Starting next year, the U.S. government phase out of incandescent bulbs goes into effect in hopes of encouraging consumers to switch to more energy efficient lighting. Although consumers recognize the benefit of LEDs, the high prices are still hard to swallow. That however is all about to change with companies such as Cree and Walmart launching LED bulbs at cost-friendly prices. With prices as low as US $ 10, LED manufacturers are feeling the heat in the increasingly fierce price competition.

LED manufacturer Lextar’s Suzhou factory has begun die manufacturing on top of existing package and wire bonding production. The Suzhou factory will introduce an estimated 16 MOCVD to produce 60,000 2 inch dies a month. Adding on the current production capacity of the company’s Taiwanese factory, 160,000 in total will be produce monthly, total production capacity increase of around 37.5 percent. The new production capacity has already entered into a trial phase and is estimated to officially begin 2Q14.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published the findings of a new study utilizing a highly accelerated life-test method (called the “hammer test”) intended to produce failures in SSL luminaires in a reasonable test period, with the goal of providing insight into potential failure modes. EntitledHammer Testing Findings for Solid-State Lighting Luminaires, the report was prepared by RTI International for DOE’s LED Systems Reliability Consortium.

Philips LED Lighting Campus in Chengdu that has been closely watched by the industry was opened today, in the western campus of the Chengdu High-tech Industrial Development Zone (Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province). On the same day, Philips also unveiled its world-class Lighting Application Center that is located within the facility. 

Christmas lighting specialist Piggotts has been chosen by Covent Garden Limited to create the Christmas illuminations across the market square and surrounding streets.

In order to reduce its carbon footprint, the historical Hotel Adlon Kempinski chose GE Lighting's retrofit LED lamps to replace its current inefficient halogen lighting in its 382 suites and guest rooms.

OSRAM SYLVANIA is demonstrating how innovative SYLVANIA and Traxon lighting solutions can benefit healthcare providers, patients and families in a next-generation inpatient care environment called “Patient Room 2020.” In collaboration with NXT Health, a non-profit open innovation platform for designing new healthcare experiences, OSRAM SYLVANIA and Traxon Technologies worked to supply a variety of LED lighting technologies and controls solutions to equip Patient Room 2020 with precise, customizable and energy-efficient lighting.

LIFX created a Wi-Fi enabled, multi-color, energy efficient LED light bulb that you can control with a smartphone. LIFX gives you a completely one-of-a-kind experience with your lights, up to 16+ million color options at your fingertips. 

Lucibel closed its €15 million (US $20.5 milllion) financing operation, started in March 2013, with an additional contribution of €9 million in bonds, convertible into shares, subscribed by Bpifrance, Aster Capital and CM CIC Capital Innovation.

San’an has completed a 30 percent transition from 2 inch to 4 inch sapphire substrate, and strives to reach 70 percent and above by next year, said  the company’s Chairman Secretary Li Xuetan.

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) announced it has acquired a building in the Chengdu Hi-Tech Zone from UTAC Chengdu Ltd. Earlier this year, TI announced its investments in these operations could total up to US $1.69 billion over the next 15 years, further demonstrating its long-term investment strategy in this important region.

Apple has continued filing patents that enable flexible displays, but this time with a twist of sapphire. The U.S. consumer electronics giant has added to its range of patents a “killer invention” that enables flexible wraparound displays in potential future iPhone and other devices, according to a recent report by Apple Patently. 

According to a recent report from Navigant Research, worldwide revenue from occupancy sensors, photosensors, and lighting network control gear will grow from US$ 1.1 billion annually in 2013 to nearly US$ 2.7 billion by 2020.

Ten cities in Indian state Tamil Nadu including Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Tuticorin, Erode, Salem, Tirupur, Vellore, Madurai and Tirunelveli will replace 200,000 40W fluorescent tube lights with LEDs, according to a report by Hindu Times. 

With the start of the Illuminade walking route, Amsterdam Light Festival 2013/2014 is now complete. Enjoy the many light artworks along this special walking route in the historic Plantagebuurt.

Lighting Science announced that founder and Chief Technology Officer Fred Maxik has been awarded his 100th patent by the United States Patent & Trademark Office. This milestone marks a prestigious career of LED innovation including patents for the first biologically-corrected lighting which is the genesis of the recently launched, ground-breaking Good Night™ LED lamp and the Awake & Alert™ LED lamp.

The LIGHTFAIR® International (LFI®) 2014 Conference brings together top lighting and design experts to create the largest Conference in LFI’s 25-year history. The Conference continues as a centerpiece of the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference, which will take place in Las Vegas June 1-5, 2014 (Trade Show: June 3-5; Conference: June 1-5).

