Energomera Corporation of Russia, owner of sapphire substrate manufacturer Monocrystal, has acquired Atlas PCF of Belgorodskaya obl, Russia. Like Monocrystal, Atlas also manufactures sapphire substrates for HB-LED and RFIC applications. Vladimir Polyakov, president and chairman of Energomera said, "The acquisition of Atlas gives rise to the largest synthetic sapphire crystal growing and processing company in the world in terms of production capacity. This is a part of our strategy to develop stronger presence in compound semiconductor market."

On April 4, 2008, Avago Technologies today announced its first 1-Watt (1W) high power Moonstone(TM) LED emitter for use in a variety of architectural, garden and decorative lighting applications. Available in one of the industry's thinnest packages, Avago's ASMT-Mx00 is an energy efficient LED emitter that's encapsulated in a heat and UV resistant silicone compound for high reliability and long life.

Sim2 Multimedia and Dolby unveiled here Monday evening one of the first prototype LCD TVs to employ LED backlighting driven by Dolby Labs' set of High Dynamic Range technologies for local dimming control.Representatives from Sim2 USA and parent Sim2 Multimedia present the first prototype of a Sim2 LED-back-lit LCD TV using Dolby's High Dynamic Range (HDR) local dimming technology to produce deep black levels and high brightness. From right: Sim2 USA's Giorgio Corazza and Charlie Boornazian and Sim2 Multimedia's Domenico Toffoli and Marco Rampin.

Recently, Dolby and SIM2 shew off their LED Dynamic Backlight technology, which gives a TV extreme contrast. The 46-inch prototype shown in New York was an LCD panel with an LED backlight instead of a regular (CCFL) one. In fact, the set uses 1,838 LEDs to illuminate the picture, each individually controlled and able to dim in areas so black areas stay black (instead of dark gray, like on most other LCDs).

Multimode charge pump features low-noise constant-frequency operation, automatically optimising efficiency based on the voltages across the LED current sources.The LTC3220/-1 is an inductorless low-noise high-efficiency LED driver for cellphone displays and other programmable lighting applications. The Linear Technology IC provides 18 individually configurable LED current sources for complete flexibility in programming multiple displays. The display currents are set via a precision internal current reference.

Taiwan-based maker of backlight units (BLUs) for use in small- to medium-size panels, Shianyih Electronics, expects to increase its shipments of LED BLUs from 1.3 billion units in 2006 to 1.51 billion units in 2008, and the company has already received orders of LED BLUs for use in 2.5- and 3.5-inch backlights for car mirror applications this year.

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) and SIM2 Multimedia are proud to showcase a new prototype high-dynamic-range (HDR)–enabled LCD flat-screen display using Dolby’s new light emitting diodes (LED) local dimming technology. Dolby’s HDR technologies utilize the capabilities of LED-based backlight units (BLUs) to provide outstanding contrast combined with crisp brightness to deliver picture quality that matches real-world visual perception of depth, detail, and color.

LED International Holdings Ltd. reported a much lower first-half pretax profit, as the company did not take up certain 'high-margin' orders due to the consolidation and moving of its key production plants in Shenzhen, China.The LED screen maker posted a pretax profit of about HK$2.62 million for the six months to Dec. 31, 2007, compared with about HK$13.68 million in 2006, on revenues of about HK$46.61 million, down from HK$55.48 million.

LUXEON power LEDs from Philips Lumileds are poised to rapidly increase their presence in front-of-vehicle applications with expected European Union regulations mandating daytime running lamps (DRLs) on new cars beginning in 2011. One of the major factors driving LUXEON use will be the dramatic reduction in DRL power consumption (Watts), (on the order of 80%), made possible by energy-efficient LUXEON technology.

Light- emitting diodes (LED) and Adaptive Lighting Controls - the next generation of lighting technology showcased at LEDisovery event in Toronto 

ilumisys, Inc. today announced it will begin work with the State of Michigan to provide light-emitting diode (LED) replacement lighting for fluorescent tubes and collect research data in the state's Escanaba office building.

MIC Electronics, a player in Light Emitting Diode (LED) display systems has received an order and license from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for installation and maintenance of 25 full colour day and night LED Video display boards at 8 metro stations of line-3.The installation is worth Rs 45 crore and will be implemented over the next six months. These LED displays will be networked and controlled from a single location and are first of its kind for Indian Railways.

Neo-Neon International, a Hong Kong-based company that uses LED systems for neon light replacement, reportly introduced its next generation Neon-Flex product line. The company says its Neon-Flex Plus model exceeds the lumen performance of glass neon lights. Neon-Flex is offered its three levels of high performance -economical, standard, and the new LED Neon-Flex Plus.

