LED lighting supplier Cree has launched LED University to promote and accelerate the adoption of LEDs by showcasing their use at universities. North Carolina State University, the first to sign up with the initiative, has installed recessed LED lighting in a dorm and chancellor's office and is putting in LED lighting in parking garages. The university reports LED lighting in the dorm has cut energy use by 66 percent so far.

LCD panel makers are gearing up their development for the growing market trend of low-cost notebooks, with the makers planning new sizes and applications for the segment.AUO plans to adopt LED backlighting for all of its notebook panels by the end of 2011, in line with its goal to roll out lighter, thinner and more power-saving solutions. The maker will also give heavy emphasis to 16:9 notebook panels, according to Peng.

It's reported that Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) is aiming to have the world's largest capacity for IT panels by the end of 2009 in terms of capacity from its fifth-generation (5G), 5.5G and 6G lines.

Recently, the American government says that if every American home replaced one light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb, we could save enough energy to prevent greenhouse gases equal to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars. Certainly great news, yet recycling burned-out CFL light bulbs poses a quandary for homeowners.

Venture capital firm VentureTech Alliance, mostly owned by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), recently put around US$40 million into LED epitaxy-wafer maker BridgeLux of the United States for a seat at the company`s director board.

The ISL78100 can use a DC bias current or an external PWM signal for more accurate control of the LED colour temperature.Intersil has released the ISL78100, a high-power integrated LED driver designed for display backlighting and body electronics applications. The ISL78100 is designed to withstand harsh automotive environments and can be configured to optimally drive from one to eight high-brightness LEDs, while being capable of operating in boost, buck or SEPIC configurations.

Texas Instruments Inc. has released a 16-channel, 50 mA constant-current sink LED driver, with an input voltage of up to 17V. The TLC5943's integrated enhanced spectrum pulse-width modulation (PWM) improves image quality and reduces flicker noise in monochrome, multicolor and full-color LED displays, as well as LED signboards and display backlighting.

It's reported that AU Optronics (AUO) will roll out LED TV panels in small volume this year, chiefly in the 40-inch class, but the company is still evaluating whether the TV segment will adopt a strategy as aggressive the one for notebooks as far as LED backlighting is concerned, according to Yong-Hong Lu, AUO's vice president for Global Supply Chain Management.

The MacBook Air has become the best advertisement for why companies should use LED (light-emitting diode) backlights in notebook screens, and is driving adoption, according to market researcher DisplaySearch. LED backlights in display screens are an improvement over old CCFL (cold-cathode florescent lamps) technology for several reasons, including a stunning picture due to more vibrant contrasts, better power savings, and they're easier on the environment because they contain no mercury and last longer.

Despite producing a 50lm output with all LEDs illuminated, the SEPW devices are not power hungry, using just 100lm/W (at 20mA) with all LEDs illuminated.

Citizen Holdings Co., a Japanese maker of watches and industrial machinery, plans to increase the number of research workers dedicated to light-emitting diodes as the devices replace incandescent bulbs in homes and offices. The company will allocate almost half its research employees of about 200 to LED development as soon as possible, rising from 10 percent now, Mitsuyuki Kanamori, who was appointed president of Tokyo-based Citizen on April 1, said in a Bloomberg Television interview broadcast today.

To be held in Tokyo on October 16-17, the conference will center on the worldwide market for high-brightness LEDs. 

On April 8, 2008 Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed Senate Bill 713 authorizing the use of certain auxiliary lighting on motorcycles.Effective June 1, 2008, Maryland motorcyclists can legally ride with light emitting diode (LED) pods and strips on their motorcycle, provided they do not blink, oscillate, or flash and are not red or blue, as these colors are reserved for law enforcement and emergency vehicles. That leaves amber, green, hot pink, jade, orange, purple, and white.

The World's Largest LED Free-Hanging Chandelier was illuminated for the first time by Meyda Lighting on April 2nd, at the Stanley Center for the Arts in Utica, New York. Meyda Lighting, a Meyda Tiffany company and nation's leading manufacturer of decorative lighting, recently installed the chandelier after one year of planning and production in its manufacturing facilities.

Springtime doesn't just bring flowers, short shorts and silly Red Sox pranks. No, it also brings new information on HDTVs that will be released throughout the year. Someone at BGR got a hold of Sony's HDTV roadmap for its LCD lineup and it looks like the XBR6, XBR7 and XBR8 will getting a little more than a new coat of paint, the XBR8 especially.

