trustee Penny Gaylor says the lighting project will help the council reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

TCL Takes the Top 2 TV Brand Spot Globally by Making Mini LED Technology Accessible to Millions

TCL, a global top 2 TV brand and top 1 98-inch TV brand, recently claimed the second-place spot for TV market share in terms of shipment volume, thanks advancements in its Mini LED technology and its vision that bigger does really mean better when it comes to screen size.

According to the latest data, TCL's TV business has seen a 75.7% growth in 65+ inch sales year-on-year, accumulating in the brand rising up the ranks as it continues to make its innovative technology available to the masses.

Realizing the potential of Mini LED technology, in 2019, TCL launched the world's first Mini LED TV to achieved mass production. TCL's consumers responded to the advantages of Mini LED technology–thanks to the increase in local dimming zones, producing greater brightness levels than ever before, for better contrast, color and clarity and overall enhanced picture quality. Through its strong brand influence and global channel advantages, TCL's proportion of sales continues to increase with shipments of its Mini LED TVs rising by an impressive 26.8% in 2022.

IKEA and Little Sun launch SAMMANLÄNKAD exploring light sources powered by the sun

IKEA and social business Little Sun have teamed up to explore how design can spark conversation about the use of solar energy in everyday objects. The result is SAMMANLÄNKAD, consisting of two solar-powered LED lamps for capturing energy and creating light, launching in selected IKEA markets in April 2023.

Together with Little Sun, IKEA set out to explore how home furnishing design can make more people curious about solar energy. The result of the collaboration is SAMMANLÄNKAD: two sun-powered LED lamps designed to awaken interest in how the sun can power everyday objects and raise awareness for the need for alternative energy solutions today.

Founded by world-renowned artist Olafur Eliasson and engineer Frederik Ottesen, Little Sun is an organisation dedicated to giving more people access to solar energy in communities without regular access to electricity, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa. The collaboration between Little Sun and IKEA makes the power of the sun tangible in beautiful and purposeful design objects. SAMMANLÄNKAD is designed to make people experience solar energy in a life at home context, spotlighting its potential as an alternative source of energy to power everyday objects.

The smaller portable lamp offers practicality for outdoor settings. Coming with a yellow strap, it can be held and hung on a window or backpack during daylight hours for charging. Both lamps are equipped with solar panels and rechargeable batteries. The table lamp can also be charged through an outlet using its USB-A and USB-C ports, when not charged by the sun. With fully charged batteries, the lamp’s battery can also be used to boost the battery of your mobile phone.

Researchers Highlight the Design of Meta-Display Technology Using Micro-LEDs

For the first time, the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, an institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT, has invented a new stretchable meta-display technology that can be extended up to 25% without image degradation.

The research group has produced a distortion-free stretchable meta-display during uniaxial stretching, and their results were published in the peer-reviewed journal Advanced Functional Materials

When flexible materials in nature, such as rubber, are stretched longitudinally, they typically decrease in breadth, causing picture distortion. To date, this was also true in situations of rubber-based stretchable displays.

On a circuit board, the KIMM research team used mechanical metamaterials with a negative Poisson ratio. When a material is stretched lengthwise, the Poisson’s ratio describes how much it decreases in breadth. Stretching a mechanical metamaterial with a Poisson’s ratio of -1 lengthwise has the same effect as stretching at the same ratio widthwise. As a result, pictures on a display made with such materials are not distorted.

The team combined mechanical metamaterial designs and manufacturing technology with the world’s biggest large-area micro-LED roll transfer technology to create this breakthrough meta-display manufacturing method. The study team wants to do follow-up research on micro-LED displays for ultra-realistic metaverses based on the positive outcomes of this project.

In addition, the team has formed research institution spin-off companies, YTS Micro-Tech and MCK-Tech, to encourage the practical use of these innovative technologies in response to the burgeoning mini-LED and graphene sectors.

LG Display Borrows from LG Electronics to increase OLED Competitiveness

LG Display announced that it would borrow 1 trillion won (US$771 million) from LG Electronics to sharpen its OLED business competitiveness and preemptively secure operating funds. The borrowing period is three years, from March 30 2023 to March 30, 2026. Its interest rate is 6.06 percent per annum. It is a borrowing payable in one year with a two-year grace period.

As of the end of 2022, LG Display’s cash and cash equivalents amounted to 1.8246 trillion won (US$1.4064 billion). Nevertheless, it received the preemptive loan in order to boost its competitiveness in the global OLED industry, where the display giant is taking the lead, and lay the foundation for stable operations and the future growth of the OLED business.

LG Display plans to steadily expand its share in the premium TV market in which it has unrivaled competitiveness based on strong financial soundness in the future. It will employ a strategy to secure growth engines by strengthening product competitiveness with technologies with super-wide gaps with its followers, such as META technology, and accelerating new market-creating businesses such as transparent and gaming OLED panels.

In the small and medium-sized OLED sector, LG Display has decided to further strengthen its competitiveness in the automotive display business by using differentiated technologies such as second-generation tandem OLED panels for vehicles, which began volume production this year.

Meanwhile, while economic uncertainties still linger, companies are expanding financial cooperation with affiliates of their parent business groups to increase business capabilities and promote stable operations.

