The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency dropped a bomb this week, by announcing a temporary termination of Energy Star programs due to funding shortage caused by political stalemate in the U.S. congress. Moving towards Middle East, GE and Philips have both signed agreements with local organizations in the area. In Asia, Foshan Lighting (FLS) finds itself entangled in financial lawsuits, as 515 investors press for compensations over misleading company information. OLED for mobile devices also appear to be the next hype as Apple and LG reveal their new application plans. Other news highlights this week are the following:

Chinese LED manufacturer San’an Optoelectronic Co. (San’an) has been picking up its pace in internationalization and deployment of business strategies this year. In the LED chip field, the company has become a top international manufacturer with its acquisition of Luminus, with its investments in Taiwanese LED manufacturer FOREPI has greatly improved its competitiveness. In terms of its overall business strategies, the company has set up a lighting sales company, and plans to extend its reach in downstream applications.

A total of 515 investors have filed lawsuits against Foshan Electrical Lighting (FSL). Guangzhou Municipal Court will begin court hearings on October 22, 2013. Guangzhou Municipal Intermediate People’s Court judge has revealed that the court accepted the case of over 900 accumulated lawsuits totaling RMB $100 million (US$16,343).

Benefiting from street light bids, and recognized revenue from German luminaire subsidiary WOFI, The company’s 3Q13 revenue grew at a Quarter-on-Quarter (QoQ) rate of 18.13%, and an Year-over-Year rate (YOY) of 41.84% to NT$ 7.01 billion (US$ 24 million). The company’s 3Q13 performance outshone other LED packagers.

Sumitomo Electric has successfully developed Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) for LED applications that can tolerate high temperature of 150 degrees Celsius, according to a report by Nikkei.

GE Lighting, the lighting business of GE, and The Change Initiative, a one stop destination specializing in solutions that reduce human impacts on the environment and promote sustainable development, announced a joint venture initiative to promote energy-efficient lighting across residences and commercial establishments in the UAE, according to reports by local UAE media Zawya and Dubai City Bling. 

With its Ledriving Fog combined daytime running light / fog lamp Osram is introducing its first fully functioning replacement LED headlamp. It replaces conventional halogen fog lamps in many car models with state-of-the-art LED technology.

Control and dimming is an essential feature of many LED-based solid-state lighting (SSL) systems. However, there has been a shortage of standards to ensure compatibility between dimmable LED light engines (LLEs) and phase-cut dimming controls. 

Suppliers explore cooling options and materials, and adopt high-power SMD diodes. China suppliers of LED modules are enhancing product designs to address the light source’s elevated temperature. They use high-power diodes, mainly 1W SMD units, to achieve greater luminance and boost penetration of the indoor and outdoor illumination markets.

Inspired by the unmistakable style of the most legendary sports cars, the Carbon Appearance package utilizes a new palette of accent colors to make the 2014 Cirrus no less than stunning on the tarmac. Interior details such as jet black vents, carbon fiber instrument panel lobes and two-tone leather bolster seats complete this exhilarating new look.

Larson Electronics have released an explosion proof LED drop light that provides higher performance and safer operation than traditional incandescent drop lights.

Carmanah Technologies Corporation announced that it has filed a final prospectus in respect of a shareholder rights offering (the “Offering”). Under the Offering, Carmanah will seek to raise up to approximately $6 million. The proceeds from the Offering will be used for general corporate purposes including, but not limited to: (1) funding restructuring costs and process improvement expenditures all of which will be directed at reducing operating costs; (2) investments in new product development activities to meet market demands and improve gross margins; (3) funding a...

EMS provider Lite-On Technology has reported consolidated revenues of NT$20.361 billion (US$681 million) for September, hitting the highest monthly level since October 2011 and increasing 7.34% sequentially and 5.04% on year. September sales from LED lighting components rose nearly 20% on year, while other segments also saw strong growth in the month: LED street lamps, 40%; CCMs (compact camera modules), nearly 50%; and SSDs (solid-state drives), over 30%, Lite-On indicated. Lite-On Technology's consolidated revenues of NT$57.220 billion for the th...

The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, announced on October 9 that Cree won the retailer's 2013 Innovation Award for its LED light bulb. The annual award recognizes the most revolutionary new products that provide true benefits to consumers and the companies that exceeded expectations in sales, service and program execution. Mohawk Soft Spring Carpet received first runner-up honors for Soft Spring Carpet, and Plantation Patterns Patio won second runner-up honors for its Create Your Own Collection patio furniture. Cree, Inc. introd...

