A couple of interesting LED technologies on the editorial radar this week. A UK team has now managed to increase Li-fi transmission speed to 10 Gbps, can this be the next big trend for industry non-lighting applications? We can only wait and see. Breakthroughs in quantum dot technology and phosphor have also taken place this week manufacturers just might be able to benefit and implement better cost control from these newer technologies. For more info, please see list below:

The LED industry’s development has been anything but a smooth ride. Foreign manufacturers have monopolized the technology market in China. The industry in China also faces challenges of being overtly small, incomplete supply chains, and oversupply in the midstream and downstream markets. Despite being the “star” of the era, the industry is facing a bottleneck. How can companies cope pragmatically during an industry low tide? How should social awareness change to create a better environment for industry development? How can the Chinese government speed up industry standardization and corresponding development policies?

Allen Yu, LEDinside analyst in Shanghai, talks about Chinese LED display manufacturers shift into the media sector in this article. Yu gives insights about the pros and cons for manufacturers transiting into the media sector. 

Soraa Chief Technology Officer Mike Krames recently ressponded to LED Magazine article's claims that the company's GanN-on-GaN MR16 emits large quantities of UV rays. Below is Krames blog entry on the company website:

By determining simple guidelines, researchers at UC Santa Barbara's Solid State Lighting & Energy Center (SSLEC) have made it possible to optimize phosphors –– a key component in white LED lighting –– allowing for brighter, more efficient lights.

Accent lighting is an approach used to create an emotional tug in ways general lighting or static integrated lighting systems typically cannot achieve. If you are looking for an accent lighting solution that provides beam flexibility, superior “candlepower punch” and maximum light output at minimum watts per square foot to meet the latest ASHRAE codes, the following lighting solution is your best pick to meet your retail & hospitality project needs. Discover now how PHILIPS LIGHTOLIER Alcyon LED Vertical is taking LED accent lighting to the next level!

A U.S. manufacturer Dog-E-Glow has launched a series of LED dog leashes and collars to keep pets safe during walks at night. The company claims the leashes are visible at a range of 304.8 meters (1,000 feet), which could help prevent road accidents as drivers and motorists will be able to see the glowing animal from afar.In addition, the weather resistant leash uses LEDs with 100,000 hours lifetime, and a battery with 150 hour life. These dogs below party hard after a week of hard work in the office.

Dimplex's acclaimed OptiMyst® Electric Fireplace technology is the most realistic flame effect in the industry today and the first ever 3D fire. Previously launched with only one model, Dimplex plans to release 5 new models and designs for the 2013 holiday season available on ElectricFireplacesDirect.com, the largest online retailer of electric fireplaces.

Lumishore a maker of underwater LED lighting fixtures has announced the company significantly upgraded their highly acclaimed series of surface mounted underwater LED lighting fixtures. The SMX Underwater LED Lights are one of the most popular underwater led lights on the market today and they just got better.

Surrounded by modern high-rise cityscape, the 100-year old, red-brick building, Tokyo Station stands out for its historical value. Recently preserved and restored, it is not only a historical railway station located near the Imperial Palace grounds and the Ginza commercial district, but also the busiest station in Japan.

The trend in lowered prices in the LED market has not changed. With LED chip prices expected to drop substantially in the next few years, packaging is also facing pressure to lower costs. According to current LED component costs, package costs make up 60 percent of the overall cost. U.S. DOE estimates that LED package costs will drop 50 percent by 2016. Advantages in Epoxy Molding Compound (EMC) lead frames in galvanizing high electrical currents, having UV resistance, and ability to withstand high temperatures has draw the attention of package manufacturers. Philips Lumileds plans to introduce high volume EMC lead frame LED package components in 2014. 

San’an Optoelectronics revealed their 3Q financial report on October 30th.

LED package manufacturer Ledtech benefited from low temperature lighting orders.

CRS Electronics Inc. ("CRS" or the "Company"), a developer and manufacturer of LED lighting products, today announced they have selected Cree to provide the LEDs for their new QuantumLED commercial lamp (bulb) brand. QuantumLED lamps will feature Cree's latest XP-G2 LED technology.

