Major Japanese LED manufacturer Nichia has always been aggressive in deploying patent strategies and lawsuits. Since the company’s core YAG phosphor patent term will expire in 2017, the company has been deploying patent strategies in new materials, especially in Mn 4+ red phosphor powder to maintain a stronghold in LED patents.

Technologically, resin bond diamond wire produced by Tanlong Photoelectric (Tanlong) is not ready for cutting sapphire, commented the company during a meeting with investors on Feb. 17, 2014. Sapphire cutting is mainly done by electroplated diamond wire.

Just one day after Samsung released its new LED product portfolio for smartphone applications, the company will be packing one of these products into its new smartphone Galaxy S5, according to a CNET report.

Taiwanese manufacturers could soon see an increase in flip-chip shipments as Samsung begins to purchase LED flip-chips from Taiwanese manufacturers.

Philips, the global leader in lighting, continues to deliver on the company's commitment to making quality LED bulbs more affordable for consumers with its second generation 75-watt and 100-watt LED equivalent bulbs that are now ENERGY STAR certified. With utility rebates of up to US$ 10 per bulb, these latest additions to the industry's largest portfolio of ENERGY STAR certified products may be found on shelves for as little as US$ 9.97 and US$ 14.97 respectively. 

A year after GE Lighting acquired Boulder, Colorado-based Albeo Technologies, Inc., the company has seen such promise for growth that it’s moved the Colorado-based team to a larger site in nearby Longmont.The site at 1844 Nelson Road in Longmont is five times its former footprint in Boulder at approximately 174,000 square feet (3.99 acres), offering room to expand manufacturing operations for the company’s industrial LED fixtures in the future.

More and more American cities are being installed with LED light fixtures with embedded cameras and sensors. Newark airport is the latest among the long list of areas investing in surveillance technology in combination with LEDs. The newly installed LED fixtures are connected to a wireless surveillance system to provide safety for fliers and cut down on operating costs. Around 171 LED fixtures have been installed around the airport so far.

As Ultra High Definition (UHD) 4K2K TV continues to be a trendsetter in the market, TV manufacturers are hoping to develop high color gamut TV. Using quantum dot (QD) technology, Sony has successfully released high color gamut TV in 2013.  TV brands that have achieved technological breakthroughs with Mn 4+ red phosphor powder are also planning to stimulate market purchases with NTSC 100% high color gamut TV.

Swiss industrial design website Designerei GmbH has recently released a new concept design for the upcoming Apple iWatch. Although this is not the official Apple design, it can still be used to analyze possible developmental directions for the new technology used in the smart watch.

Chinese research institutes have been interviewing listed companies after the Chinese New Year to get a better picture of the 2014 “investment guide,” according to Chinese media Sina.com report. As the industry rebounds, investors are also following research institute’s lead of entering into specific manufacturing fields to explore opportunities and determine whether the industry will generate a new gold wave. 

During the second annual Honglitronic’s Board of Directors meeting on February 17th, the board approved the establishment of a new subsidiary in Shaoguan, China.

Whether walking on the streets or driving around the city, people are surrounded by outdoor LED displays. They are known as the fourth type of screen, after TVs, computers, and mobile phones. So what do outdoor LED displays mean for city dwellers?

Operations for LED manufacturers in the first quarter are hoped to show good performance, according to UDN Evening News report. Increased operations in Jan. 2014 have lead to many manufacturers continual growth. Due to the strong revenues, the market is optimistic and anticipates financial results from 1Q14 slack season financial reports to show a revenue  decline  within  5-10 percent. Among these manufacturers, Edison Opto has been able to secure new clients.

Barbican Center, Europe's largest multi-arts and conference venue, has commissioned the multi-disciplinary art and design studio United Visual Artists to create a new work for the Curve. Coinciding with their 10th anniversary, UVA present Momentum, an immersive installation that combines light, sound and movement. 

LED upstream key material PSS is in short supply with demands unable to be met. With supply unable to meet demands from LED manufacturers last year, production capacity is lacking by 50 percent, according to Economic Daily News. This had lead to a rise in price of around 5 percent for sapphire ingot, polished wafers, and PSS in March. Manufacturers including Crystalwise, Ridgetech, Aceplux Optotech, and Crystal Applied Technology are anticipated to benefit. PSS industry insiders are optimistic towards March operations.