Acuity Brands, Inc. introduces technologically advanced Mongoose® LED Roadway and Area Lighting luminaires from Holophane® . The new LED luminaires significantly reduce energy and maintenance costs while providing a bright white light for improved visibility. The fixtures, named a 2013 IES Progress Report Selection, reduce energy expenses and CO2 emissions by up to 60 percent, and maintenance costs by more than 50 percent for new and retrofit applications.

Highlights this week: Philips releases a strangely flat LED bulb this week that resembles a horseshoe. The bulb without a heat sink is expected to help the manufacturer cut production costs. Also this week, Texas Instrument gives a comprehensive overview of the effects of the incandescent phase out in 2014, while LEDinside analysts give an in depth analysis of LED industry market trends next year at a seminar in Shenzhen China this week. In the OLED sector, Samsung shows its ambition in OLED technology by merging its OLED and LCD division, with Hon Hai (Foxconn technology) close behind with its announcement of mass producing OLED panels in 2015. For more please see below:

LEDinside analysts revealed 2014 LED market trends during the LEDinside Chief Analyst Market Seminar organized by TrendForce at Shenzhen Marco Polo, China on Dec. 19, 2013. Renowned LED brands including Cree, Samsung Electronics, HC Semitek Corp., Refond and Honglitronics attended the seminar. The main agenda of the seminar was to discuss global LED trends in 2014 and Chinese market developments. LEDinside analysts approached the subject from lighting, backlight and package perspectives to give a comprehensive analysis. Below are some of the trends observed by LEDinside analysts:

Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) has begun its vertical integration strategy in 2013, and will be moving from chip manufacturing to packaging and module production. The company’s new Kunshan factory will be focused in the areas of LED packaging and module production, said the company Chairman David Chung. GPI’s current flip chip monthly production capacity for LED chip packaging is about 4KK.

Taiwanese LED package manufacturer Tyntek has ended investment in LED upstream chip manufacturer Alpha Plus Epi Inc (Alpha Plus Epi) with an estimated recognized loss of NT $1 billion (US $33.4 million) for 2013. The company however does not plan to completely back out of the LED chip market. Instead, the company is shifting focus from the Taiwan market to China. Tyntek through a joint venture with Fujian Electronics & Information established Fujian Prima Optoelectronics in 2010. This new epitaxy factory is projected to begin mass production in 2H14.

Prasad Dhond, Marketing Manager of Lighting Power Products at Texas Instruments (TI) gives a comprehensive overview of the effects of the incandescent bulb phase out in 2014. Below is his recent blog entry:

New research by two John Hopkins University students showed older Apple Mac’s cameras, iSight, can be hacked to covertly monitor users.

Barcelona-based window display designer Lisardo Mendo, who has been designing windows for 30 years offers retailers advice on making great window display lightings in a recent GE Lighting Europe blog entry. Mendo has created window displays for prestigious brands including Levi’s, Dockers, Tommy Hilfger, Nike, Montblanc and others. Below is the full GE Lighting Europe blog entry:

Soitec and CEA have renewed their long-standing and fruitful partnership for the next five years. This new contract aims to support Soitec’s strategy for the electronics, solar energy and lighting markets. It will focus on engineered substrates and materials offering higher performances and energy savings at a competitive cost.

The GER MOOD SWEATER  interprets emotions and displays mood instantly as an interactive light display.

Supertex, manufacturer in high voltage analog and mixed signal integrated circuits (ICs),  introduced PS30, a constant frequency (67kHz), constant duty cycle LED driver optimized for dimmable off-line LED bulb/tube applications, providing high power factor correction (PFC). PS30 is intended to drive a single switch, single inductor power converter (flyback for isolated version and buck-boost for non-isolated version) directly from AC line, 110V or 220V, for power levels up to 20W. PS30DB1 demo board provides a 6.3W design solution, achieving 93% PFC and greater than 81% efficiency with +/-4% current accuracy. It can be modified for other power levels up to 20W.

Diodes Incorporated, global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality application specific standard products within the broad discrete, logic and analog semiconductor markets, today introduced the AP1694, an AC-DC controller providing a universal high-performance driver solution for a variety of mains-dimmable LED lamp designs. Suitable for both 120V and 230V AC inputs, while supporting non-isolated buck, buck-boost and isolated flyback topologies, this part enables between 10% and 50% reductions in total BOM costs.

LED manufacturers cost control pressure for has not eased  as TV retail prices continue to drop. Low priced direct- type LED TVs are projected to become mainstream in 2014. LED manufacturers also plan continual release of low-cost solutions. Taiwanese manufacturers are optimistic about flip chip products ability to expand beam angle and conduct higher voltage electric currents, with Taiwanese manufacturers such as Epistar and Forepi leading the way in introducing flip chips into large sized backlight applications.