For the past four decades, Thorn, a Zumtobel Group brand, has been lighting partner to Wembley Stadium connected by EE. In the most recent highlight of this long-term partnership, the specialist for outdoor and sports stadium lighting has now supplied the lighting solution for the Wembley Arch, a 133-metre high landmark structure that is visible across London. Thorn aspires to be the number one supplier of sports and stadium lighting and recently underlined that aim by concluding a Business Partner agreement with Wembley Stadium.

In this latest blog entry by Philips Lauren Spinella, LED devices take on the task of aiding the visually impaired.

Veteran franchise executive, Marc Plaisted, joins LED Source® (www.LEDsource.com), the leading North American LED lighting solutions provider specializing in architectural, entertainment and retrofit applications, as Vice President of Franchise Operations, a newly created position.(www.linkedin.com/in/marcplaisted)

New LNH2 luminaires from American Electric Lighting® provide a cost-effective solution to convert existing HID security lighting systems to LED. Presenting a familiar NEMA Head look, LNH2 luminaires provide a 60 percent energy reduction, while cutting maintenance costs by half to ensure very rapid payback versus HID.  ®

Grabbing headlines this week, Philips has spin-off its traditional lighting business. Implications of the lighting giant’s recent moves can be found in LEDinside latest press release on the issue. We will be releasing an in-depth report on the issue next week. Toshiba is also vying the India LED market having announced it will be setting up a new R&D facility. Moving into LED technology developments, several universities have announced breakthroughs in LED and OLED technology that can make lighting devices more energy efficient. 

Following the spin-off of Osram from Siemens, global lighting giant Philips recently announced it would split off its lighting business into a stand-alone company on September 23. That move follows an announcement in June that Philips would combine Lumileds, its LED components business and automotive lighting business into a separate company.

In a step that could lead to longer battery life in smartphones and lower power consumption for large-screen televisions, researchers at the University of Michigan have extended the lifetime of blue organic light emitting diodes by a factor of 10.

The art of video projection is becoming a widespread phenomenon. “3D projection mapping creates the illusion of multidimensional movement across or around the contours of any surface.” Many cities are now incorporating this ambitious technological art form as part of their events to tell a story using graphic, historic, cultural or mythical content. We have seen fascinating 3D projections on building façades and cathedrals all over the world, from the Sydney Opera House in the southern hemisphere, to the Canadian Parliament Building in Ottawa, to the Sagrada Cathedral in Barcelona.

Utilities, commercial buildings and more can now rely on a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional high-intensity discharge (HID) security lights with GE’s Evolve™ LED Security Light.

Power management company Eaton today announced that the 2014 Next Generation Luminaires (NGL) Solid-State Lighting Design Indoor Competition recognized the Metalux SkyBar™ light-emitting diode (LED) high-bay luminaire and the Portfolio 8-inch LED downlight from its Cooper Lighting Division. The prestigious competition recognizes and promotes excellence in the design of energy-efficient LED luminaires for commercial, industrial and institutional applications.

Everlight has successfully entered top Chinese smartphone manufacturers supply chain including Xiaomi, Huawei and Lenovo, according to an EDN report. The company has become a major backlight supplier for Android smartphone manufactures. The company’s revenue in September 2014 is expected to reach new record heights.

Princeton University researchers have developed a new method to increase the brightness, efficiency and clarity of LEDs, which are widely used on smartphones and portable electronics as well as becoming increasingly common in lighting.

Pixelligent Technologies announced today that it has been selected for a Department of Energy (DOE) solid-state-lighting award to support the continued development of its OLED lighting application. The details of the award can be viewed on the DOE SSL website: //www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ssl/fundopps_061214.html. Pixelligent and its partner OLEDWorks were selected as one of only nine awardees nationwide for this US$1.25 million DOE award.

Digital Lumens, the leader in intelligent LED lighting and energy management systems, today announced that its Digital Light Agent family of products integrates directly with the recently announced Philips Advance Xitanium SR family of drivers to make any LED fixture part of a LightRules-managed intelligent lighting system.

Plessey today announced a further ambitious move to aligning its operations to its expanding Plymouth UK facility through the addition of an LED assembly line. The assembly line will enable Plessey to focus on its innovative high brightness LED growth plans based around its solid-state lighting and sensing business, taking new products from concept to production in less time whilst also functioning as an innovation center for the next generation of LED packages.

Alpha, a global leading materials supplier, introduces a new preform product into the market, to improve assembly yield when using large BGA devices. The product also has usability by enabling reflow soldering of some types of through-hole devices, making it a truly versatile offering.  Named for their precise height control and burr free edges, these non-collapse disc spacers mitigate corner solder bridging caused by BGA warping during SMT reflow.  The spacer blocks are offered in tape and reel packaging for automatic placement with excellent pick rate yield.

