Endicott Research Group (ERG) has released two high-efficiency, low-profile Smart Force LED driver boards as standard products for a wide range of industrial and medical LCDs. The SFDE (Economical) and SFDM (Mini) series provide full function power supplies with optimum power for high brightness as well as lower power consumption and lower cost in a compact size.

Santa Clara, Calif. & Duesseldorf, Germany—NEC Electronics America Inc. and NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH introduced an microcontroller (MCU), part number uPD78F8024, with a constant high-current driver (HCD). The HCD/LED MCU can be used in lighting applications that use more than one LED, in industrial control applications featuring stepping motor and solenoid drives, and in switching-mode power supplies. The uPD78F8024 has been developed in collaboration with LED solutions supplier Future Lighting Solutions (a division of Future Electronics).

Physicists at the University of St. Andrews (Fife, Scotland) have developed a laser with a variety of colors that is powered by a simple, low-cost light-emitting diode (LED). This compact visible laser can be created at a fraction of the cost of existing technologies and used for a wide range of applications, from medical treatment to light-emitting clothing.

New Product Introduction: SL-42 — reduced depth in-ground aimable pedestrian-level landscape lighting fixtures, with LED. Design: ALLSCAPE In-House Product Design Team. Manufacturer: ALLSCAPE, a Philips group brand.

The new CERAMOS™ Reflector LED from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors provides unprecedented high brightness and power in a very small package, the ideal solution for backlighting mid-size (5”-20”) LCDs. Specifically designed for light guide-based backlighting of displays in high ambient light conditions, such as those found in today’s TFT displays, automotive dashboards and aircraft cockpits, the slim profile of the CERAMOS™ Reflector LED is well suited for in-coupling into light guides as thin as 2 mm.

This lightweight furniture by Meritalia is so light you can pick it up with one hand, and so light that you can probably read by it.

LEDtronics® announces Flame Tip LED Chandelier Bulbs that offer beautiful lighting in many versatile applications. The DEC02-B11E25 series LED bulb comes in a flame-tip-shaped, UV-protected plastic lens covering that allows the LEDs to shine in multiple directions (three dimensions) while still being protected from the environment.

Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has completed the lighting renovation at the Oaks Country Club tennis facility in Sarasota, Fla. The renovation required that Sunovia replace the existing incandescent light fixtures at the facility with Sunovia's proprietary LED light fixtures, sold under the brand name EvoLucia(TM). As a result of the renovation, the Oaks facility is now using less than 19 percent of the energy that was being consumed by the incandescent light fixtures and has reduced its carbon emissions by more than 81 percent at the facility.

Another day, another ultra-slim LCD TV. Right now it's AUO's turn to release a super-skinny panel, and their 42-inch TFT-LCD measures in at just 9.98mm deep. It also weighs significantly less than rivals - 44-percent less, according to AUO - and uses LED backlighting to reduce power consumption and make construction more straightforward.

Leadis Technology, Inc., an analog and mixed-signal semiconductor developer of color display drivers, power management ICs, LED drivers, and audio ICs for mobile consumer electronic devices, today announced sample availability of the LDS6000 and LDS6020, the first two products in a new family of low power controllers designed for capacitive touch applications. Targeted at both mobile and non-mobile applications, the devices support a variety of touch input types including buttons, sliders, and scroll wheels.

It’s reported that Taiwan-based LED maker Wanstar Technology has announced the company will start shipping its newly developed LED street lights to a US-based lighting company and expects to complete 16,000 units before February of 2009. Wanstar's new LED street light features a heatsink cover, which can maintain the light's temperature at around 50-degrees Fahrenheit in an average environment temperature of 68-degrees Fahrenheit.

Taiwan's AU Optronics Corp (2409.TW), the world's third-largest LCD maker, said on Friday its board has approved a plan to set up a T$1.5 billion ($50 million) company making light emitting diode (LED) backlights for displays. The move aims to help the company secure supplies of LED backlights, a key component for thin liquid crystal displays, the company said in a statement to the Taiwan Stock Exchange. It gave no timetable or other details.

Spas have now begun using LEDs as an effective tool in spa capsules. The Med Spa Clinic at Tunbridge Wells are claiming the world's first usage of LEDs in a whole capsule. I'm claiming them the creepiest.