Recently, a London-based art and design studio loop pH have developed ‘the SOL dome’, a fully responsive lighting pavilion in Michigan. The honeycomb-shaped structure is assembled onsite from thousands of individual circles woven from composite fibers, extending through space with its hollow lightweight constructing. Measuring 8 x 4 meters and weighs just 40 kg, the ‘SOL dome’ is illuminated by a circular matrix of solar powered LEDs. The portable structure is animated; it interacts and adapts to its environment, similar to a plant and its surroun...

Many SiC-based substrate manufacturers exhibited 6-inch (150mm)-diameter wafers at ICSCRM 2013, an international conference on SiC-based power semiconductors, which took place from Sept 29 to Oct 4, 2013, in Miyazaki, Japan. Six-inch wafers are the successors to the current 3-4-inch (75-100mm) wafers. Thus far, Cree Inc. has been leading the supply of 6-inch wafers. But companies that are trying to catch up with Cree are expected to launch their 6-inch wafers one after the other from the second half of 2013 to 2014. Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp (N...

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently published its latest Solid State Lighting (SSL) Manufacturing R&D Roadmap for 2013. The Roadmap complements the SSL R&D Multi-Year Program Plan that guides the Core and Product Development R&D programs. According to DOE press release, the roadmap is an extension of the 2012 roadmap.  

Ever wondered what the effect would be of tilting you LED spot light design over a certain angle with respect to thermal behavior? In this whitepaper MechaTronix describe the effect of tilting spot light designs over an angle of 50 degrees and 90 degrees, and compare the thermal results from LED coolers made by extrusion and pin fin technology.

Taiwanese LED packaging manufacturer Edison’s consolidated revenue for September experienced a monthly decrease in September. 

Xeleum Lighting announced the introduction of its new Athena Series LED Stairwell Light Fixture. Specifically designed for use in stairwells that may be unoccupied for long periods of time, this light fixture is capable of reducing energy usage by up to 75% over conventional stairwell fixtures that do not employ LEDs or occupancy sensors. 

Larson Electronics has announced the release of a new explosion-proof LED light designed for portable mounting to ladders, scaffolds and railings for convenient operation. The EPL-JHLP-100LED explosion-proof LED light fixture produces 7,000 lumens and can be easily attached to ladders and scaffolding through the use of an included adjustable mounting bracket.

LED industries are entering traditional off season in 4Q. HSBC states in their most recent LED report that LED industry 3Q13 revenue was weak due to TV backlight demands being lower than expected.

The U.S. government shutdown has taken a toll on Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program. Facing a funding lapse due to the shutdown, EPA decided to temporarily shutter the electronic energy certification program, which is expected to impact LED lighting, other lighting, many other products, and has cancelled the annual Partners Meeting scheduled for this week, according to a report by LED Magazine.

Chinese LED chip manufacturer San’an announced on October 8th, 2013,  their purchase in FOREPI stock shares by wholly owned subsidiary Xiamen San’an was finalized on October 2nd.

Under the blistering sun, Pedro Guerra, UNICEF child protection specialist and Leonard Ndirahisha a coordinator for Burundian NGO FVS Amade track the trails and hills of Gitega province in central Burundi. The two are out on a mission to collect feedback of portable bicycle-powered Nuru LED lights in a pilot project to offer safe and affordable lights to rural families.

Cree Edge High-Output TrueWhite LED Luminaire Delivers Breakthrough Color Performance, Helps Improve Bottom Lin. 

Oree Illumination Solutions Inc., developer of LED-based planar lighting technology, today announced the expansion of its LightCell™ Plus range to include drivers, connection cables and an installation guide – a complete system offering. This will simplify development and accelerate time to market for LED lighting designers and fixture manufacturers. Additionally, new product features provide greater protection of the LightCells against external mechanical forces.

MaxLite debuts its DesignLights Consortium (DLC)-qualified BayMAX LED Linear High Bay Fixtures with A-B bi-level capabilities that offer LM-80-tested LED strips in a low profile rectangular high bay housing; dimming models are also available.

Everlight Electronics Co., a leading player in the global LED and optoelectronics industry with three decades of experience, has introduced the latest member of its ITR series of photo interrupters for use in optical switches, digital cameras and printers, the ultra small outline slotted type ITR1205ST11A/TR. A slotted type opto interrupter detects an object when it enters the gap of the slotted switch and blocks the light path between the emitter and detector.

Unity Opto says that 3Q revenue results were affected mainly by Chinese TV client’s inventory adjustments, and expects4Q revenue to rebound. Benefiting from the new household electricity subsidy and by European and U.S. holiday sales gradual revenue growth is anticipated for 4Q.