Financial research institute Zacks Equity Research recently picked Cree as Bear of the Day—a label used to define companies that financially have not been performing too well. In July, Cree had topped the financial company’s list as one of the most promising companies. Below is Zacks analysis of the company’s financial situation:

Pixelstick takes light painting to a whole new level.

ANTENNA REVEAL: As a special surprise and gift to New York City and the world, Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. has installed for the first time lights to the Empire State Building's antenna—the highest structure on the building.  These custom LED lights can be seen for miles in every direction. On Halloween night, the antenna LEDs will be unveiled for the first-time ever, and will become part of the Empire State Building's light shows and iconic tower lightings, further enhancing and redefining the New York City skyline. 

Evolucia Inc., a global LED lighting solutions company, today announced that its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Executive Vice President (EVP), Charles Rockwood, has resigned from the Company for personal reasons.

On October 29th, French OLED lighting company BLACKBODY opened its New York City showroom in SoHo, making remarkable new OLED technology accessible to American architects and the interior design communities. 

Royal Philips has developed a media enabled luminous ceiling to simulate energizing daylight to comfort critically ill patients. The LED based ceiling has been introduced into clinical use by the Charité Campus Virchow Clinic in Berlin as part of a unique stress-reducing concept called “Parametric Spatial Design”. Hospital staff can enter the desired parameters and the large, sky like area which creates visuals and light moods customized to the situation of individual patients, enabled by software from ART+COM. The Clinic has implemented the concept in two of its intensive care patient rooms to enhance the healing environment for patients who are severely ill.

LED manufacturers that attended the forum explore and analyze advanced LED technology from the perspective of upstream material, equipment, and epitaxy market to give attendees understanding over latest industry and commercial challenges. 

After Chinese researchers successfully connected four computers to the internet through the use of a LED bulb with broadband speeds of 150Mbps, UK researchers have gone a step further, saying they have achieved high data transferring speeds of 10Gbit/s via “li-fi.”

     The LED industry is shifting. With competition increasing, falling prices, and continued developing in technology, LEDs are quickly surpassing incandescent and other forms of lighting, securing a stronghold in the industry. Among the many manufacturers in the lighting industry rushing to secure a position for themselves, MLS Lighting is one that has come out on top this year.

OLED TVs voluptuous curves and high image quality is failing to entice consumers, mainly due to its high price tag. Even the cheapest 55” OLED TV on the market released by Samsung still costs nearly US$ 9,000. But buyers after vibrant colors and HD image should not be discouraged as quantum dot technology might help drive down Ultra High Definition (UHD) LCD TV costs.

  The LED market is growing with LED lighting applications expanding. LED lighting has grown from 22 percent in 2012 to 26 percent in 2013, according to Kuo, and is expected to grow further in 2014 to 30 percent. The market has benefited a lot by the introduction into smartphones by companies such as Samsung and LG. Smartphone applications surpassed feature phones in 2Q13 and have continued to dominate.

The LED industry’s fierce price competition is putting manufacturers under increasing pressure to cut costs. To stand out from the crowd, Russia based manufacturer Monocrystal has sought alternative sapphire substrate market applications other than LEDs, such as smartphone markets. Mikhail Berest, Senior VP Global Sales Director, Monocrystal sheds light on the company’s sapphire substrate technology that has enabled these high end applications at day one of LEDforum Taipei 2013 that took place at Evergreen International Convention Center on Oct. 16-17, 2013.

Korean electronics manufacturer LG Display is rumored to become one of Apple iWatch’s OLED suppliers, according to a report by the Korean Herald. The report noted Apple has a tendency of diversifying its supply chain, and Taiwan’s RiTDisplay is a strong OLED candidate. The OLED supply chain is likely to be led by RiTDisplay with LG Display as the secondary Apple OLED supplier. 

Panasonic recently decided to slash 7,000 jobs in the semiconductor business to boost earnings in fiscal 2014 due to rising competition from Asian manufacturers and eroding sales. However, this has not deterred the financially ailing company from donating 100,000 solar LED lamps to people in areas with limited access to electricity.

Rubicon Technology, Inc.yesterday reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2013.

Rubicon announced the launch of the first commercial line of large diameter patterned sapphire substrates (PSS) in four-inch through eight-inch diameters. This new product line provides LED chip manufacturers with a ready-made source of large diameter PSS to serve the needs of the rapidly growing LED general lighting industry.