It’s reported that University of Florida materials science and engineers have achieved a new record in efficiency of blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), which is a step forward towards better and efficient lights. Because blue is essential to white light, the advance helps overcome a hurdle to lighting that is much more efficient than compact fluorescents, but can produce high-quality light similar to standard incandescent bulbs.

According to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)’s recent study, the emerging solid-state lighting that replaces incandescent and fluorescent bulbs with LED can reap enormous savings in cost, natural resources and pollution. The firm claims that over the next 10 years, savings of more than $1.8 trillion will eliminate the need to burn almost a billion barrels of oil in power plants that would otherwise produce 10 gigatons in the carbon dioxide emissions.  

It’s reported that Nexxus Lighting, Inc. has begun production and sale of its new Array Lighting brand of LED lamps including Array Par 30, Par 16, G4, MR16 and GU10. The new Array Lighting Par 30, Par 16 and G4 LED are the first bulbs to begin production and offer direct replacement for conventional incandescent, halogen and CFL Par/R light bulbs and T3 bi-pin bulbs.

This holiday season more and more consumers choose energy-efficient LED Christmas lights to save money and show their support for the environment, according to the market source. Consumers are discovering the benefits of LED lights, namely the considerable cost savings and durability they offer over conventional lights. Part of the upswing in popularity is that LED lights are now cheaper than when they were first introduced, motivating more consumers to try them out. California's state capital has also created a large holiday display using LED lights.

UK government-funded sustainable technology research project has chosen High Technology Lighting (HTL) to develop world-leading ecologically sound lighting practice across the UK construction sector. The Leeds-based lighting design specialist has been awarded a major grant to develop prototype LED luminaries in partnership with the School of the Built Environment at the University of Salford, the UK's premier school in its field.

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. has announced that its easy-to-use intelligent lighting solutions support DRAGON LEDs from Osram Opto Semiconductors.

Rohm Co Ltd has developed the SML-L1 and SML-J1 series of side-view and top-view high-output surface-mount LEDs designed to provide autofocus flash functionality and auxiliary lighting in low light conditions for increasingly compact digital still and video cameras.

Artist Leo Villareal has completed a light sculpture along the walkway connecting the East and West buildings of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. The work, called Multiverse, uses about 41,000 LEDs that run along the 200-foot-long corridor.

Beijing Huasun Optoelectronic Science Co., Ltd has developed a new kind of product — Flexible LED displayer, a flexible LED curtain, soft LED display, that can be folded, curved and transformed, as like the following picture.

Nexxus Lighting, Inc. has completed an extensive lighting project as part of the iconic Fontainebleau® Miami Beach $1 billion renovation. Nexxus Lighting’s LED light fixtures were used to put the "blue” in the Fontainebleau's signature Bleau bar by creating a dynamic effect within the bar’s translucent floor. Nexxus Lighting’s Fiber Optic solutions were also used to create a back-lit effect on glass panels throughout the hotel’s main lobby and entrance.

Maxim Integrated Products has introduced the MAX16834, a current-mode, high-brightness LED (HB LED) driver for boost, buck-boost, SEPIC, and high-side buck topologies.

It’s reported that The U.S. Federal Reserve Building in Washington, D.C., is one of the first offices to use Cree’s LR24, a new 24-inch square LED luminaire. So far, about 1,000 LR24 have been installed in pilot accounts.

Photovoltaic Technology Show 2009 Europe will be on March 4 – 6, 2009 in Munich, Germany.

It’s reported that GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia will use more than 18 miles of LED strands in its 500,000+ light display.

Shenzhen Bang-Bell Electronics Co., Ltd (BBE LED), a leader in the LED technology industry, announced that it has completed a project based on LED traffic light in Indonesia. LED technology is increasingly being used in traffic applications due to its longer life and energy-saving qualities. Compared to an incandescent Traffic Light, an LED Traffic Light will last up to 50,000 hours and significantly reduce light pollution.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. has released its first series of high-intensity white power SMD LEDs in the CLCC-2 flat ceramic package to offer InGaN/TAG on sapphire technology.

AIXTRON AG, a leading provider of deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry, is pleased to announce an order for a MOCVD system from Showa Denko K.K., a Japan based leading manufacturer of Ultra-High-Brightness (UHB) LEDs received in the first quarter 2008.

PV Expo 2009 will be on February 25-27, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan.

LEDs are emerging as the hottest choice in illuminating homes and businesses due to their Energy efficient. Now, LEDs are on the verge of a revolution, according to E. Fred Schubert, professor of electrical engineering and physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute New York, there are tremendous opportunities that open up with LED.

The following is a LED shower light, which may install to standard shower pipes. The shower measures approximately 4 inches in diameter and is powered by an internal turbine and doesn't require batteries. It also includes a flow regulator that limits maximum water flow to 2.5 gallons per minute at 80 psi. Turn the shower on and a blue light tells you the water is cold. A red light means it has warmed to 89°F. The light goes for $39.99.

Recently, Pegasus Associates Lighting introduces four new LED lights to its web site in light of ever increasing popularity of its selection of LED products. Three new battery operated LED products and a new LED Recessed Mini Bullet Light join a wide assortment of quality LED fixtures for the home, office, and outdoors.

Osram announces that it will set up a joint venture with Traxon Technologies Ltd., Hong Kong, a LED system and solution specialist, to strengthen its portfolio in the field of professional LED lighting systems and solutions.

Strategies in Light 2009 will be on February 18-20,

Cree, Inc., a market leader in LED lighting, announces the volume availability of the LR24, a 24-inch square, recessed LED luminaire. The light fixture produces energy-efficient LED light, replacing traditional lighting such as linear fluorescents, also known as lay-ins or troffers.

Photonics West 09 will be on January 24 – 29, 2009 in California.

Chinese LED lighting maker Everlite LED Lighting Co., Ltd, has launched its full range high power LED street lights including 30w, 42w, 60w, 84w, and 120w in terms of led power. All of them can be made into AC universal input voltage 85~265V, and also low voltage 12V/24Vdc for applying to solar lighting systems.

Permlight for Signs™, a division of Permlight Products, Inc., announced that it has expanded to the United Kingdom to manage increased demand for LED signage solutions from overseas customers. The company named Guy Young as national sales manager for the United Kingdom to support the expansion.

Recently, Supertex, Inc. introduced an LED driver- the HV9919, which designed to drive LEDs using a buck topology. The company said it is well suited for a variety of solid-state lighting applications, such as: industrial, architectural, signage, or decorative lighting; indicator or emergency lighting; and as a general purpose constant current source.

Taiwan LED lighting makers estimate LED market to take off in 2009 in spite of the ongoing financial crisis. In Taiwan, several significant LED lighting projects have launched by governments. The Taichung City government installed 5,000 streetlights by the end of October, the largest number of all. The Bureau of Energy under the Ministry of Economic Affairs has announced it will budget NT$150 million (US$4.5 million at US$1:NT$33) in 2009 to finance local governments on the island to erect a total number of 12,500 LED streetlights islandwide.

THE 2009 LASERS & PHOTONICS MARKETPLACE SEMINAR will be on January 26,