Siemens has announced its intention to spin-off 80.5% of its subsidiary Osram. The plan requires approval of at least three-quarters of voters at Siemens’ Annual Shareholders' Meeting on 23 January. If approved, the transaction will see Siemens shareholders receiving one Osram share for every ten Siemens shares [held]. Siemens announced that it also intends to remain an almost 20% shareholder in Osram (holding a 17% stake, with Siemens Pension Trust holding a further 2.5%). Osram to cut another 4700 jobs An intrinsic part of this massive reshuffle of two o...

Dynax Semiconductor Inc. of China has placed its first purchase order for an AIXTRON Close Coupled Showerhead (CCS) CRIUS MOCVD system aimed at production of nitride semiconductor electronic devices. It will be the first system in China dedicated to GaN electronics.   The AIXTRON system will be used to grow GaN and related nitride semiconductor epitaxial layers on silicon carbide and silicon substrates for microwave and power devices. After installation and commissioning the system is now ready to produce high quality GaN epi-wafers. &ldq...

In December 1923, America stood by as the National Christmas Tree in Washington D.C. was lit for the first time. Ninety years and several generations later, the event tonight promises to capture the magic of the first lighting with one major difference: the tree’s LED lighting shines as bright as ever but consumes 80 percent less energy (4,000 watts vs. about 20,000 watts) compared with incandescent technology. This year, GE Lighting marks its 50th year of lighting the National Tree. A National Christmas Tree of the past sparkles as part of the illumination ce...

Walmart Canada announced a first-of-its-kind sales floor LED lighting retrofit, with all of the overhead sales floor lighting at its Brampton North (located at Highway 10 and Bovaird Road in Brampton, Ontario) supercentre from conventional fluorescent lighting to high efficiency LED 4-foot retrofit lamps. The retailer estimates this small change could save approximately 283,000 kilo-watt hours (kWh) per year, which will results in a savings of up to $26,000 per year. "We're very proud to be the first large Canadian retailer to fully convert sales floor light...

Everlight filed an invalidation action with the Japan Patent Office against Nichia Corporation’s blue LED patent No. JP2780691. The Japan Patent Office rendered a decision in favor of Everlight on Nov. 12, 2012, holding that Nichia’s patent JP2780691 is totally invalid. Following Nichia’s YAG white light LED patent No. JP3503139, which was found invalid by Japan Patent Office this May, JP2780691 is another one of Nichia’s core patents that have been declared as invalid. Everlight believes that this decision is entirely rea...

Veeco has received orders from Guangdong Deli Optoelectronics Co., Ltd, a newly formed and privately held company located in the high tech development zone of Jiangmen, Guangdong, for multiple TurboDisc® K465i™ Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) Systems to support its HB LED manufacturing ramp. Mai Qinghua, President of Deli Optoelectronics, commented, "We are excited to select Veeco’s K465i systems for our new production facility which will open in the spring of 2013. We chose Veeco over its competitors because of the...

Infrared thin-film chip leaps to 72 percent efficiency The infrared chip prototype has achieved a new record with an efficiency of up to 72 percent. At 930 milliwatts from an operating current of 1 amp, its light output under laboratory conditions is 25 percent higher than that of the chips currently available on the market, which means that future infrared LEDs can be made even more energy-efficient. The efficiency was measured at room temperature and at a dc current up to 1 amp. With a wavelength of 850 nanometers the chip has been designed in particular for infrared illuminatio...

Epistar recently was granted its 1000th patent. This number will continue to grow as there are about another 1,000 applications pending worldwide. Since its establishment in 1996, Epistar has firmly believed that technology innovation is the foundation for being a leader in the industry, and that acquisition and strategic deployment of intellectual property rights, such as patents, is a key to success. In Epistar’s extensive patent portfolio, ITO technology is one core technology that Epistar’s founders developed while they were at ITRI (Industrial Technolog...

Intematix lately has enhanced its ChromaLit Ellipse, Candle and Dome remote phosphor products, which result in an average ten percent increase in light output and reduced system cost for lighting system manufacturers. “Higher lumens-per-watt means fewer LEDs and smaller heat-sinks in our customers’ products,” says Herb Schlegel, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Intematix. “While lowering costs, our ChromaLit Candle and Dome products also improve light quality and uniformity in applications like light bulbs, pendants and sconces.” ...

Dow Corning, a global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, further expanded its industry-leading portfolio of phenyl silicone optical encapsulants with five new two-part, heat-curable grades. The new products offer enhanced reliability, better anti-silver corrosion and greater durability for LED designs. They also further underscore Dow Corning’s commitment to driving best-in-class improvements in the performance and reliability of solid-state lighting. Delivering improved anti-silver corrosion capabilities, Dow Corning® OE-6662 and OE-66...

