Apple has continued filing patents that enable flexible displays, but this time with a twist of sapphire. The U.S. consumer electronics giant has added to its range of patents a “killer invention” that enables flexible wraparound displays in potential future iPhone and other devices, according to a recent report by Apple Patently. 

According to a recent report from Navigant Research, worldwide revenue from occupancy sensors, photosensors, and lighting network control gear will grow from US$ 1.1 billion annually in 2013 to nearly US$ 2.7 billion by 2020.

Ten cities in Indian state Tamil Nadu including Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Tuticorin, Erode, Salem, Tirupur, Vellore, Madurai and Tirunelveli will replace 200,000 40W fluorescent tube lights with LEDs, according to a report by Hindu Times. 

With the start of the Illuminade walking route, Amsterdam Light Festival 2013/2014 is now complete. Enjoy the many light artworks along this special walking route in the historic Plantagebuurt.

Lighting Science announced that founder and Chief Technology Officer Fred Maxik has been awarded his 100th patent by the United States Patent & Trademark Office. This milestone marks a prestigious career of LED innovation including patents for the first biologically-corrected lighting which is the genesis of the recently launched, ground-breaking Good Night™ LED lamp and the Awake & Alert™ LED lamp.

The LIGHTFAIR® International (LFI®) 2014 Conference brings together top lighting and design experts to create the largest Conference in LFI’s 25-year history. The Conference continues as a centerpiece of the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference, which will take place in Las Vegas June 1-5, 2014 (Trade Show: June 3-5; Conference: June 1-5).

Acuity Brands, Inc. introduces technologically advanced Mongoose® LED Roadway and Area Lighting luminaires from Holophane® . The new LED luminaires significantly reduce energy and maintenance costs while providing a bright white light for improved visibility. The fixtures, named a 2013 IES Progress Report Selection, reduce energy expenses and CO2 emissions by up to 60 percent, and maintenance costs by more than 50 percent for new and retrofit applications.

Highlights this week: Philips releases a strangely flat LED bulb this week that resembles a horseshoe. The bulb without a heat sink is expected to help the manufacturer cut production costs. Also this week, Texas Instrument gives a comprehensive overview of the effects of the incandescent phase out in 2014, while LEDinside analysts give an in depth analysis of LED industry market trends next year at a seminar in Shenzhen China this week. In the OLED sector, Samsung shows its ambition in OLED technology by merging its OLED and LCD division, with Hon Hai (Foxconn technology) close behind with its announcement of mass producing OLED panels in 2015. For more please see below:

Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) has begun its vertical integration strategy in 2013, and will be moving from chip manufacturing to packaging and module production. The company’s new Kunshan factory will be focused in the areas of LED packaging and module production, said the company Chairman David Chung. GPI’s current flip chip monthly production capacity for LED chip packaging is about 4KK.

Taiwanese LED package manufacturer Tyntek has ended investment in LED upstream chip manufacturer Alpha Plus Epi Inc (Alpha Plus Epi) with an estimated recognized loss of NT $1 billion (US $33.4 million) for 2013. The company however does not plan to completely back out of the LED chip market. Instead, the company is shifting focus from the Taiwan market to China. Tyntek through a joint venture with Fujian Electronics & Information established Fujian Prima Optoelectronics in 2010. This new epitaxy factory is projected to begin mass production in 2H14.

Prasad Dhond, Marketing Manager of Lighting Power Products at Texas Instruments (TI) gives a comprehensive overview of the effects of the incandescent bulb phase out in 2014. Below is his recent blog entry:

New research by two John Hopkins University students showed older Apple Mac’s cameras, iSight, can be hacked to covertly monitor users.

Barcelona-based window display designer Lisardo Mendo, who has been designing windows for 30 years offers retailers advice on making great window display lightings in a recent GE Lighting Europe blog entry. Mendo has created window displays for prestigious brands including Levi’s, Dockers, Tommy Hilfger, Nike, Montblanc and others. Below is the full GE Lighting Europe blog entry:

Soitec and CEA have renewed their long-standing and fruitful partnership for the next five years. This new contract aims to support Soitec’s strategy for the electronics, solar energy and lighting markets. It will focus on engineered substrates and materials offering higher performances and energy savings at a competitive cost.

The GER MOOD SWEATER  interprets emotions and displays mood instantly as an interactive light display.

Supertex, manufacturer in high voltage analog and mixed signal integrated circuits (ICs),  introduced PS30, a constant frequency (67kHz), constant duty cycle LED driver optimized for dimmable off-line LED bulb/tube applications, providing high power factor correction (PFC). PS30 is intended to drive a single switch, single inductor power converter (flyback for isolated version and buck-boost for non-isolated version) directly from AC line, 110V or 220V, for power levels up to 20W. PS30DB1 demo board provides a 6.3W design solution, achieving 93% PFC and greater than 81% efficiency with +/-4% current accuracy. It can be modified for other power levels up to 20W.