In February, Samsung Electronics borrowed 20 trillion won (US$15 billion) from its subsidiary Samsung Display for the purpose of securing operating funds. This was because, in a situation where the semiconductor industry is deteriorating, the Korean semiconductor giant wanted to secure funds to prepare for future demand and proceed with technology investment without a hitch.

Groundbreaking year for lighting innovation sees Signify climb European Patent Office worldwide rankings

Signify continued to extend its industry-leading IP portfolio with a record year for submissions in 2022, placing in the top 10 European-headquartered companies, first in the lighting industry, and climbing to 22nd worldwide in the European Patent Office (EPO) rankings.

Signify's patent applications break new ground in sustainable innovations, including energy-efficient light sources and smart lighting systems for professionals, consumers, and municipalities. The patents filed in 2022 reflect the company's long-term commitment to many dimensions of sustainability including horticultural lighting to protect food availability, circular production including 3D printing, and light that optimizes people's health and well-being.

Signify has expanded the impact of its innovations through its pioneering EnabLED licensing program. Through the program, more than 1,500 companies can now access over 5,000 of Signify's patents and incorporate leading energy-efficient LED technologies into their own products.

Grow Lights Market worth $7.2 billion by 2028

The global grow lights market was valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 7.2 billion by 2028; registering a CAGR of 30.7% during the forecast period according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The rise in demand for grow lights solutions is attributed to Increased investments in establishing vertical farms and greenhouses and associated advanced technologies.

The hardware segment held the major market share of ~84% of the grow lights market in 2028.  The grow light system comprises hardware components, namely, bulbs and fixtures, metal reflectors, reflective films, and ballasts. Reflectors play a crucial role in the distribution of a sufficient amount of light to all the plants. Reflectors maximize the efficiency of lights reaching the plants in indoor horticulture. They also help maintain the light at a reasonable level and keep it away from getting excessively hot or cold. Ballasts refer to electronic devices that are required to power high-intensity grow lights. The basic functions of ballasts are to start the lamp and control its operations.

The >300 Watt segment accounted for the largest market share of ~80% in 2028. The >300W grow lights are ideally good for different types of grow rooms, particularly the ones that need specific care and more focused light on the plants without causing a risk of overheating inside the tent. >300-watt grow lights offer a full-spectrum light, which is safe for all stages of growing plants. These lighting fixtures cover an area of about 4×4 sq. mts. and a height of about 6.5 feet. The wide array of light helps stimulate photosynthesis. The intensity remains constant, thereby facilitating the rapid growth of plants. They come with high-quality fans and aluminum heat sinks, which ensure efficient heat dissipation and extended life.

Vertical farms segment accounted for the largest share of ~49% of the grow lights market, by application, in 2028. Vertical farming is changing the outlook of food production. The increased use of LED grow lights is encouraging cultivators to adopt vertical farming on a large scale. Vertical farming generally requires more lights, which creates more heat in closed rooms. In vertical farming, plants are stacked in layers one above the other, utilizing maximum available space. High-quality, locally developed food free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals is highly in demand from consumers. Many places in the world are facing space constraints owing to the said concerns, and the food prices are also high at these places. However, with the use of vertical farming methods, the yield can be produced even in a square-foot area. It helps in harvesting a variety of crops for the entire year despite the changing climatic conditions. At many places around the world, a single layer of farming is done under the sunlight, whereas in vertical farming, a stack of crops can be developed in the same amount of space under artificial lighting, along with efficient water usage. LED grow light systems have become quite popular for vertical farming as they have a compact fixture design, can be waterproof, and require minimum maintenance.

LiFi (Light Fidelity) Market to grow at a CAGR of 64.84% from 2022 to 2027

The global LiFi (light fidelity) market size is estimated to increase by USD 7,325.58 million from 2022 to 2027. The market's growth momentum will progress at a CAGR of 64.84% during the forecast period. The increase in end-user applications is the leading trend in the global light fidelity market growth. Numerous sectors benefit from using light-fidelity systems.

Additionally, LiFi also ensures a shift from RF communication in industrial sectors such as mining, oil and gas, and petrochemicals to eliminate any problem related to safety. The Walt Disney Company also plans to use these systems for communicating with toys. Thus, these applications will ensure the rapid adoption of LiFi technology in the consumer electronics sector during the forecast period.

The global LiFi (light fidelity) market is fragmented with the presence of several global as well as regional vendors. A few prominent vendors that offer LiFi (light fidelity) in the market are Acuity Brands Inc., Fujitsu Ltd., General Electric Co., Global LiFi Tech, Koninklijke Philips NV, KYOCERA corp., LIFX, LightBee SL, Lucibel SA, Luciom, LumEfficient Lighting Corp., LVX System, nextLiFi, Oledcomm, pureLiFi Ltd., Signify NV, Velmenni, VLNComm Inc., Wipro Ltd., and Zero1 Pte Ltd. and others.

North America is estimated to contribute to 38% of the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The use of radiofrequency for WiFi has created a severe spectrum crunch in North America, which has led to a decline in the bandwidth offered, thus affecting high-speed communications. Hence, the new disruptive light fidelity (LiFi) technology is expected to take over the WiFi market in applications such as horticultural lighting, industrial and commercial, and marine lighting. Hence, the demand for faster and safer wireless communication in the region will likely drive the adoption of this technology in the region.