To Provide Manufacturers Greater Flexibility, Reduced Cost of Ownership and Improved Efficiency KLA-Tencor Corporation (NASDAQ: KLAC) today announced its next-generation light-emitting diode (LED) patterned wafer inspection tool, the ICOS WI-2280. Designed specifically for defect inspection and 2D metrology for LED applications, the ICOS WI-2280 also provides enhanced inspection capabilities and increased flexibility for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and semiconductor wafers spanning two inches to eight inches in size. The ICOS...

The lighting, based on field-induced polymer electroluminescent (FIPEL) technology, also gives off soft, white light – not the yellowish glint from fluorescents or bluish tinge from LEDs. “People often complain that fluorescent lights bother their eyes, and the hum from the fluorescent tubes irritates anyone sitting at a desk underneath them,” said David Carroll, professor of physics and director of the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials. “The new lights we have created can cure both of those problems and more.” The team us...

The new Luxeon T is intended by Lumileds to be the primary LED sold into high-power, directional SSL products such as downlights and MR16 and PAR retrofit lamps. Philips Lumileds has introduced the new Luxeon T series of high-power LEDs that target solid-state lighting (SSL) applications with directional-beam requirements including downlights, and MR16 and PAR retrofit lamps. The LEDs set new efficacy milestones for Lumileds achieving 140 lm/W at 350 mA of drive current. CEO Pierre Yves Lesaicherre touted the benefits of the new family, discussed...

High quality LEDs helping broadcasters to save energy, cut costs and reduce CO2 emissions. The latest advanced, low-energy lighting technologies enhance picture quality and increase creative options, improving the efficiency of studio operations. Traditional tungsten fixtures have dominated the broadcast lighting world for more than 50 years and many lighting directors and studio managers remain convinced that the historical investment in these lights has already been recouped. However, one of the real shocks to studio owners and operators is just how much this older lighting act...

Japanese measurement company Konica Minolta Optics has acquired Instrument Systems, the German supplier of LED test and measurement equipment.  Instrument Systems GmbH, one of the LED industry’s best-known light measurement companies, has been acquired by Konica Minolta Optics, Inc., effective December 1. Instrument Systems was founded in 1986 by its president, Richard Distl, and is based in Munich, Germany. The company supplies a comprehensive range of light measuring products for industrial and research applications. Key applications are LED ...

Taking advantage of AirFlux Technology, the Philips A-19 LED bulb gets a new aesthetic look and enhanced performance Using just 11 watts of power while putting out over 830 lumens, the latest generation of Philips’ 60 watt A-19 LED bulb uses 10 percent less energy than its 12.5 watt predecessor, while increasing brightness by nearly 5 percent. The new lamp has an innovative new design that takes advantage of Philips AirFlux technology, a new airflow cooling system that eliminates the traditional distracting heat sink fins needed for thermal management of LED bu...

Chunghwa Telecom Co has targeted to sell more than 5,000 60-inch LED TVs made by Hon Hai Precision Industry Co , bundled with its Internet TV services by the end of 2012. Tu Yuan-kuang , president of Chunghwa Telecom’s northern Taiwan business group, demand for the TVs has exceeded the company’s expectations, saying on the sidelines of a conference launching new TV programs from Next TV  via the company’s multimedia-on-demand (MOD) platform. Next TV began airing its news programs on Chunghwa Telcom’s MOD platform in 2011...

CRS Electronics Inc. reported financial  results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012. For the three months ended September 30, 2012, the Company reported sales of $607,000 and a net loss of $1.2 million or $0.02 per share as compared to sales of $461,000 and a net loss of $158,000 or $0.00 per share in the same period one year ago. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company reported sales of $2.6 million and a net loss of $3.3 million or $0.06 per share. This compares to sales of $1.6 million and a net loss of $1.2 million or $0.03...

Bernard Pratley, Senior Technical Manager at the Lighting Industry Association received the prestigious IEC 1906 Award for his longstanding expert contribution in helping develop standards for luminaires; for secretarial support to committees SC34 D/WG LUMEX and for his leadership role on the LUMEX emergency lighting panel. His recently demonstrated competence in leading the successful updating of IEC62034 was especially appreciated. Created in 2004 by the IEC Executive Committee (ExCo), the 1906 Award commemorates the IEC's year of foundatio...

Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) joining forces with IMPACT and MEX Exhibitions from India, hosts the LED Expo Thailand 2013, gathering electrical industrial entrepreneurs and promoting LED lighting to reduce global warming. Over 150 international entrepreneurs will showcase cutting-edge electrical technologies along with LED products, seminars, and workshops to promote the use of reliable and efficient LED lighting in Thailand. Dr. Kurujit Nakornthap, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy, said “Nowadays, we sho...