Diodes Incorporated, global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality application specific standard products within the broad discrete, logic and analog semiconductor markets, today introduced the AP1694, an AC-DC controller providing a universal high-performance driver solution for a variety of mains-dimmable LED lamp designs. Suitable for both 120V and 230V AC inputs, while supporting non-isolated buck, buck-boost and isolated flyback topologies, this part enables between 10% and 50% reductions in total BOM costs.

LED manufacturers cost control pressure for has not eased  as TV retail prices continue to drop. Low priced direct- type LED TVs are projected to become mainstream in 2014. LED manufacturers also plan continual release of low-cost solutions. Taiwanese manufacturers are optimistic about flip chip products ability to expand beam angle and conduct higher voltage electric currents, with Taiwanese manufacturers such as Epistar and Forepi leading the way in introducing flip chips into large sized backlight applications.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) set out to determine the level of performance necessary for an LED light bulb to meet or exceed customer expectations for residential lighting (referring only to lamps that can directly replace incandescent lamps).

Viper Networks, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Company has officially completed the LED light pilot testing approval process for several Sri Lanka governmental departments. As such, the Company is now working within several different government sectors on LED light quantities and installation coordinates.

The SmartCharge light bulb is the first of its kind. The bulb does not rely on grid power to light up, allow it to remain lit even during a power outage. With the use of the patent pending Grid & Switch Sensor technology, the bulb can be controlled through wall and lamp switches like a normal light bulb but can be turned on even without power.

OSRAM SYLVANIA is introducing the OSRAM PrevaLED® CUBE LED light engine, which is ideal for use in downlight fixtures. The PrevaLED CUBE provides fixture manufacturers a flexible, cost-effective light engine that delivers high-quality illumination and industry-leading system efficacy for their customers.

A new family of LEDs in a PLCC-2 package that can handle higher drive currents and thus produce improved luminous intensity is the newest product from the Optoelectronics group of Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH). The new VLM.334..seriesLEDs, an advanced modification of Vishay's VLM.31.. series, can incorporate larger chips and are thus capable of withstanding drive currents up to 70 mA.

Everlight Electronics CO., LTD., a leading player in the global LED industry, in order to serve more India customers, EVERLIGHT dedicates on cooperating with India local branch office. EVERLIGHT is taking the third time LED EXPO New Delhi participation to showcase lots of important lighting, signage and infrared components and is sincerely welcome you to experience EVERLIGHT one stop total solution at the show.

Titan LED, a leading US-based manufacturer and OEM that serves small, medium and enterprise-level customers across the nation, announced today that it has accelerated its pace to adopt the next generation chip from Philips Lumileds: Luxeon TX. The chip is now expected to be featured in select products within the company’s US-made profile by early 2014, which is several months ahead of schedule.

Power management company Eaton and its Cooper Lighting division today announced the release of the 2014 SOURCE calendar of educational classes for the lighting and design community. The SOURCE, located at the Lighting business’ Peachtree City, Ga. office, offers a wide variety of seminars designed to broaden the understanding of lighting and its many different applications.

Affected by the traditionally low season in 4Q, Taiwan LED chip manufacturer FOREPI utilization rates were down to 60 percent. However, there is a possibility for large-sized backlight demands to rebound earlier than expected, as Korean manufacturers have decided the new TV models for 2014. FOREPI projects utilization rates might return to higher levels in 1Q14.

LED industry’s supply and demand is likely to reach equilibrium sooner than predicted as price falls ease in price falls in 2013 due to exodus of Chinese LED manufacturers, said David Chung, Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) chairman during the Sustainable Green Development Global Green Business Outlook 2014 conference held by the Ministry of Economic Affairs on December 17th, 2013. The LED industry could see a rebound after the 2014 Lunar New Year.

San’an Opto announced the company will be purchasing  advanced 20 single chamber or five four-chambered GaN MOCVD systems from international companies for its Xiamen subsidiary on Dec. 16, 2013. Xiamen San’an Opto has received RMB 24 million (US$ 3.95 million) subsidiaries for four four-chambered MOCVD systems, or about 30 percent of total subsidiaries on Dec. 13, 2013. 

Taiwanese LED manufacturer LiteOn discussed the merger of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries during a board meeting conducted on December 16th. The merger will include LSE, LiteOn Clean Energy Technology Corp, Leotek, as well as the consolidation of three companies in Dongguan China. The company hopes to reduce operational management costs and increase operation benefit by simplifying organizational structure.