Michael Hayden and Lighting Science Group (LSG) unveiled the nature-inspired lighting installation crowning the New U.S. Bank Tower in Sacramento, California Michael Hayden, an artist known for light sculptures, revealed the latest product of his creative vision atop the building located at 621 Capital Mall.

According to industry sources in Taiwan, Demand for LED backlighting used in small-and-medium-size panels for applications such as low-cost PCs and digital photo frames are expected to increase by 20-30% in 2008.

Lightscape Technologies Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: LTSC), a provider of large scale LED screens and installations, LED lighting design solutions, and advanced lighting products, today announced that it has commenced an LED installation project with the flagship retail outlet of PCCW Limited in Hong Kong.

O2Micro International Limited, a leading supplier of innovative power management products is pleased to announce that several of the top-tier notebook computer manufacturers have chosen O2Micro's LED Backlight drivers for their high-end models.

Japan's National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS) announced that it successfully prototyped a white LED composed of red and green phosphors and a blue LED chip. By arbitrarily changing the ratio of red, green and blue components, a light source can be designed in accordance with the color characteristics, etc required for a color filter. Used for an LCD panel backlight source, the white LED exhibited a color gamut of 91% of NTSC in the simulation.

Mar. 25, 2008 - Intel's decision to locate a 300mm fab in Dalian, China, has spurred interest in the area for other industries, including LED makers from Taiwan, with Epistar and Everlight Electronics considering building a joint facility there, according to the Taiwan Economic News.

Big Beam Emergency Systems announced their newest addition, the world's first low bay LED emergency light, the LBE series. The LBE series is great for warehouses, industrial, and retail applications where the typical mounting height is 15-25 feet.

Nexxus Lighting has introduced what it claims is the industry's first LED floodlight for general illumination that operates directly from line voltage.  The SV Lighting business unit of Nexxus Lighting has introduced what it describes as the industry’s first LED floodlight for general illumination that operates on direct line voltage, without the need for an internal or external power supply.  

US International Trade Commission institutes Section 337 investigation on certain short-wavelength LEDs, laser diodes and products containing same.

Bright LED Electronics is sampling its LED street lamps with customers in Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Vietnam, and the company expects to receive orders in the second quarter of this year.Bright LED expects to receive orders of 1,000 LED street lamps with a 30~100lm/W light efficiency from Thailand in the second quarter, and the company expects to receive orders for about 10,000 units to Thailand overall.

DDP, a leader in engineered LED solutions, has developed a low-profile LED light source that provides task lighting in a surgical fluid and blanket warmer designed to keep these materials at a consistent temperature. Engineered to withstand a maximum ambient temperature of 200°F, DDP's LED assembly reduces the fluid warmer's power consumption and enables better thermal control by eliminating problematic temperature spikes, caused by excess heat from the halogen bulb.

Linear Technology announces the LTC3524, an integrated BIAS and white LED power converter solution for small to medium sized (3" to 7") thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD) panels. The device operates from an input voltage range of 2.5V to 6V, enabling it to accommodate multicell alkaline/NiMH batteries as well as single cell Li-Ion. Each low noise output of the TFT converter is fully adjustable enabling it to power a wide array of LCD panels.

LEDtronics® announces its latest solar-powered LED safety light for outdoor evening activities, such as bicycling, walking, jogging and inline skating. Now any outdoorsman can carry an extra measure of security into the backcountry or when battling for a spot on the concrete jungle, with a new compact and lightweight Flashing LED Solar-Powered Safety Bike Light.

The world's first energy saving full LED headlamp has just won its developers a "red dot" award. Developed by Automotive Lighting Reutlingen for the Audi R8, the lamp includes 24 closely spaced white LEDs with a colour temperature of about 6000 deg K, close to the quality of daylight. The LEDs are used to realise all the lighting functions: low beam, high beam, turn signal, daytime running light and position light.

DOMINANT is now offering a new series of miniature SMD LED. These Mini DomiLED devices are designed to provide compact, high-power solutions for automotive and industrial applications. Devices are available in complete color portfolio, typical wavelengths ranges from 470nm to 632nm, providing exceptionally bright illumination at 20mA. Mini DomiLED chips options include AlInGaP, InGaN and InGaN White technology that offered up to 1125mcd.

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) has begun an investigation into a list of companies that reads like a Who's Who in the modern electronics industry. At issue is whether or not the companies in question have infringed upon a series of patents held by Dr. Gertrude Neumark Rothschild.

Watchfire Signs,  the most reliable LED sign manufacturer in the business with unique loyalty to its sign company customers, will unveil to the industry its new 16mm color LED sign with XVS video capability offered as a standard feature at the International Sign Expo, March 27-29, in Orlando, Fla. The new sign will be displayed at the Watchfire booth #1614.