Researchers in Okinawa Japan have developed a communication system which uses LED lights as a medium for underwater communication. The device works by first taking sound and converting it into a light signal. The LED light will then transmit the signal to the other person’s receiver where it is reverted back to sound.

Larson Electronics has announced the release of an explosion proof LED blasting gun light designed to handle the extreme conditions of industrial blasting operations. The BLG-LED-7W Hazardous Location LED Blasting Gun Light mounts to any standard blasting gun and provides high power illumination combined with extreme durability.

Access Fixtures has expanded its line of bollard lights to include 277 volt 10 watt LED bollard lights. Frequently municipal, commercial and hospitality properties use 277v to light outdoor areas such as parking lots. 277 volt LED light bollards permits the installation of LED bollard lights on the same circuits, eliminating the requirement of a second circuit and wires to support lower voltage lighting applications.

Technology specialists from the company that created new smartphone utility app, Small Call, announce LEDgoes, a new modular scrolling LED matrix attracting over 150 pledges and US$ 11,600 amidst a successful Kickstarter campaign.

The ZG-1 is World’s First Re-usable, Customizable, Waterproof, Energy Efficient LED Lighting.

PAR floodlights capable of dimming to less than 5 percent.

Secondary optics lens manufacturer LEDlink passed Edison’s direct backlight product certification in August for LEDlink’s direct backlight OD 22mm and 30mm standard sized secondary optic lenses. By passing the certification, the optic lens can also be used in panel lighting. The two companies now plan to make their way into the direct backlight market.

Venture firm LAMPServe in Naha Okinawa Japan is a company researching LED visual light communication technology. In September the company plans to conduct a worldwide outdoor lighting demonstration experiment and if successful will present the lighting in areas that lack communication infrastructure like Africa, Asia, and emerging market countries.

In the LED market for specialized lighting, Chinese LED packaging manufacturer Hongli Tonic accounced the company recently acquired 38 percent of Guangzhou Forda Single Co. Idt shares for RMB $31.12m. This procurement shows Hongli’s ambition to increase future investment strength. The company has begun aggressively advancing into the LED automotive lighting industry enticed by higher gross profit margins than that of regular lighting. Hongli hopes that LED automotive lighting can become the company’s new profit generator.

EnvironmentalLights.com, an online retailer for high-quality, energy-efficient LED lighting systems, announced today that they have added MaxLite’s Direct Lit LED Panel Performance Series, FlatMax™ Edge Lit LED Panels and ECO-T™ LED Recessed Troffers to their website. EnvironmentalLights.com currently offers over 2,000 products including a variety of outdoor and under cabinet lighting fixtures by MaxLite.

Intematix Corporation announced that a sample set of lighting modules using its remote phosphors have reached 6,000 hours of life testing with 100% of initial lumens maintained as measured by TÜV SÜD, an independent testing laboratory.  Testing time of 6,000 hours is the minimum typically required to qualify for ENERGY STAR and DesignLights Consortium® (DLC) standards for LED lighting.

Carl Ray Smith III, (Tripp Smith) the new Vice President of Sales for the Retail channels comes from a long career in the lamp business with such companies as Phillips North America, GE Lighting, Lithonia, Sylvania, and Feit Electronics.

Fewer businesses have a greater appreciation for lighting than automotive dealerships, or at least those who pay the energy bills. According to Energy Star, auto dealerships use, on average, more energy per square foot than a typical office building.

Patented Aimed Optics™ technology saturates the roadway with cool white light at a mounting height of 60 feet and pole spacing of 300 feet.

Elec-Tech International (ETI) revenues grew 10.52% to RMB 1.35 billion (US$ 220 million) in 1H13, according to the company’s 1H13 financial report released on Aug. 24. However, the company’s net income plunged 59.38% compared to the same period last year to RMB 50.5 million.

Secondary optic manufacturer Ledlink felt the effects of increased LED lighting demands when their originally predicted capital expenditure of US $7 million for 2013 instead reached that of US $8 million. Ledlink chairman Tang Delong stated that after the 2Q13 production launch of their newly acquired factory in Yangzhou, the next goal was to increase self manufacturing for mold production with an estimated investment of about US $15 million in order to increase the volume of machines. Starting from November this year, one month’s operation quantity will increase from 100 sets to 150 sets.

In response to current climate changes, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is heading measures to promote green energy low carbon production development in government branches such as the Ministry of Industry and Information, Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction of the People’s Republic of China in areas like industries, architecture, transportation and public facilities, and urbanization.

