In the past few years, LEDs have made huge advances in energy efficiency. Industry sources and outside experts say LEDs are now the most energy-efficient lighting source available. They use far less energy than other bulbs, last a lot longer, and cost less to use over their lifetime.

Recently, ON Semiconductor has released the NCP5890, a lighting management device that integrates LCD backlighting, fun light controls and ambient light sensing in a 3mm x 3mm x 0.55mm µQFN-16 package. It targets compact smart phone and portable media player applications.

It’s reported that Brooklyn Park and Xcel Energy Co. started an energy saving experiment this week by installing LED bulbs in nine streetlights.

Sharp Corporation will introduce into the Japanese market two models of solar-powered LED street lights that combine Sharp’s proprietary solar (photovoltaic) modules and high-intensity, long-life white LEDs (light emitting diodes). The LN-LW3A1 Solar-Powered LED Street Light delivers brightness at the industry’s highest level (instrument-measured luminous flux: 1,800 lumens) rivaling the light output from a regular 32-W fluorescent security light (which uses six compact fluorescent tubes) that is becoming the dominant product for this application.

Ohio East Manufacturing, Randolph, Ohio, has announced it is offering a LED lighting system that is completely sealed against the elements. The system uses sealed “plug-in” connections designed to prevent moisture infiltration and subsequent corrosion from compromising the functionality of the trailer's lighting system, the company says. This moisture-barrier lighting system is now standard equipment on all East aluminum flatbed, dump and transfer trailers.

 Addressing the burgeoning market for energy-saving, environmentally friendly light-emitting diode (LED) technology, Freescale Semiconductor is now sampling the first LED backlight product in its power management IC portfolio. 

Crews with Daktronics and Pittsburg State University have burned the midnight oil for the last several days to ensure that the new "Jungle-tron" at Carnie Smith Stadium was ready for use Saturday during Pitt State’s home opener with Missouri Southern.“It was probably pretty typical for a project of this size,” said Daktronics project manager Tom Manier on Saturday.

Recently, The UK Technology Strategy Board (TSB) has announced funding for twelve innovative research projects to accelerate the development of more energy-efficient lighting, lasers and displays. The R&D projects are intended to help British manufacturers to stay ahead of international competition - and contribute to the UK's climate change goals.

It’s reported that LEDs 2008 is to be headlined by key industry players include Philips Lumileds Lighting, Cree Inc, Osram Opto Semiconductors, Toyoda Gosei, Nichia, the US EPA and Audi.

Recently, Freescale Semiconductor is sampling the first LED backlight product in its power management IC portfolio. The 10-channel MC34844 white LED driver IC with an integrated boost converter is designed for LED backlights in notebook computers, as well as in flat-panel monitors with screen sizes ranging from 10 inches to 27 inches.

It’s reported that PREMA Semiconductor GmbH, is located in Mainz, Germany, has designed 10-channel LED driver dubbed the PR4010 that drives up to 10 LEDs of any color individually.

It’s reported that Aviza Technology, the semiconductor equipment vendor with a renewed focus on the compounds sector, has scored a major win with a substantial order for its etch and CVD tools.

Recently, Luminus Devices announced that its award-winning PhlatLight® LEDs are powering two of the newest portable LED based projectors, the Samsung P400 Pocket Imager and LG Electronics’ HS-102 Ultra-Mobile Projector. Both projectors are lamp-free, weigh less than two pounds and fit in the palm of a hand.

Recently, Kim Lighting, a leading manufacturer of outdoor architectural lighting, announced its Site Wallforms Series now includes new super bright white LED technology.

It’s reported that AU Optronics Corp., the largest TFT-LCD panel manufacturer in Taiwan, has decided to restart an active matrix-organic light-emit diode (AM-OLED) research project in the fourth quarter after two years of suspension. B.D. Liu, vice president of AUO Technology Center, pointed out that his company plans to restart AM-OLED display development in the fourth quarter to meet the market demand.

Recently, Aviza Technology, Inc., a supplier of advanced semiconductor capital equipment and process technologies for the global semiconductor industry and related markets, announced that it has received multiple orders from one of the world's leading optoelectronics manufacturers.

It’s reported that WieDaMark, LLC, launched WDM Lighting this quarter. WDM Lighting, a company of WieDaMark, LLC, will showcase the WDM product line and national distributor program. It specializes in LED and energy-efficient lighting solutions for residential, commercial, and entertainment industries.

