SRI International, an independent nonprofit research institute, and Showa Denko K.K. (SDK), a Japan-based chemical industry company in partnership with Itochu Plastics Inc. (CIPS), have achieved record-breaking results using SRI’s new cavity organic light-emitting diode (COLED) technology and SDK’s light-emitting polymers to produce a highly efficient light source that could one day replace incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs.

As the vanguard in the field, Samsung introduced the first series of LED TV and sold some 500 thousand units in the last six months. The launch triggered various brand vendors such as LG, Sharp, Sony to follow suit, and benefitted Taiwan's LED chip makers Epistar and FOREPI.

OSRAM has recently introduced its new Parathom Classic LED lamp. With an average service life of 25,000 hours, the new product requires just 8 Watts to achieve the same light output as incandescent lamps, i.e. 80 percent less energy. All told, every lamp will save almost EUR 200 in electricity, as well as more than 400 kg of CO2 emissions, according to the company. The LED lamp will be commercially available as of August.

Mixing luminescence phosphor with silicone and dispensing it on a blue light emitting chip is a common LED package method in producing white light. The quality of white light depends heavily on the uniformity of phosphor on the blue die. Often times, when coupling secondary lens on white LED, it will reveal yellow circling. Such yellowing greatly shadows the quality of white light.

Samsung's latest foray into the world of projectors has yielded a gem that measures a mere 147.5mm x 66.3mm x 145.5mm. Known as the SP-P140, this ultra compact LED projector from Samsung is able to support resolutions of up to SXGA (1,280 x 1,024). However, it can only display SVGA (800 x 600) resolution. Other features include a contrast ratio of 1,000:1 and a 170 ANSI Lumen brightness. The inclusion of a USB port is able to turn the SP-P410 into an impromptu portable media player as it supports a wide range of popular video and audio formats.

Foxconn International Holdings Ltd., a company in which Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. holds a controlling stake, will invest US$500 million to build a LED factory in Jinan, Shandong, according to Jinan government and a local newspaper.

Litemax Electronics Inc., the professional industrial solutions provider, has launched its first LED backlit Smart Panel Display – SLO1568. By Plug & Play Smart Panel Design and Litemax’s Sunlight Readable Technology, this new 15-inch display can be used for many outdoor display applications such as Kiosk, Transportation, Police Car, Marine, Gas Pump, Gaming, IPC, Rugged Panel, Medical, Public Information Center, etc.

Philips Wednesday announced that JB Lighting Lichtanlagen GmbH took a license under Philips’ LED Luminaires and Retrofit Bulbs license program. JB Lighting Lichtanlagen GmbH is a Germany-based supplier of theatrical & entertainment lighting. Through the license, JB Lighting obtains access to basic driver and control technologies for LED luminaires and retrofit bulbs.

From September 7 - 20 the 19 historic windmills in Kinderdijk (The Netherlands), which are listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, will be spectacularly lit by Philips and Technische Unie using colorful and energy-efficient LED lighting.

OSRAM Opto Semiconductors today announced a major breakthrough in the laboratory with its direct emitting green indium-gallium-nitride laser. It achieves an optical output of 50 mW and emits light in true green with a wavelength of 515 nm. Compared with semiconductor lasers based on current technology that operate with frequency doubling, direct emitting green lasers are more compact, offer greater temperature stability, are easier to control and have higher modulation capability, according to the company.

European consumers are switching to green products as a result of the EU ban on incandescent lamps. According to a market research company, sales of traditional light bulbs fell by up to 35 percent in the first quarter of 2009 in a number of European countries. Increases in purchases of regular light bulbs are a regional phenomenon, particularly in Germany and Austria. EU ban on incandescent lamps will help consumers and the climate

Celsia Technologies has been chosen by Taiwanese based United Innovation to cool the company's 9-, 11-, and 13-watt LED spotlights. Each of these spotlights includes a combination of United's unique multi-chip LED package along with Celsia's patented NanoSpreader vapor chamber.

Enfis, a specialist in the design and manufacture of LED Light Engines for high-power Solid State Lighting (SSL), announces the formal launch of its Lighting Evolution Centre (LEC) in Swansea, UK. The LEC enables Enfis customers to ‘evolve’ their lighting product portfolios quickly and effectively into efficient SSL solutions – either existing legacy products or new SSL-focused luminaires.

A street lighting test facility with LED technology has now been set up in Fürth near Nuremberg, Germany. A total of six LED lamps have been installed on the road to the airport in the town’s north and will provide an insight into the street lighting of tomorrow.

