As all incandescent bulbs will be banned by the end of 2012 in Japan, and the Energy Act Amendment will go into effect in the first quarter of 2010, many public places in Japan are likely to gradually switch to LED lighting.

Lumenova GmbH, Esslingen, a PSI Group company and JENOPTIK Polymer Systems GmbH, Triptis, part of the Jenoptik Optical Systems division, have concluded a wide-ranging strategic alliance in the area of LED lighting.

In a move that aims to bring about a significant and much needed change in the way high power LEDs are sold and consumed in the rapidly growing Indian market, Enerdyne Devices P. Limited, part of Sainoor Group from India , have entered into a marketing arrangement with Prolight Opto Technology Corp, a speciality LED packaging company headquartered in Taipei. 

Danville, Virginia, announces that it has joined the Cree LED City® program, an international initiative promoting the deployment of energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) lighting. The city has installed Cree LED lights in the Danville Water Treatment Plant and the Adult Detention Center in response to the Go Green Virginia initiative sponsored by the Virginia Municipal League (VML).

Wataru Ito, a student at the Tokyo University of Arts, spent four years creating “Castle on the Sea,” a one-of-a-kind origami cityscape made of Kent paper. The 2.4 m x 1.8 m model, constructed using only a knife, glue and a hole punch, debuted on April 30th and won top prize at the University’s Grand Prix of Art Festival. The exquisite artwork is meticulously illuminated using Martin Professional LED and fiber optic lighting sources.

Tower Semiconductor, Ltd., a global specialty foundry leader, Tuesday announced co-development of a 700V power platform to address next-generation industrial LED lighting requirements. The collaboration will combine GrandTek's 700V technology capability with Tower's advanced power management process and leading design kits to deliver the industry's most complete 700V foundry solution.

The City of Los Angeles approved LEDway streetlights from BetaLED® to replace modern cobrahead fixtures in local and residential neighborhoods as part of the green streetlight program.

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., (TAEC) is now offering a 60 volt power MOSFET driver for white light emitting diodes (LEDs) targeted for LCD panel backlight applications such as car navigation monitors and 12-inch notebook PCs. These applications typically require high voltage of 24V to 48V to activate 8 to 16 white LEDs in series.

Valeo unveils a world first: a new technology that will transform lighting and signaling systems. The 3D-effect technology, used in the front and rear position lamps, adds substantial depth to the perceived image, despite being only 25 mm thick. It is based on the principle of the multiple reflection of light from LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and opens up significant new styling possibilities.

Visible Light Solar Technologies is tackling a huge and urgent problem.  Commercial and industrial lighting accounts

Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, today announced the upcoming release of its latest P Series (Portable) Projector, the P410M, an LED-based DLP Pocket Projector. Weighing less than two pounds, the P410M’s compact design (5.8” W x 2.5” H x 5.7” D), USB port, and auto play feature, make presentations “laptop optional” and packs easily into your laptop bag or briefcase.

Luminus Devices, Inc., developer and manufacturer of high light output, "Big Chip" PhlatLight LEDs, yesterday announced the introduction of the SBM-160 PhlatLight LED, the industry’s brightest multi-color LED available in a surface-mount (SMT) package. This breakthrough product is ideally suited for entertainment and architectural applications where high optical output and high efficiency are required.

Enfis Group Plc., an innovator of LED lighting systems and technologies, has introduced its next generation of fully-controllable white LED lighting products and for myriad high-quality general illumination applications. Enfis will be making these systems available immediately through its North American distributors and specialist partners.

Macroblock adopts the leading clock reverse engine in the newly launched 3-channel constant current LED driver, MBI6020, to assure the transmission reliability for LED architectural lighting applications.

Honeywell announced that it has developed a new thermal management material that improves energy efficiency of light emitting diodes (LEDs), which are increasingly being used in applications such as street lamps, automotive lighting, flat panel TV displays and computer monitors.