The U.S. Department of Energy has completed Series 20 of testing through the DOE Solid-State Lighting CALiPER program, and a summary of the results is now available for download on the DOE SSL website. Report 20 evaluates the independently tested photometric performance of 38 LED PAR38 lamps, with results showing significant improvement versus earlier CALiPER testing of similar products. All of the LED PAR38 lamps tested offer substantial energy savings compared to halogen PAR38 lamps, and some are more efficacious than compact fluorescent or ...

Due to the global economic downturn, demand for LED lighting has been weakening. Meanwhile, efficiency and price-performance ratio have been increasing, and the penetration rate of the LED lighting market is expected to continue rising. Market observers believe the CAGR of the LED lighting market from 2011-2016 will reach 17%. According to Brian Fisher, director of Corporate Marketing at US-based Bridgelux, LED demand from emerging markets such as China and India have been slowing down in 2012. Nevertheless, the US market is expected to see growing LED de...

Taiwan and Japan signed a memorandum of understanding for “industrial-cooperation bridging plan” on Nov. 29, which will promote industrial cooperation between the two nations for 11 industries, including photovoltaic, LED (light-emitting diode), and electric car. The MOU was signed by Liao Liao-yi, chairman of East Asia Relations Commission, and Ohashi Mitsuo, Interchange Association, Japan. The two persons also signed “mutual recognition agreement (MRA) for certification of electrical machinery and electronic products.” Both parties will ...

FZLED, a leading maker of LED lighting product, is pleased to introduce a family of super slim, long life, durable and easy to install 4.5W 2-inch LED downlights FZL-DL02-00 series. The light is designed to be energy-saving replacement for 2-inch halogen recessed downlights, used in both residential and commercial spaces, including galleries, museums, retail spaces, and showrooms; moreover, it could also be used in a variety of display lighting such as under cabinets, showcases and glass display cases. FZL-DL02-00 comes with advanced guide technology and low-power L...

Given the accelerated transformation of the lighting market to semiconductor based products, Osram is pushing forward the entered path of its corporate reorganization. The company had already initiated a comprehensive corporate program in early 2012, which in principle focuses on processes and structures, operational activities as well as the further development of the corporate culture. In addition to the previously announced measures, the company has now decided on further structural adjustments. The corresponding reduction of an additional 4,700 jobs by 2014 will mostly be achieved t...

Siemens AG (SIE) announced plans to eliminate an additional 4,700 jobs at its Osram lighting unit after it injected 699 million euros ($908 million) in capital at the subsidiary it is preparing to spin off next year The job cuts, primarily outside Germany, come on top of 1,900 positions that Osram already reduced in fiscal 2012 and will help reap 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in cost savings as the market for traditional light bulbs shrinks, the company said today in a statement. In total, the job losses at Osram will amount to about 7,300 positions. The measures will cost a &...

2013, brighter, more efficient streetlights will begin to go up in Fayetteville neighborhoods. As part of a pilot study by the Public Works Commission, the city-owned utility plans to convert about 300 conventional streetlights to LED bulbs, which last three times as long and use about half the electricity. The LED, or light-emitting diode, technology has become increasingly common in everything from traffic signals to flat-screen TVs. Big cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle are aggressively switching their public lighting over to LED fixtures to brighten street...

Rookie USA uses an LED lighting solution from Osram Opto Semiconductors and Phoster Industries Rookie USA, a premium brand specializing in innovative sportswear for children, is equipping its first retail location in New York City with a high-quality LED lighting solution: Installed inside the fixtures from Canadian-based Phoster Industries are energy-efficient Golden Dragon Plus LEDs from Osram Opto Semiconductors.   The lighting concept developed by the two companies combines ideal lighting for the retail area with enormous cost savings of up t...

Indoor lighting plays a critical role in all retail environments, particularly home furnishings stores where varying woods, fabrics and finishes must be properly illuminated over open, expansive spaces. And with often thousands of fixtures under one roof, lighting costs—from electricity to replacement lamps—can quickly add up. Today, new LED lighting technologies from GE Lighting are rearranging the way furniture stores are lit. From conveying to customers the correct color of cabinets to cutting utility bills by tens of thousands of dollars a year, bright, white, en...

Coney Island’s Economic Development Corp. has tapped the seaside neighborhood’s biggest amusement operator to fulfill Borough President Marty Markowitz’s vision of overhauling the 262-foot-tall structure’s lackluster lighting system with more “bling” so it could become Brooklyn’s “Eiffel Tower.” Zamperla USA, which runs Luna Park and other attractions , was selected to install 8,000 colored LED lights across the Parachute Jump that will be programmable for shows and special events with music. “The P...