As Micro LED still encounters certain technical bottlenecks, some companies are currently focusing on the transition technology Mini LED instead. The squad proactively developing Mini LED applications includes panel giants (Innolux and AUO), LED chip makers (Epistar and Lextar), and LED packaging firms (EVERLIGHT, AOT, and Harvatek).

illumiPure Corp. and WeedMD have entered into a Joint Proof of Concept (PoC) Agreement to assess the tools and techniques of illumiPure's high-quality LED horticulture lighting system. The intent of the PoC is to document the improvements in quality of WeedMD's cannabis product while reducing electricity usage and maintenance costs. The project will record data points and crop characteristics developed throughout the grow cycle while utilizing the illumiPure LED broadband spectrum system.

Montreal's LumiPure Inc. announces the beginning of a long-term agreement with illumiPure Corp. for the distribution of their sophisticated LED lighting products within Canada. This partnership will make it possible for businesses and consumers alike to gain access to Illumipure's advanced LED technology within the Canadian market.

According to media reports, Huawei, OPPO and Xiaomi are worried about insufficient OLED panel production, so they plan to use Mini LED-lit LCD displays for their smartphones in 2H18. Despite the fact that this rumor is not confirmed yet, the LED supply chain already pins its hope on Mini LED.

Optovate has revealed further details of its innovative micro-LED technology, following its first technology announcement in March 2018. Optovate has since 2008 been developing catadioptric micro-optic arrays to enhance the benefits of micro-LED, mini-LED and OLED displays and also a patterned laser lift-off (p-LLO) micro-LED transfer process.

In addition to our witness of the raid at Light and Building 2018, LEDinside also learnt a low-key move from Epistar, who according to sources had reached out to dozens of exhibitors on-site regarding Epistar’s intellectual property rights.

Cree, Inc. Announces 2018 Third Quarter Earnings Release Webcast

Leyard and Planar, a solution provider of LED digital displays, announced the intent to acquire eyevis, a manufacturer of visual display solutions.

Pixelligent, a manufacturer of high-index advanced materials, announces $7.6M in new funding to help further drive product commercialization and accelerate global customer adoption.

The oversupply in the LED chip market continues in 2018. The market demand is estimated to recuperate in the second quarter; however, it will still need new technologies such as Mini LED to ease the oversupply, according to Biing-Jye Lee, Chairman of Epistar

Philips Lighting unveiled its new Philips GreenPower LED toplighting with a light spectrum optimized for cut rose cultivation at an event of the Philips Rose Expertise Group. The new GreenPower LED toplighting with cut rose spectrum allows growers to increase light levels year-round without increasing heat. During extensive trials undertaken by research institutes Delphy and Wageningen University, and monitored by experienced rose growers, the new lighting with cut rose spectrum improves the quality of the roses and is 40% more energy efficient compared to high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting.

With today’s technology, every homeowner wants the best appliances, and gadgets. But, in a world where being on-the-go meets being environmentally-friendly, we often have to think about new ways to update our house. Whether it’s finding ways to save water, going green with our lighting, wireless communication, or other issues, today’s smart homes have a lot more to offer than you think.

The sentiment is heating up in the high-end TV market as more rumors about Korean suppliers’ next-generation TVs came out. By the end of 2018, Samsung Electronics will release new-generation Micro LED TVs and the price could be as high as USD 300,000. Also, LG Electronics will start the global distribution of its new OLED TVs featuring its own AI platform DeepThinQ.

Current, powered by GE has announced a new energy efficiency program with Morgan Stanley. The companies are collaborating to evaluate energy savings opportunities across more than 600 Morgan Stanley retail branches with a turnkey LED lighting and digital controls solution that will reduce lighting-related energy consumption by up to 50 percent in some branches, plus improve operational productivity and enhance the customer experience. 

Currently in the industry, on one hand, Apple has been very active in developing Micro LED; on the other, display makers AU Optronics (AUO) and Innolux just announced to roll out Mini LED applications by the end of 2018.

Taiwan LED manufacturers recently announce their first-quarter revenues. The revenues of Epistar and Lextar both declined more than 10% YoY. In 2H18, these two companies will launch new Mini LED products, which might help increase their revenues.

Smart lighting is playing a pivotal role in unlocking the power of the IoT and smart building applications beyond lighting. An intelligent, sensor-laden lighting system can form the central nervous system of a building, enabling smart lighting and other current and future IoT applications.

Cree, Inc. announces that it signed a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing patent license agreement with Nexperia BV, a Dutch company.

UV LED solution provider Phoseon Technology has announced its continued business expansion and growth plan.

Taiwan-based auto lamp modules and components manufacturer Excellence Optoelectronics (EOI) on April 10 announced to go public on the Taiwan Stock Exchange on May 9.

Ultravision International, a manufacturer and distributor of LED displays and LED lighting, has filed a patent infringement complaint at the United States International Trade Commission (USITC), seeking remedial orders barring 37 companies from importing, selling and distributing infringing LED display products in the United States.

Lite-On Reports Steady Growth in LED Related Businesses, While AUO Monthly Panel Shipments Increase.

Taiwanese LED chip packaging company EVERLIGHT Electronics on April 9 announced that it has won a patent infringement lawsuit against Seoul Semiconductor in South Korea.

The Trump administration on April 4, 2018 published a list of 1300 Chinese exports and proposed to apply a 25% tariff on these products. However, the proposal would have limited impact on LED companies in China and Taiwan, according to LEDinside.

LEDVANCE, one of the world's leading general lighting providers for professional users and end consumers, is now 100 percent owned by the leading Chinese LED lighting company MLS. MLS has taken over the full ownership of LEDVANCE by means of a share deal with the strategic investor IDG Capital and the financial investor Yiwu. As part of the deal, IDG Capital and Yiwu will become shareholders of MLS via a joint investment.

Over the past two years, Micro LED, regarded as the new generation display technology, has attracted a lot of attention. Seeing great potential in this new technology, a large number of manufacturers have scrambled for it. According to LEDinside’s latest report "1Q18 Micro LED Next-Generation Display Technology Market Report- 2018 Micro LED and Mini LED Industry Trend", the market value of Micro LED is expected to reach US $2.891 billion in 2025.

The technology companies Osram and Continental have successfully concluded their negotiations on the Osram Continental GmbH joint venture.

LG is reported to have filed applications to the EU for three trademarks related to Micro LED displays. The trademarks are XµLED, SµLED, and XLµLED, Gsmarena.com carried in a report.

The sales of iPhone X turned out to be less than market expectation, so Samsung has lowered the utilization rate of OLED production lines. The tight supply of OLED panels over the past two years has also been eased. According to WitsView, a division of TrendForce, Apple has initiated the trend of OLED panels, and it is estimated that the penetration rate of OLED panel in smartphones will reach 46% by 2021. Mini LED is overwhelmed by OLED’s technology maturity and competitive costs, so it might be hard for Mini LED to grow in the smartphone market in short term.

We have seen at the trade show major lighting brands announce their determination to transition away from LED lighting companies to software-oriented IoT Solution providers. Companies in the lighting industry admitted their profits have been affected by severe price wars in the market and have tried to develop new business opportunities. However, in comparison, LEDVANCE chooses to not only keep but even expand its focus on general lighting as a globally active, full-scale LED lighting company.