Grenoble, the center of one of Europe’s key microelectronics ecosystems, is hosting SEMICON Europa 2014 Oct. 7-9. This is the first time France has hosted the premier annual event for the European chip industry, which achieved a 7.9 percent market growth during the first semester of 2014, according to WSTS association. SEMI, the global trade organization that organizes the SEMICON gatherings, will alternate SEMICON Europa every other year between Dresden and Grenoble beginning this year.

The global average sales price (ASP) for LED bulbs declined by 1.8 percent in August as the market stabilized, according to LEDinside, a subsidiary of the Taiwan-based market intelligence firm TrendForce. Regionally, LED bulb prices declined the most in Japan.

A Japanese semiconductor technology R&D manufacturer Athene has developed a new technology for manufacturing high precision OLED panels, according to a Nikkei Asian Review report.

Entering its 10th anniversary this year, Taiwanese LED package manufacturer Prolight Opto Technology (Prolight) will become registered on the Taiwan bourse on Sept. 24, 2014. At a press conference, the company explained it expects to apply for listing during first half of 2015, and projects becoming listed on the bourse during third quarter that year.

Albeit smart LED bulbs rising popularity among LED manufacturers, for the time being these are still novelty products that only adventurous consumers with enough patience in sorting out the set up will try out, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Since inception, Illumitex has invested more than US $45 million into the development and commercialization of our innovative LED technology. An expert in the field of optics, company founder and Chief Technology Officer Dung Duong based the design of Illumitex LED optics on basic physics principles, which ensure that the vast majority of the photons being emitted from the LEDs are captured and delivered directly to the cannabis canopy. As a result, the highest level of efficiency and light intensity is achieved in a proprietary and patented LED package. A vertically integrated company, Illumitex manufactures its LED packages in Penang, Malaysia (including robotic die placement, gold wire bonding, phosphor application and optic assembly) and assembles fixtures in Austin, TX.

Power management company Eaton today announced its Cooper Lighting Division is helping to improve optical performance and efficiencies at the Denver International Airport (DIA). Replacing more than 5,400 parking garage fixtures, the DIA conversation will include almost 5,000 McGraw-Edison™ Valet™ light-emitting diode (LED) luminaires, helping the airport to save approximately US $327,000 annually or US $6.5 million over 20 years. Construction of the multimillion-dollar project began in May 2014 with an anticipated completion date of November 2014.

Dayton Power & Light Company (DP&L), a subsidiary of The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) awarded Victoria Theatre Association with an energy efficiency rebate of US $67,650 for extensive lighting upgrades in The Arts Garage.

University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ has installed high performance LED stadium lights from Ephesus Lighting, Inc., the leader in providing LED lighting solutions for sports facilities.   According to Amy Casper, CEO of the Syracuse-based company, the facility will be the first NFL venue to illuminate the playing surface exclusively with LED lighting.  

A new LED art glass display has been completed by glass artist Peter Edward Jurgens of Krystal Glass Company. The illuminated glass angel is now on display at the Krystal Glass Company showroom at 2411 N.W. 16 Lane #6 in Pompano Beach, Florida 33064.

A brand new £1.2 million (US $1.97 million) tennis center has been opened in Portsmouth and is the first of its kind to benefit from LED lighting, all of which has been provided by Luxonic. Former British number one, Greg Rusedski and council dignitaries opened the complex, which is situated next to the Mountbatten Sports Centre.

Access Fixtures now provides a solution for property owners and contractors who are tired of replacing and maintaining wall packs and landscape lighting. The problem is they constantly are replacing glass lenses and lighting components that have been damaged by rocks, vehicles, or vandals. The solution: a vandal-resistant luminaire that withstands hits and still functions. These new luminaires were to put to the test in a series of videos by Access Fixtures that showcased the durability of the fixture. Access Fixtures will be at NECA 2014 where they will have the test fixture on display.

Market insiders in Taiwan recognize the LED TV backlight market entered seasonal adjustments in third quarter, but the adjustments are expected to impact LED manufacturers revenue in September, according to a China Times report. Taiwan’s LED chip manufacturers revenue were impacted by inventory adjustments from July to August 2014, while LED package manufacturers have kept up growth.

Refond Opto announced Monday night, shareholder Konka Precision Mould Plastic (Konka) sold out more than 3.02 percent of its stake in the Chinese LED manufacturer, according to a Sinai report.