A lamp that uses gravity to power light emitting diodes (LEDs) has been given a green award.The Gravia lamp designed by Virginia Tech student Clay Moulton earned second place in the Greener Gadgets Design Competition.Electricity to power the 10 high-output LEDs is generated by a weight that spins a rotor as it falls to earth.The weight is housed in an acrylic column, with the LEDs at its base shining through the acrylic to provide a diffuse glow.

Shuji Nakamura is the man who discovered the blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) used in the newest DVD players.Later research by Nakamura led to white LEDs, which may eventually replace much of the world''s lighting.His work earned him the 2006 Millennium Technology Award, the tech world equivalent of the Nobel Prize.In 1989, Nakamura was virtually alone in his work on LEDs when his supervisor at Nichia Chemical Industries in Japan suggested he quit because his research wasn''t going anywhere.

Buck convertor can drive up to ten 50mA LEDs in a single series string from a 48V input, making it ideal for industrial and LED signage applicationsThe LT3590 from Linear Technology is a 48V buck-mode DC/DC convertor designed to operate as a constant-current LED driver. An internal 55V, 80mA switch and Schottky diode enable it to drive up to ten 50mA LEDs in a single series string from a 48V input, making it ideal for industrial and LED signage applications.

It's reported that the total revenues of Taiwan LED makers listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) reached NT$5.7 billion (US$177 million) in January, up 1.8% from NT$5.6 billion last December. Downstream packaging makers saw their total revenues reach NT$3.36 billion, up 3% sequentially, while LED chip makers totaled revenues of NT$2.34 billion, up 0.1% sequentially.

A metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB) laminate for LED applications has been announced by Laird Technologies. The innovative environmentally-friendly new T-lam SS LLDlaminate is designed to keep bright and ultra-bright LED light engines burning brighter, longer and uniformly, says the company.T-lam SS LLD features a copper circuit layer and aluminium base plate bonded together with the company's T-lam LLD dielectric. T-lam SS LLD laminates are processed through standard circuit board manufacturing and assembly processes.

On February 19, Leadis Technology announced sample availability of the LDS8860, a new charge-pump based 6-channel LED driver that implements the company's proprietary PowerLite(TM) Current Regulator to deliver up to 91% power efficiency for longer battery life.

The inventor of the light emitting diode (LED) is set to join the inventor of the original light bulb when he is inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.Nick Holonyack, who developed the first practical LED, will enter the pantheon which welcomed Thomas Edison when it first opened in 1973.

Strategies Unlimited predicts that the LED industry is emerging from a slow growth phase, and that the total market size in 2012 will exceed $11bn. According to a market update presented by Bob Steele at the 2008 Strategies in Light conference in Santa Clara, California, the market for packaged high-brightness LEDs is set to grow by 12% in 2008. Steele said that the market grew by 9.5% in 2007 to reach $4.6 billion, somewhat higher than the 6% growth in 2005 and 2006.

Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), a market leader in LED solid-state lighting components, announces the results of an independent survey on the adoption, deployment and benefits of LED lighting. The survey, taken at the recent 2007 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair, validates strong global growth for LED lighting applications, confirms awareness of the energy-efficiency benefits of LEDs and indicates that the adoption trend should continue through the end of the decade. Key survey findings include:

Everlight Electronics Co. Ltd. (TSE:2393) today introduces 1- and 3-Watt high-power LEDs that deliver high luminosity, long operating life and system efficiency in a broad range of solid-state lighting designs. Part of Everlight’s XcelLED(TM) series, the EHP-AX08/P01 (1-Watt) and EHP-AX08/P03 (3-Watt) families are among the highest-flux emitters on the market.

Dialight Corp.'s D264 Series LED-based flashing red beacons are being optimized for wind farm installations by two industry-leading OEM distributors.Dialight provides standard D264 beacons, which are modified to incorporate an integral photocell, controller and GPS-based synchronized flasher module in a compact design that eliminates the need for additional control cabinets and wiring, according to the company.

Carmanah Technologies Corporation has received an order through Dubai-based GESOLAR - the company's authorized aviation distributor in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - to supply solar-powered portable airfield lights for privately-owned airfield applications within the region. The order, valued at more than $600,000, provides the tools to enhance visibility and safety at remote airfields using energy-efficient LED (light emitting diode) beacons powered by clean, cost-effective solar energy.

Light Emitting Diodes (LED) are changing the face of autos, inside and out, designers and engineers say. Once a beacon for the plush interiors of Lexus, Mercedes and Cadillac, LEDs have made their way into daily drivers such as the Ford Focus and Chevy Malibu, and certainly will make their way into more. Interior and exterior designers love the little light bulbs and are finding new ways to use them.

Atlas Electrical Technologies Services designed and installed an anti collision system that supervises the work area limits, gathers information on the proximity of these limits and prevents dangerous movements. This involves radio telecommunication features which aid in establishing limiting features to prevent jib to jib, jib to load and jib to tower deck collision. The system also has zone points along loading bays, traffic lanes and edges of buildings where the cranes should not tread.

'Tactical'flashlights - torches for shining into people's eyes - are already popular in the US amongst certain special interest groups and now a Californian firm has taken the concept one stage further. With $1m from the Department of Homeland Security, Intelligent Optical Systems of Los Angeles has created the LED Incapacitator.

Adding a new category to its TV business, Recently,Sony of Canada Ltd. announced that it will launch the XEL-1, an 11-inch Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) television. Aiming to expand its overall TV business, Sony will add the new XEL-1 model to the lineup of televisions that is currently centered on the "BRAVIA" line of LCDs. The new OLED TV model features an "Organic Panel", which was independently developed by Sony and has exceptional features. The XEL-1 has a unique structure that achieves brilliant deep blacks and extremely high

  You can forget the Wii, PS3 or iPhone right now. The most exciting product unboxing of the 21st century is here, and it dumps on all of 'em from a great height. Oh yes, Tech Digest has the exclusive on the Tchibo Tweezers with LED. That's right: laser-guided tweezers (almost).