Morgan Stanley’s recent report shows that the use of flip-chips in direct-lit TVs has increased, according to a report by Apple Daily. This will give a boost to LED chip and package manufacturers this year, as well as contributions from the rise in average price for TV backlighting. The firm is optimistic that Epistar and Everlight will benefit and has boosted Epistar's ratings and maintained Everlight's ratings.

Taiwanese LED package manufacturer Ledtech revenue and preliminary profit for January was affected by the shorter Chinese New Year holidays. Consolidated revenue for January only reached NT $137 million (US $4.5 million), a monthly drop of 19.65 percent and YoY decrease of 7.48 percent. January preliminary pre-tax profit was NT $11.6 million, YoY decrease of 32.3 percent and EPS of NT $0.1 (before tax).

Patent wars are intensifying and spreading as the LED industry rebounds. Patent disputes within the industry are not solely centered on LED package manufacturers Nichia and Everlight. The industry has begun to focus on Boston University’s  expanding extent of legal actions taken towards patent infringement.

The Chinese government LED equipment subsidy policies lead to a global increase of more than 1,000 MOCVD equipment in 2011, which is the root to the industry’s oversupply situation, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report. Manufacturers have yet to fully install and utilize all the units purchased.

Global leading LED company, Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. has announced on February 13th that it has achieved the company’s greatest sales revenue, reaching 1.0321 trillion Korean won and an operating profit of 965 hundred million Korean won in 2013. In comparison to 2012, the company’s sales increased by 20% and the operating profit by 190%.

A new cause campaign, ‘Brighter Lives for Refugees’ will run in IKEA stores globally from 3 February to 29 March 2014. For every LEDARE (LED light bulb) sold during the campaign, the IKEA Foundation will donate Є1 (US$1.37) to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). Funds raised by the campaign will help to provide solar street lights, indoor solar lanterns, and other renewable energy technologies such as fuel efficient cooking stoves in UNHCR refugee camps in countries including Ethiopia, Chad, Bangladesh and Jordan. 

LEDinside team would like to wish all a Happy Valentine’s Day and a merry Lantern Festival. This week more exciting Apple rumors, LEDinside Senior Editor Pinchun Chou latest scoop points to iPhone 6 specs becoming thinner, lighter and wider screened. In addition, the LED specs for the phones will be upgraded as a result of the much slimmer designs. 

As countries kick off incandescent bulb phase out policies, soaring LED lighting demands has attracted market attention. Credit Suisse latest report is optimistic that the LED industry will enter another expansion phase in 2014. In addition, LED stocks will also be on the rise this year. 

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) recently announced it will be strongly promoting energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction policies in 2014, according to a Chinese-language Huagu.com report. The implementation of the country’s “2014-2015 Carbon Reduction Plan” is expected to spur LED market development in China. 

Apple has filed for a new flexible OLED display patent, and is rumored to be developing a bezel-free iPhone display, according to numerous media reports.

U.S. singer Katy Perry’s favorite clothing brand CuteCircuit, recently showcased its latest collection of interactive wearable LED miniskirts, jackets and accessories controllable by iPhones at Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week on February 12th at 5pm.

Hubbell Lighting, a world leader in lighting innovation, announced the release of the 2014 lighting education course schedule at its state-of-the-art Lighting Solutions Center (LSC).  The schedule is available at www.lightingsolutionscenter.com.  

Taiwanese LED secondary optic lens manufacturer LedLink has received orders from three major international lighting brands and from other regional LED luminaire manufacturers this year, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News report. The company hopes its market share will increase from 35 percent in 2013 to 40 to 50 percent in 2014.

The financial industry’s interest has obviously increased as the Taiwan LED industry recovers. Rising LED lighting market penetration rates will lead to improvements in Taiwan LED industry demand and supply situation resulting in overall industry growth. In turn, manufacturers’ better gross margin performances will also boost stockholders Return On Equity (ROE), 

Taiwanese LED manufacturers Jan. 2014 performances showed stellar results spurred by rising lighting and backlight demands. Taiwanese LED package manufacturer Everlight product growth momentum was evenly distributed in 1Q14, and there has been good backlight and lighting demands, said the company Chairman Robert Yeh. The company expects increased 1Q14 revenue growth compared to 4Q13.