There are several reasons to explain why LED rises so quickly in recent years. One of them, maybe the most important one, is that LEDs are more energy efficient. LEDs are brighter and cooler than traditional lamps; this also indicates that they consume less energy to emit the same lumen. As the producing process getting improved, the costs to produce LEDs are lower, and this fact encourage people to consider using LEDs instead. In addition, LEDs are more flexible for different situations. Designers can achieve almost everything they want. Other than advantages of energy and flexibility, brightness is another beneficial feature of LED fixtures. Now, European countries are striving to cut as many costs as possible, and the United Kingdom is not an exception. When Wigan Council was planning to start their Street Scene and Lighting project, it was necessary to find a balance between brightness and money. The manager, Keith Benson, sought help from Philips and there was a perfect solution: Philips’ product called “SpeedStar LED luminaire.”

A recent article by U.S. IT website CNET outlined “Seven problems with current OLED televisions”. Although, OLED TV has better performance and good potential, in the short-term it still faces seven issues including high prices, low yields, and no technology standards. Below is are seven reasons highlighted by CNET article “Seven problems with current OLED televisions” as to why consumers should think twice before purchasing an OLED TV in 2013:

Taiwan LED packaging manufacturer Everlight continues to deepen its channel presence in China. According to UBS Securities Co. Limited’s report, Everlight will continue expanding its 7 provincial sales channels in the second half of 2013. Even though general lighting demand growth remains strong, the continued drop in price adds pressure to revenue growth. UBS believes that the company still needs to devote more investment into its own lighting product strategy, though this will also lead to pressure on gross profit margin and operating income performance.

Researchers in Okinawa Japan have developed a communication system which uses LED lights as a medium for underwater communication. The device works by first taking sound and converting it into a light signal. The LED light will then transmit the signal to the other person’s receiver where it is reverted back to sound.

Larson Electronics has announced the release of an explosion proof LED blasting gun light designed to handle the extreme conditions of industrial blasting operations. The BLG-LED-7W Hazardous Location LED Blasting Gun Light mounts to any standard blasting gun and provides high power illumination combined with extreme durability.

Access Fixtures has expanded its line of bollard lights to include 277 volt 10 watt LED bollard lights. Frequently municipal, commercial and hospitality properties use 277v to light outdoor areas such as parking lots. 277 volt LED light bollards permits the installation of LED bollard lights on the same circuits, eliminating the requirement of a second circuit and wires to support lower voltage lighting applications.

Technology specialists from the company that created new smartphone utility app, Small Call, announce LEDgoes, a new modular scrolling LED matrix attracting over 150 pledges and US$ 11,600 amidst a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Melbourne based premium LED lighting company Brightgreen presents the BR1000 bulb – a direct replacement for 100W incandescent bulbs that marks a significant expansion of the brand’s retrofit range.

The ZG-1 is World’s First Re-usable, Customizable, Waterproof, Energy Efficient LED Lighting.

PAR floodlights capable of dimming to less than 5 percent.

In July, global 40W equiv. LED lamp Average Selling Prices (ASP) fell slightly by 0.6% to US$ 15.5, with price drops most evident in U.S.,according to LEDinside, an LED research division of international research organization TrendForce. Global ASP for 60W equiv. LED prices downed by 3.3% to US$ 22.6, with falls most obvious in Europe.

The tallest construction in New Taipei City, a.k.a. the Xinbei Bridge, reveals that even the latest architectural technology can dance elegantly with beautiful scenes when it is given help from appropriate lighting design. Taipei City is the biggest city in Taiwan; across the rivers surrounding it, it is the second biggest city – The New Taipei City. For decades, these two major cities have been connected by several bridges and become the Big Taipei Metropolis. However, as the population increasing, it is necessary to build a new one that can improve traffic conditions for the most densely inhabited districts. And the answer is Xinbei Bridge, literally “New Taipei Bridge.”

Secondary optics lens manufacturer LEDlink passed Edison’s direct backlight product certification in August for LEDlink’s direct backlight OD 22mm and 30mm standard sized secondary optic lenses. By passing the certification, the optic lens can also be used in panel lighting. The two companies now plan to make their way into the direct backlight market.

Venture firm LAMPServe in Naha Okinawa Japan is a company researching LED visual light communication technology. In September the company plans to conduct a worldwide outdoor lighting demonstration experiment and if successful will present the lighting in areas that lack communication infrastructure like Africa, Asia, and emerging market countries.

In the LED market for specialized lighting, Chinese LED packaging manufacturer Hongli Tonic accounced the company recently acquired 38 percent of Guangzhou Forda Single Co. Idt shares for RMB $31.12m. This procurement shows Hongli’s ambition to increase future investment strength. The company has begun aggressively advancing into the LED automotive lighting industry enticed by higher gross profit margins than that of regular lighting. Hongli hopes that LED automotive lighting can become the company’s new profit generator.

