Semtech Corp., a supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, announced the SC652 and SC656 LED backlight charge pump drivers. As new members of the SC65x tiny charge pump platform, these devices are the industry’s first LED drivers to integrate digital low-pass filters that convert a PWM dimming signal’s duty-cycle into DC current for LCD backlighting with white LEDs.

In an effort to reach the goal of saving 1 billion kilowatt-hour of electrical power a year, China’s Ministry of Science and Technology has recently revised a bold plan to expand the LED streetlight installation project in 21 cities to two million units in 50 cities throughout the country, according to an article on Taiwan Economic News.

Larson Electronics’ magnalight.com announced the addition of the MRL-1000HPS-EB 1000 watt high pressure sodium (HPS) light with remote ballast. Equipped with remote ballast, this HPS saltwater certified light is much lighter than traditional high wattage fixtures. This high pressure sodium marine grade light is also easier to maintain as well, since the most critical components are secured in a separate NEMA enclosure.

In Regensburg, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors and Siemens have demonstrated that energy-saving LEDs can provide authentic period-style lighting for a historical centre. The companies have developed a retrofit solution which meets the requirements of a modern lighting system while preserving the atmosphere of a world heritage site. The light sources being used are Golden Dragon Plus LEDs.

Cree, Inc., a market leader in LED lighting, announces the commercial availability of new, high-efficiency white XLamp® XP-E LEDs. These “outdoor white” LEDs provide the same flux and efficacy levels as Cree’s XLamp cool white LEDs with a neutral color that more closely matches existing high-intensity discharge (HID) installations (4000K – 5300K CCT).

AIXTRON AG announced today that in the second quarter 2009 HUGA Co., Ltd placed an order for six AIX 2800G4 HT MOCVD reactors in the 42x2 inch configuration. They will be delivered in the fourth quarter 2009 and installed at the company's state of the art production facility in the Taichung Science Park, Taiwan.

ViewSonic® Corp. Monday expanded its green product line with two new Energy Star® 5.0 compliant monitors -- the VX1932wm-LED and VA705b.

Avago Technologies, a supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications, announced an innovative ultra-thin, high brightness, light guide film (LGF) technology for backlighting mobile applications such as cell phones, handheld games and GPS applications. According to the company, the new light guide technology will help designers reduce the number of LEDs needed to illuminate backlit keypad applications without compromising brightness and light uniformity.

Taiwan’s Inventec Corp., the world’s fourth-largest notebook PC maker, has spent NT$540 million (US$16.61 million at US$1: NT$32.5) to buy a 4.9% stake in the island’s leading LED maker Huga Optotech Inc., according to Taiwan Economic News.

Carmanah Technologies and PTL Solar(TM) announced a manufacturing partnership that will bring leading-edge solar LED lighting technology to the Middle East and selected countries in Africa. PTL Solar and Carmanah have partnered to manufacture solar LED lighting solutions for outdoor lighting applications at a facility under ENPARK in Dubai.

Mitsubishi Electric announces that it will reveal LED option for its Seventy Series range of cube displays at ISE 2010. The new LED cube engine is fully compatible with the existing Seventy Series cube chassis and hardware, offering users an easy upgrade path from conventional to solid-state lighting.

The improvement of LED lighting efficiency has been amazing in the past few years. One important revolution of this century is going to be installing LED into everyone’s life, replacing traditional light bulbs. LED displays first appeared in the solid light source revolution, and now, it is everywhere, such as shopping district, sport stadium, high way, and wherever the electricity can reach. These huge LED displays stand themselves as the early indication of the LED revolution.

Taiwan’s Delta Electronics Inc. plans to close its cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) operations from March 1, 2010, due to the growing use of LED for backlights in applications such as LCD TVs, according to an article on Taiwan Economic News.

Eastman Kodak Company announced Dec. 4 that it would sell substantially all the assets associated with its OLED business to a group of LG companies, and had entered into a technology cross-license agreement with LG Electronics, Inc., which will allow each company broad access to the other’s patent portfolio.  

Instrument Systems GmbH introduces its new calibration LEDs to its ACS-530 Series. The special feature of the new products is their temperature-stabilized high-power LED, according to the company. The new calibration LEDs enable customers to check their instruments easily and reliably. It also means that the photometric value can be recalibrated by customers in conformity with the CIE International Commission on Illumination.