Shares of Cree fell in after-hours trading Tuesday after the company released fiscal third quarter earnings and a fourth quarter outlook that failed to meet analysts projections. Durham-based Cree (Nadsaq: CREE), which sells products for light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, said net income was $5.7 million, or 6 cents a share, in the quarter.

Intersil Corporation, a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog semiconductors, today announced the release of the ISL78100, a High Power Integrated LED Driver designed for display backlighting and body electronics applications. The ISL78100 is designed specifically to withstand harsh automotive environments.

Bridgelux Inc., a supplier of LED technology for solid-state lighting founded in 2002, has announced that is it has raised $30 million in private equity investment and approximately $10 million of lines of credit with banks. The financing round was led by VentureTech Alliance, while existing investors DCM, El Dorado Ventures, VantagePoint, Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital and Harris & Harris Group participated with follow-on investments.

The lights are a little whiter and a little brighter in part of St. Paul as part of an experiment with LED streetlights. The city's environmental policy director, Anne Hunt, says it is experimenting with the new lights because they are greener, last longer and cheaper to operate. Paul is following Austin, Texas; Anchorage, Alaska and Ann Arbor, Michigan, in installing the lights. A few smaller Minnesota cities have also tried them.

LED-backlit LCD TVs, enabled by Dolby Laboratories' High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology, produce stunning pictures. Unclear, though, is how much consumers will have to pay for that kind of picture quality. "These products have been screaming to get out to a mass market," said Eric Haruki, research director for TV markets and technologies at IDC. But he cautioned that unless LED manufacturers can achieve the economies of scale and cut the cost of LEDs, "this could still remain a great white hope for awhile."

It's reported that St. Paul is trying to take on a whole new light. A block of St. Paul's Iowa Avenue, between Chatsworth and Milton Streets, is lit with light-emitting diode, or LED, streetlights. The lights are brighter and save on energy costs, but some worry about the lighting levels. The city is testing them to see whether they can cut energy use and maintenance costs.

Carmanah Technologies Corporation has received an order to supply solar-powered portable airfield lights for Bariven S.A. in Venezuela, a subsidiary of PDVSA. The order, valued at over $800,000 USD, will provide the tools to equip Venezuela's Carupano Airport with a stand-alone system of solar-powered LED (light emitting diode) aviation lights.

The World's Largest LED and Free-Hanging Chandelier will be illuminated by Meyda Lighting on Wednesday, April 2nd, at 6 PM, at the Stanley Center for the Arts in Utica, New York. Meyda Lighting, a Meyda Tiffany company and nation’s leading manufacturer of decorative lighting, recently installed the chandelier after nearly one year of planning and production in its manufacturing facilities.

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.

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.

Luminus Devices, a company that wants to change the lighting systems in digital TVs and in buildings, has raised $72 million in its latest round of funding.

Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc. a supplier of analog, mixed-signal and non-volatile memory semiconductors, has expanded its line of patented Quad-Mode fractional charge pump LED drivers with a new device optimized for portable products. The new CAT3637 addresses the requirements for high-efficiency and easy LED programming in these products, with 10 percent higher efficiency (compared to three-mode charge pumps) and a simple, 1-wire EZDim interface control.

533 series available from Aerospace & Defence Products is a 12.7mm mounting, professional LED panel indicator featuring a high intensity LED element in a range of colours. Internal circuitry includes a reverse protection diode as standard and operates over a wide voltage range. Termination is achieved by standard solder/crimp tags.

The HL-5060/K31C4-12-E linear LED light strip from Guangzhou Hongli Optoelectronic Co. Ltd features an IP67-rated water-resistant casing, flexible printed circuit boards (PCB) and self-adhesive backing.

It's reported that Leadis Technology Inc. is delivering samples of the LDS8845 and LDS8846, no-noise, highly efficient 4-channel white LED drivers targeting handsets and portable products that use lower-VF white LEDs and lower-cost TFT-LCD modules.

Martin Schubert, a doctoral student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., has won the $30,000 Lemelson-Rensselaer Prize for his work on light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. Schubert developed a new, polarized type of LED that could allow their widespread use as light sources for liquid-crystal displays in televisions, computers, cell phones and other devices.

423 series from Aerospace & Defence Products is a 9.5mm panel socket mounting LED indicator. The precision black moulded housing greatly emphasises the mechanical stability and supports the high intensity LED element in a range of colours and voltages. 423 series indicator has been fitted with a coloured diffused dome fresnel lens assembly to provide good wide angle viewing. Smoked and water clear lens options are also available.