EnvironmentalLights.com, an online retailer for high-quality, energy-efficient LED lighting systems, announced today that they have added MaxLite’s Direct Lit LED Panel Performance Series, FlatMax™ Edge Lit LED Panels and ECO-T™ LED Recessed Troffers to their website. EnvironmentalLights.com currently offers over 2,000 products including a variety of outdoor and under cabinet lighting fixtures by MaxLite.

Intematix Corporation announced that a sample set of lighting modules using its remote phosphors have reached 6,000 hours of life testing with 100% of initial lumens maintained as measured by TÜV SÜD, an independent testing laboratory.  Testing time of 6,000 hours is the minimum typically required to qualify for ENERGY STAR and DesignLights Consortium® (DLC) standards for LED lighting.

O2Micro® International Limited today extended the Company's General Lighting product portfolio with the introduction of the patent pending OZ2083 3-Way LED Bulb Driver Controller with Power Factor Correction.

Carl Ray Smith III, (Tripp Smith) the new Vice President of Sales for the Retail channels comes from a long career in the lamp business with such companies as Phillips North America, GE Lighting, Lithonia, Sylvania, and Feit Electronics.

Erogear, a leading provider of large-format wearable display technology today announced a new product line named “Fos.” These new devices are fabric patches each containing a high-brightness LED grid and Bluetooth for wireless display of 16-bit graphics, text and animations from any Bluetooth Classic or Low Energy device. Based on a new architecture, Fos averages less than 2mm thick, weighs 32 grams and is flexible as typical fabric.

Fewer businesses have a greater appreciation for lighting than automotive dealerships, or at least those who pay the energy bills. According to Energy Star, auto dealerships use, on average, more energy per square foot than a typical office building.

Patented Aimed Optics™ technology saturates the roadway with cool white light at a mounting height of 60 feet and pole spacing of 300 feet.

In an old capital like Beijing, the most impressive thing should be visiting those mysterious mansions in alleyways. The night lighting in Beijing is more elegant than other Chinese cities as it is calm and noble. The main purpose of lighting design for Beijing is not about to highlight the architecture, but about to integrate light with the architecture and surroundings to let the architecture and its background culture tell their own stories.

Elec-Tech International (ETI) revenues grew 10.52% to RMB 1.35 billion (US$ 220 million) in 1H13, according to the company’s 1H13 financial report released on Aug. 24. However, the company’s net income plunged 59.38% compared to the same period last year to RMB 50.5 million.

Secondary optic manufacturer Ledlink felt the effects of increased LED lighting demands when their originally predicted capital expenditure of US $7 million for 2013 instead reached that of US $8 million. Ledlink chairman Tang Delong stated that after the 2Q13 production launch of their newly acquired factory in Yangzhou, the next goal was to increase self manufacturing for mold production with an estimated investment of about US $15 million in order to increase the volume of machines. Starting from November this year, one month’s operation quantity will increase from 100 sets to 150 sets.

In response to current climate changes, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is heading measures to promote green energy low carbon production development in government branches such as the Ministry of Industry and Information, Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction of the People’s Republic of China in areas like industries, architecture, transportation and public facilities, and urbanization.

Despite of downpours and strong gusts caused by severe tropical storm Trami that hit Taiwan on Aug. 21, 2013, optical inspection giant KLA-Tencor Corporation outlined its 2013 product plans and business strategy at a press conference in Taipei that day. KLA-Tencor that usually keeps a low profile responded to questions concerning competitor Hermes Microvision Inc. (HMI), a large Taiwanese E-beam inspection equipment manufacturer. KLA-Tencor emphasized, while E-beams have higher resolution than optics, its inspection speed is too slow, and pointed out optical inspection is still the mainstream inspection method on the market. The company also announced it will be establishing equipment training centers in Taiwan, which reflects the aim of KLA-Tencor’s trip to the country to firmly establish its presence.

ON Semiconductor Corporation has named Paul Rolls Executive Vice President (EVP) of Worldwide Sales and Marketing to replace his retiring predecessor. Keith Jackson, president and chief executive officer (CEO), ON Semiconductor Corporation, said,“Paul is a proven leader with extensive experience in the semiconductor industry. He brings a valuable combination of sales and business insight to his new role and is well-equipped to help us grow our business at a rate that outpaces the market.” Mr. Rolls has more than 25 years of technology sales, and ...

The Comal School District (“District”) in San Antonio is installing indoor and outdoor lighting and controls from Acuity Brands in schools across the district to achieve significant energy and maintenance savings. The District needed energy efficient lighting and controls solutions for multiple high performance school designs.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors, is broadening its optoelectronics portfolio with the introduction of a new high-power, high-speed 940 nm infrared (IR) emitter for gesture remote control applications. Offering high radiant power of 40 mW at 100 mA, the VSLB9530S is offered in a clear molded, leaded TELUX package with an oval lens designed to support an angle of half intensity of ± 18° in the vertical direction and ± 36° in the horizontal direction.