More contrast all round, as Bravia televisions get major boostIn a move that could have a major impact on the display industry, a leaked report discovered on Monday suggests that Sony will offer LED-backlit screens in its high-end Bravia line of HD TVs this autumn.According to the Boy Genius Report, Sony's not-so-secret roadmap includes an LED-backlit display on its Bravia XBR line, as well as support for DLNA media sharing and online program guides, all of which will appear in the as-yet announced XBR7.More contrasty

Lightscape Technologies, a provider of large scale LED screens and installations, LED lighting design solutions, and advanced lighting products, announced that its joint venture has completed the installation of its first mega-sized LED outdoor advertising display in Beijing, China, with another to follow by early May.

The Hutchinson City Council will discuss during a study session today whether to place a moratorium on LED signs in Hutchinson.Hutchinson's current sign code does not address LED signs, which are becoming a trend. However, staff and a consultant are working on a new code that will, among other things, regulate LED signs specifically. The new code should be ready by October.

A cycling safety jacket with embedded light-emitting diodes (LED) which was tested around London has won a prestigious James Dyson international design award at an event in New York.UK-based designer Michael Chen developed the Reactiv cycle jacket with LEDs that illuminate and change colour in response to the cyclists behaviour, turning red when brakes are applied, flashing green with acceleration and lighting up in amber to indicate a turn.

The LED Edge Lit Acrylic Point of Sale Sign from Poly Optics Australia is used for sales promotions and can be customised with colour changing signs and custom made company logos or brand. This lighting system uses microprocessor controlled LED’s to provide superior messages when compared to traditional signage.The Step and Aisle lighting systems from Poly Optics Australia turns ordinary stairs into amazing lighting features. These fibre optic strips come in a number of diameters and colours.

Delta Electronics, Inc. announced it has developed an advanced, energy-saving High Brightness 5W/9W/12W LED Lamp, and will demonstrate the new lamp at the Light+Building 2008 exhibition in Frankfurt, April 06-11. The LED lamp is 100% compatible with current sockets (E27) and is similar in appearance to compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) of the same wattage. The lamp is easily installed and readily replaces CFL and incandescent lamps.

Oxford Instruments said it has acquired Technologies and Devices International Inc., which develops hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) technology and processes used to manufacture high-brightness light-emitting diode (LEDs), power ICs and other products. TDI also manufactures compound semiconductors based on gallium nitride and other "III-nitride" materials.The deal comes three months after the death of TDI founder Vladimir Dmitriev, who suffered a heart attack at age 52 in January, shortly after receiving a U.S. patent for HVPE technology.

Intersil Corporation, a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance analog semiconductors, today announced the release of the ISL78100, a High Power Integrated LED Driver designed for display backlighting and body electronics applications. The ISL78100 is designed specifically to withstand harsh automotive environments.

Nano-Layer Deposition Tool and Processes Will Support Advanced Development for HB-LEDs at one of the world's foremost manufacturers.

Chelsea FC is to install 250 metres of LED-based banners displays at its Stamford Bridge stadium. Philips will supply the LED panels and application system. It also supplied two 40m sq. LED video screens that were installed in 1999."Chelsea FC is a world recognised football club and Stamford Bridge is our platform to the sports world. Our ongoing partnership with Philips is helping us to achieve this," said Chris Gleeson, facilities manager at Football Club.

Nu Horizons Electronics Corp., a leading global distributor of advanced technology semiconductor, display, illumination, power and system solutions; today announced the availability of the ULE2210A LED Universal Light Engine(TM) platform from OptoElectronix, Inc., a leading general illumination and custom LED product supplier. Taking a giant step towards providing a bridge from the LED supplier to the lighting fixture designer, OptoElectronix is now manufacturing the first in a series of general illumination products to be based on their 40mm circular light platform.

A range of LED modules (LEDules2), from CML Innovative Technologies (CML- IT), is now available with an online 'designer's pack' including application notes and technical data sheets on how to incorporate drivers, heatsinking etc. The 'designer's pack' also includes full technical sales information and data sheets.

Delta Electronics announced it has developed an advanced, energy-saving High Brightness 5W/9W/12W LED Lamp, and will demonstrate the new lamp at the Light+Building 2008 exhibition in Frankfurt, April 06-11.

Avago Technologies  announced on April,9 its first 1-Watt cool white Moonstone™ power LED emitter for use in a variety of street lamps, portable, task, backlighting, and decorative lighting applications. Avago’s ASMT-MW09 LED features a low profile design and delivers high flux output of up to 95 lumens (lm) at 350mA drive current.

Lightscape Technologies Inc., a provider of large scale LED screens and installations, LED lighting design solutions, and advanced lighting products, today announced that its joint venture has completed the installation of its first mega-sized LED outdoor advertising display in Beijing, China, with another to follow by early May.