Rubicon Technology, Inc. announced Monday it would exhibit large diameter sapphire products for LED wafer production, including the 200 kg sapphire Super Boule, at the upcoming LED Japan/Strategies in Light Conference in Yokohama, Japan, held on September 16 and 17, 2009. Conference attendees can visit Rubicon in Booth M4.

JVC today announced a super slim LCD monitor for home theater use that measures a mere ¼-inch (6.4mm) deep across most of the panel and weighs just 12.5 pounds (5.7kg). The new 32-inch class LT-32WX50 will be available in the U.S. in November.             

In response to demands from military customers, boaters and fire rescue operators, Larson Electronics Magnalight announced the latest addition to its line of low voltage LED lights, the LED24-AMB. Producing yellow light in the 590nm wavelength, this 72 watt, 4,320 lumen output, the LEDBL-24-AMB LED emitter light is designed to improve visibility at distance for users operating in foggy, dusty, smoky or snowy conditions.

Sony introduced a new line of ultra-thin BRAVIA™ LCD HDTVs featuring an advanced edge-lit LED backlight and exceptional contrast ratio of over 1,000,000:1.

Murata Electronics North America, an innovator in electronics and the largest global supplier of ceramic passive components, recently introduced an anti-fuse element for light emitting diodes (LEDs). Developed to control open defects in LEDs, Murata's anti-fuse device prevents the lowering of power supply voltage, typically observed in Zener diodes, which results in higher energy efficiency. Other key benefits include a simple and economical circuit design, the reduction of color unevenness and small size.

Cree, Inc. last week announced that the public offering of 11,000,000 shares of its common stock has priced at $35.50 per share for gross proceeds of $390.5 million. The offering includes a 30-day option for the underwriters to purchase up to 1,650,000 additional shares to cover overallotments, if any. Cree is conducting the offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933. The offering is expected to be completed on September 16, 2009, subject to customary closing conditions.

Traxon Technologies announced that it has realized an outstanding IMAGIC WEAVE media facade in Germany at HAVER & BOECKER’s office building in Oelde.

Lexus of Albuquerque has selected Visible Light Solar Technologies, a solar/LED commercial lighting innovator, to retrofit its exterior lot lights at both its Albuquerque and Santa Fe dealerships following an initial pilot installation that yielded 82% energy savings. The solar/LED lights also gave the dealership true-color nighttime light quality, equal in clarity to daylight lighting, allowing for secure and effective afterhours customer browsing.

Amtran Technology Co., Ltd., a Taiwan-based LED chipmaker, is to join hand with the leading LED packager Everlight Electronics to establish an LED packaging factory in China, the Taiwan Economic News reports yesterday, citing industry sources.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City now features energy-efficient LED lighting, ensuring that the hotel’s lighting energy consumption is reduced up to 81 percent. Hotel has launched sustained efforts for better environment with the Reduce Carbon Footprints Drive, for next year. 

Yoshinoya America Inc., famous for the original Beef Bowl®, and EcoTek Lighting jointly announced today that the Yoshinoya America Inc. will be installing energy efficient, high performance Menu Boards with LED illumination in its new store to help save the environment.

Aixtron AG announced today that Mitsubishi Chemicals headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, has ordered one AIX 2800G4 HT Planetary Reactor® system in the third quarter of 2009. The MOCVD tool is to be delivered in the 42x2 inch wafer configuration and will be used for the production of InGaN-based white UHB LEDs.

Philips Lumec Wednesday unveiled its newest product, the RoadStar™, a state-of-the-art LED luminaire designed specifically for large area, street, and roadway lighting applications. The RoadStar™ has the potential to reduce by 50% the amount of electricity a city/state/country uses for street and roadway lighting.

Panasonic Corporation Thursday unveiled new bulb-shaped LED (light-emitting diode) lamps, the latest addition to its EVERLEDS LED lighting products. The new line-up consisting of eight types of bulbs offers the industry's most energy-efficient, lightest and smallest LED bulbs. They also include the industry's first compact type LED bulbs and dimmable lamps.

Manchester/Boston Airport has improved visibility in its parking garage and is saving money with new LED Lighting technology developed by M-SYSTEMS INC and Leading Edge Design Group.