At Morrissey's 2009 "Tour of Refusal", 12 BB7 beam lights from i-Pix have been used to bring different dynamics to the stage with the quality and feel of the BB7 light output.

According to survey of the industry research institute LEDinside, Taiwan's listed LED makers recorded total revenue of NT 5.982 billion in July 2009, a 5.8% growth from NT 5.652 billion in June 2009 and a 3.8% growth YoY. LED chip makers' total revenues in July gained 6.9% to NT 2.621 billion while LED packagers posted NT 3.361 billion, 5.1% growth MoM.  

Cree, Inc. yesterday reported its 4Q09 revenue and forecast better-than-expected first-quarter results. The company scored record revenue of $148.1 million for its fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, representing a 9% increase compared to revenue of $135.9 million reported for the fourth fiscal quarter last year and a 13% increase compared to the fiscal third quarter of 2009. And for fiscal year 2009, the company reported revenue of $567.3 million, which represents a 15% increase compared to revenue of $493.3 million for fiscal 2008.

Nualight Ltd., a specialist in LED lighting for food retail, has signed a strategic supply and partnership agreement with Kysor//Warren, a division of Manitowoc Foodservice. The three year agreement enables Kysor//Warren to offer its customers temperature-controlled food displays that are high on impact and low on energy combining Nualight's award winning Vantium™ LED Lightbars with Kysor//Warren's next generation display case, STRATUS.

Solid-state floodlights recently installed in Tokyo’s Chidorigafuchi Park were developed specifically to reduce the park’s carbon footprint, particularly during the annual cherry blossom viewing season when the park plays host to thousands of people every night. The new luminaires utilizing LUXEON® LEDs from Philips Lumileds were designed by Nagasaki-based lighting manufacturer INEX Corp.

In River Forest, IL, the U.S., the village board has approved a project studying the effectiveness of energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LED) in outdoor streetlights. And the LED pilot project in the village, which encompasses just one streetlight near the corner of Central and Lathrop Avenues, could be expanded later this year.

Inventronics announced today that another six of its new lighting driver families have now been approved to the UL 8750 safety standard. This new standard, specifically written for solid state lighting applications, incorporates requirements from a broad array of standards each of which have some applicability to the LED lighting industry.

Linear Technology has announced the LT3599, a 45V, 2.1MHz DC/DC boost mode converter designed to operate as a constant current LED driver for up to 40 white LEDs. From a 12V input, the LT3599 can drive four strings of LEDs, each with up to ten 120mA white LEDs in series while delivering efficiencies up to 90%. Its multichannel capability makes it ideal for medium-sized TFT-LCD backlighting applications.

Sharp extends its range of industry-compatible LCDs with LED background lighting with two new displays in diagonals of 12.1 and 23 inches. The range now comprises nine displays with screen diagonals of 2.5 to 23 inches.

FEIT ELECTRIC, a U.S.-based manufacturer and supplier of energy-efficient light bulbs, announced its general purpose line of new Performance LED light bulbs available in several popular reflector sizes, plus a household "A19" shape.

Under increasing demands for LED backlights for LCD TV and notebook computers, the board of directors at Epistar Corp. recently approved to issue 110-135 million units of global depository receipt (GDR) to raise some NT$10 billion (US$303 million at US$1:NT$33) to build up inventories of materials for the blooming market, according to Taiwan Economic News. Some industry watchers believe Epistar would use the GDR offering to attract foreign shareholders.

Lighting Science Group Corporation (LSG) recently announced that Arizona State University (ASU) has taken another step in its commitment to 'going green' by retrofitting six parking structures on the Tempe campus with new light emitting-diode (LED) fixtures. Changing the existing fixtures to Lighting Science's LED low bay solution will afford ASU with an annual savings of up to $127,000 in energy and maintenance costs for the six structures that were retrofit.

Nexxus Lighting, Inc. announced that it has launched its new narrow optic (25 degree Beam Angle) product offering for its Par 30, Par 16 and MR16 Array™ LED replacement lamp line and that it has received purchase orders valued at over $565,000 for Array™ lamps in the last 60 days. 

Lite-On Group announced last week it had won a five-year contract to supply 140,000 LED traffic lights to the California State government, according to an article on Taiwan Economic Times.

The Jewelers of America (JA) summer show was recently held at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City. Econo-Lite Products, the jewelry lighting division of Eco-Lite Products, LLC, showed their new LED lighting product, the LED Vantage © which was designed to be placed inside of a jewelry showcase.