It’s reported that Intematix Corp., a leading innovator in phosphors, LED components and solid state lighting modules, has added more top talent with the announcement that Jeff Lagaly has joined the company as Vice President of Sales, LED Lighting. Mr. Lagaly was formerly Global Sales Director for Cree Lighting, overseeing the sales effort that introduced and drove Cree’s XLamp LED line to sales estimated in excess of $100M.

Recently, Greenlight Initiative, a New York City based LED-lighting sales organization and solutions provider, announced its plans to implement full third party photometric testing and qualification for all of its product lines beginning January 2009. This program, intended to independently verify and extend upon any available manufacturers’ test data, is in addition to Greenlight’s previously announced qualitative evaluation program.

It's reported that Dellux Technologies Inc., Canada, an international leader in LED tunnel lighting, has selected Golden DRAGON LEDs from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors for the luminaires to be installed in the 「Thüringer Schmücketunnel」 on the A71 in the German state Thüringen. Upon installation of the new LED luminaires, in the fall of 2008, it will be the first tunnel in Germany and the longest in Europe to be illuminated by LED light.

It’s reported that Evident Technologies, Inc, a Try, NY-based company that develops and commercializes technology based on semiconductor nanocrystals, has signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Philips Electronics. This will pave the way for Evident to commercialize nanocrystal-based LEDs. Evident Technologies is intending to immediately launch a new line of low-power LEDs and LED-based products that use semiconductor nanocrystals as a phosphor.

It’s reported that the Vitec Group plc has acquired the business and assets of Litepanels, Inc and Litepanels, LLC, a leading manufacturer of LED-based lights for the television, broadcast, video and film industries. The initial consideration of US$14.5m, will be paid in cash, with additional deferred consideration dependent on future profitability.

Freescale Semiconductor has entered the LED market, and announced that it is sampling the first LED backlight product in its power management IC portfolio. The 10-channel MC34844 (pictured) white LED driver IC is targeted at LED backlights in notebook computers, as well as in flat-panel monitors with screen sizes ranging from 10 inches to 27 inches.

It’s reported that Russian and German scientists revisited the idea of light produced this way Nearly 20 years later. The light was still of such poor luminance that the idea nearly died again. The science of electroluminescence languished in obscurity for a while. It didn’t begin to gain favor again in the 1950s until some British scientists started experimenting with it again. This led to the first infrared LED. From this technology came the first visible spectrum LED, in red, from GaP.

It’s reported that Evident Technologies, a privately held company based in Troy, N.Y., is preparing to release in a few weeks a new type of LED that promises to display any color, making the technology more useful in marketing signage, computer displays, and other applications. Evident announced that it had licensed from Philips Electronics technology that will pave the way for Evident to commercialize its LEDs, which use nanocrystals of semiconductor material that can display any color.

It’s reported that Microsharp Corporation, a privately owned UK company focused on the development of specialist optical films, has joined the EU funded, OLED-100.eu R&D project as the only UK participant.

Recently, Freescale Semiconductor is expanding in the LED market, designing semiconductors for LED backlights used in notebook computers and other products equipped with flat-panel monitors. Technology for the new backlight system was developed at Freescale's Tempe facility and in California, and components will be manufactured at the company's Chandler plant.

Recently, Philips and Sony both unveiled new LCD televisions that use LED backlights at IFA, a major consumer electronic show held in Berlin, Germany on August 29 - September 3. Both companies had new TVs that used the LED backlights to achieve local dimming, while Sony also had a 40-inch LCD TV with LED edge-lighting – almost certainly a first.

Recently, Cree, Inc., a market leader in LED lighting, and the City of Welland, Ontario, Canada, announced that Welland has joined the LED City initiative, an international program that promotes the deployment of energy-efficient LED lighting. The city has converted many of its lighting applications to LEDs, including streetlights and traffic signals, and has additional projects underway. Welland has also amended its municipal standards to facilitate LED lighting for all future streetlight installations.

It’s reported that the sales of Taiwan's LED makers rose 16.1 percent in the first half of this year from the same period a year earlier. This is helped by the Beijing Olympics and higher energy prices that are encouraging the use of lower-cost lighting.