Despite of downpours and strong gusts caused by severe tropical storm Trami that hit Taiwan on Aug. 21, 2013, optical inspection giant KLA-Tencor Corporation outlined its 2013 product plans and business strategy at a press conference in Taipei that day. KLA-Tencor that usually keeps a low profile responded to questions concerning competitor Hermes Microvision Inc. (HMI), a large Taiwanese E-beam inspection equipment manufacturer. KLA-Tencor emphasized, while E-beams have higher resolution than optics, its inspection speed is too slow, and pointed out optical inspection is still the mainstream inspection method on the market. The company also announced it will be establishing equipment training centers in Taiwan, which reflects the aim of KLA-Tencor’s trip to the country to firmly establish its presence.

ON Semiconductor Corporation has named Paul Rolls Executive Vice President (EVP) of Worldwide Sales and Marketing to replace his retiring predecessor. Keith Jackson, president and chief executive officer (CEO), ON Semiconductor Corporation, said,“Paul is a proven leader with extensive experience in the semiconductor industry. He brings a valuable combination of sales and business insight to his new role and is well-equipped to help us grow our business at a rate that outpaces the market.” Mr. Rolls has more than 25 years of technology sales, and ...

The Comal School District (“District”) in San Antonio is installing indoor and outdoor lighting and controls from Acuity Brands in schools across the district to achieve significant energy and maintenance savings. The District needed energy efficient lighting and controls solutions for multiple high performance school designs.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors, is broadening its optoelectronics portfolio with the introduction of a new high-power, high-speed 940 nm infrared (IR) emitter for gesture remote control applications. Offering high radiant power of 40 mW at 100 mA, the VSLB9530S is offered in a clear molded, leaded TELUX package with an oval lens designed to support an angle of half intensity of ± 18° in the vertical direction and ± 36° in the horizontal direction.

Lighting manufacturer OSRAM (Munich/Germany) and electronics manufacturer Sharp Corp. (Osaka/Japan) have entered into a comprehensive agreement about the cross licensing of patents. The agreement comprises patents of both companies’ in the field of opto-electronic semiconductor components as well as in the area of lighting products including such components. It extends from LED chips and laser diode chips through modules to luminaires. In the past years, OSRAM has already entered into similar agreements with other big players in this market like Nichia, P...

By Switching to LED lighting, the United States could save billions in energy costs by reduce energy consumption by 50%.

U.S. nonprofit independent product-testing organization Consumer Reports October issue cover story includes ratings of dozens of different types of LED and CFL bulbs. The report also features a room-by-room guide to choosing the best LEDs and CFLs, and a clip-and-save lightbulb buying guide that you can take shopping. The guide explains the lightbulb lingo you'll see on packaging, and the pros and cons of LED, CFL and halogen bulbs.

GE Lighting has entered a joint-development agreement with Cooledge Lighting Inc. to develop a customized GE Lightech™ LED driver as a key component in Cooledge's first full range of LED light sheet solutions for fixture companies, which debut this week at the LightFair International trade show in Philadelphia.

ETi Solid State Lighting Inc. announced the addition of two 4’ integral linear LED tubes to the DesignLights Consortium® Qualified Product List (DLC QPL). ETi’s 4’ integral linear LED tubes offer a brighter, more efficient option to replace standard fluorescent tubes.

Lyon Lighting is pleased to announce that they have a new line of lights which are ideal for the darker nights that are on their way.

Furi Electronics will be holding a shareholders’ meeting on Sept. 2 to decide on the company’s private investments to acquire 92.8% of MR LED Photoelectricity Co. stock shares. According to the transfer of stock rights agreement, once the deal is sealed MR Photoelectricity’s 2013-2015 financial reports will belong to the parent company. Excluding non-recurring profits and losses, MR Photoelectricity’s earnings cannot be less than RMB 30 million (US$ 4.9 million), RMB 35 million and RMB 39 million throughout the three years, and total net profit cannot be lower than RMB 12,000. 

LEDtronics Inc., the pioneers of solid-state, LED lighting design and manufacturing, yesterday announced that their LED lights will help Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino save 291,000 kilowatts of power in one year and receive a $32,000 rebate from the Imperial Irrigation Energy Rewards Rebate Program. “The new LEDs reduce the heat load and offer a whiter, brighter light. And by reducing our energy use from 180 watts ballasted to 41 watts, we qualified for an energy rebate, and this LED lighting project will pay for itself in two and a half years.” ...

Known as a new generation of energy saving luminaries, prices for LEDs are 6-10 times that of their equally luminous counterparts, rare earth phosphor lamps. However, LEDs have much higher energy efficacy which can increase price/performance ratio for high power consuming public places. With soaring inflation and rapidly dropping prices, rare earth phosphor lamp quotas are plummeting. Investors have slowly begun to lose faith in rare earth and as a result orders have decline dramatically.