3XN has designed an LED luminaire – GOTHAM, which uses solar energy for efficient street lighting. Seven lamps have been erected at Bella Center in Copenhagen in conjunction with the upcoming UN Climate Summit The street lamp is a result of a close co-operation between 3XN, Scotia Lighting, EWO and a number of other partners.  The goal was to create a sculptural and CO2-neutral street lighting solution.  The advanced technology results in the street lamps generating more energy than they use.

Epistar Corp, Taiwan’s largest LED maker, yesterday signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Nan Ya Photonics Inc, the LED unit of Taiwan’s Formosa Plastics Group, according to an article on Taipei Times.

Luminus Devices Inc., developer and manufacturer of award-winning PhlatLight(R) LEDs, Thursday announced a partnership with Marubun Corporation, to distribute its award-winning, large-chip, PhlatLight LEDs to electronics companies in Japan selling projector systems in the home and commercial market.

Nexxus Lighting, Inc. Thursday announced that it has been issued three new design patents related to its Array™ Lighting LED replacement light bulb product line. US Design Patent No. D600,837 – LIGHT (Par 38); US Design Patent No. D601,276 – LIGHT (Par 30) and US Design Patent No.

Cree, Inc. announces that it has acquired a portfolio of patents and patent applications related to semi-insulating silicon carbide (SiC) material and power device technology from Daimler AG. The portfolio consists of approximately 20 patent families, including issued patents in the United States, Germany, Japan, and China. U.S. Patent No.

At the Lighting Japan Special Seminar taking place on December 2 in Taipei, Mr. Sumio Shimode, Chairman of Planning & General Committee of Japan LED Association, pointed out that Japan’s CO2 emission was aimed to be reduced by 20% in the first phase (2008-2012) according to the Kyoto Protocol. However, the emission slightly rose by about 1.9% in 2008. As a result, saving energy and reducing carbon emission has been one of the policies most aggressively promoted by the government.

KLA-Tencor Corporation, a supplier of process control and yield management solutions for the semiconductor and related industries, introduced the next addition to its wafer inspection portfolio, the ICOS(R) WI-2250. According to the company, the ICOS WI-2250 offers a dramatic improvement in inspection speed, compared to currently available products, allowing manufacturers to transition to larger LED and MEMS wafer sizes.

Neo-Neon Holdings Ltd, a China-based decorative lighting manufacturer, Wednesday said it planned to expand its LED wafer output seven-fold over the next three years, according to an article on Taipei Times.

One of the world’s most famous street in Paris, the Champs Elysees has been illuminated this year again with a stunning display of fuchsia festive lights thanks to GE Lighting, which has been a partner of this annual event since 2002.

Philips Electronics Japan announced that the company will sponsor the “Stardust Illumination” lighting event, which starts Dec.1 at the Yokohama Marine Tower (Yokohama City, Kanagawa prefecture).

Cree, Inc. Wednesday signed an agreement with LED do Brasil Comercio de Produtos Eletronicos Ltda. to promote the sale of Cree LED components in Brazil. Brazil is the 10th largest energy consumer in the world and the 3rd largest in the Western Hemisphere, behind the United States and Canada.

Intematix Corp., an innovator in phosphors, LED components and solid state lighting modules, announced the introduction of its proprietary, patent pending, custom signage product and service offerings. Intematix claimed it has combined the advantages of LED-based lighting systems with the company's phosphor expertise to create a next-generation retail signage solution that delivers the low maintenance and energy savings of LEDs while improving on the visual qualities of high resolution film approaches.

The Federal Trade Commission of the U.S. recently proposed new labeling requirements for light bulbs, including traditional incandescent bulbs, CFL bulbs and LED products. According to FTC, the proposed labels provide consumers with clear, easily understandable information to help them choose among different bulb types.

Marines at Camp Lejeune, N.C. are seeing better at night, and cutting electricity usage by half, thanks to new LED roadway lights. Nearly 1100 metal halide and high-pressure sodium streetlights throughout Camp Lejeune roadways are being progressively replaced through the end of this year with 75- and 105-watt EvoLucia(TM)-brand LED luminaires, from LED manufacturer Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc. This replacement reduces energy just below 50% compared to the metal halide or high pressure sodium lights.

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) has released a position paper that identifies the information and test data needed to evaluate solid state lighting (SSL) products. CEE members, representing the energy efficiency program administrators of the United States and Canada, plan to use this product information to evaluate the efficiency and quality of SSL products they will consider promoting to the commercial and residential markets.