Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc. announced that its CAT4201, 7W buck LED driver has been named to the EDN Magazine's list of Hot 100 Products of 2007. The CAT4201 was selected one of nine hot products in the "Power Semiconductors and ICs" category, which includes leading analog semiconductor suppliers.About the CAT4201 LED Driver

LED makers from Taiwan project that the cost of LED backlight units (BLUs) will shrink to 1.5 times that of CCFL-based units during late 2008. Despite that the current penetration rate of LED-backlit notebooks barely exceeds 10% due to LED patent issues and insufficient LED chip supplies, many industry players and research firms project that the rate will rise in the 10~20% range in 2008.

This LED concept watch requires you to slide the band open to reveal the time.If it does end up getting made, it'll be made by Gucci, as its who the concept was created for.

It's reported that Epistar Corp of Hsinchu has placed a third multiple order for MOCVD systems from Aixtron of Aachen, Germany. The order was placed in Q407, and includes both multiple CRIUS Close Coupled Showerhead (CCS) reactors and AIX 2800G4 HT Planetary Reactor systems for volume production of GaN-based LEDs. Aixtron says that the latest order, along with a multiple order announced last October, made Epistar the single largest individual system investor in Q407.

It's reported that the village of Frankfort is looking into replacing its traffic and street lights with light emitting diodes, also known as LED lights.Department of Public Works Supervisor for the village of Frankfort Ron Vivacqua says the village could cut its electric payments by a significant amount if it switches to LED lights.

Many companies have ventured into the LED street light market with varying degrees of success. One new company, Remco Solid State Lighting, has delved into this market with a recently patented light engine for a truly equivalent prototype street light. As the old adage suggests, seeing is believing (See the bright LED street light in the foreground).

Remco Solid State Lighting Inc. (Toronto, Canada) has broken through the barrier to replace conventional street lighting with its recently patented SSL technology. Its disruptive SSL technology utilizes the dynamic resistance of LEDs providing a LED light engine that is up to 98% power efficient–only a 2% power loss which enables optimal power and LED lighting efficiencies as verified in a pilot test as proof of concept.

On 22nd，Diguang International Development Co., Ltd. reported that during the 2008 CES Show, its LED general lighting and flat panel lighting (FPL) products drew especially high levels of attention from attendees. At CES, held January 7-10 at the Sands Expo, Las Vegas, the Company displayed backlight products for a wide variety of applications.

Market Forecast

Allegro MicroSystems Inc. has announced the release of two new LED driver ICs for use in displays, signs and control panels. The A6282 and A6285 both have 16 constant-current output channels. They have serial data inputs and outputs, which can be cascaded to create large, megapixel text or video displays. They can also be used in smaller applications such as LCD backlighting or controlling LEDs in an instrument or control panel.

Apple Computer Inc. has launched a 13.3-inch LED-BLU-based MacBook Air, which is only 0.76-inch (19 mm) thick on the hinge side, and 0.16-inch (4.1mm) for the opposite side. Apple mentioned that this super-thin product is the result of LED BLU technology advances, and moreover, the mercury-free, arsenic-free notebook is more beneficial in power

Cutter Electronics provides the new 600 Lumen LED light bulb upgrade from TerraLUX which replaces the standard incandescent bulb in Maglite D cell flashlights. The TLE-300 upgrade fits into and converts a Maglite flashlight with 4, 5 or 6 D cell batteries into the bright LED flashlight available, setting a new performance milestone in flashlight brightness.TerraLUX uses three of the latest Luxeon K2 flip chip high powered bright LEDs to make this performance possible. The product will be available to upgrade other flashlight manufacturer’s products in the near future.

On January 18, Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co., Ltd announced the launch of its new C3100 handset model that targets the low-end and rural markets with a bright LED flashlight and long standby time. The retail price of RMB499 is expected to make the handset attainable to a wide variety of consumers.The C3100 has the following features:LED Flashlight–The C3100 offers a bright flashlight powered by six light-emitting diodes (LED)Long standby time –The handset can run for over 25 days in standby mode without a recharge

It's reported that Catalyst Semiconductor has expanded its recently introduced family of large LED video display drivers with the new CAT4008, an 8-channel, constant-current sink LED driver for billboard, marquee, instrument and other large, general-purpose LED displays. The CAT4008 joins Catalyst's CAT4016, 16-channel, constant-current LED driver introduced in October 2007.

The MBI5039 is a 16-channel constant current LED driver with smart error detection functions released by Macroblock. The MBI5039 supports constant output current from 3mA to 90mA and sustains up to 17V at the output ports. In addition, the high clock frequency (30MHz) satisfies the system requirements of high volume data transmission. The MBI5039 includes two error-detection functions: in-message error detection and silent error detection.

It not only cuts cost and weight, but it also boosts battery life by getting rid of the display or touch screen completely. Instead, all functions and displays use LEDs below the translucent surface.

Osram will be giving its LED for use in headlights of a new class of automobiles, the sport utility vehicle or SUV.Osram announced that the Cadillac Escalade Platinum will be the first SUV to feature LED headlights as standard. Osram says its LEDs drive the headlights supplied by Hella. The full function headlights offer low beam, high-beam, daytime running light, position lights and side marker lights. The luxurious automobile will be launched in 2008.

Microsoft has set up a "Home of the Future" exhibition to share their vision of a high-tech home 10 years from now. It involves a mix of software technology, hidden projectors and organic LEDs (light-emitting diodes) that could display information or images on walls and other surfaces; personal devices like smart phones that can control the lights, home security, the television and other devices; and interactive devices and appliances that respond to voice and gestures.

Forge Europa of Ulverston, UK, has introduced a line of LED light strips. The company's strips are either rigid or flexible and can come in a choice of RGB combination or single colors such as cool white, warm white, red, amber, green, and blue. The RGB strips measure 400mm, and the single color strips measure 500mm. The strips have a single connection at one end, and up to four strips can be connected end-to-end for illumination lengths of 1600mm or 2000mm.

On January 17, 2008, Lamina Lighting Incorporated (Lamina) announced that the company's LED lamps will be utilized in an energy efficiency initiative launched by RWE Rhein-Ruhr, the major regional energy company of the RWE Group. The program represents an effort by RWE Rhein-Ruhr to help commercial and residential customers conserve energy and reduce utility bills by replacing their current light sources with Lamina's SōL™ MR16 LED product, the only LED in the world which carries a CO2 offset certification.

A unique LED safety warning lamp with a wide range of applications and features has been released by Australia's leading automotive lighting company, Narva.The 'Sentry' LED strobe is powered by two common 'D' size dry cell batteries providing more than 100 hours of life for this convenient portable warning lamp.

LED traffic signals use about one-tenth of the energy consumed by the traditional incandescent lights.Knoxville is in the process of switching to more environmentally friendly traffic lights that officials say will reduce energy costs.The new LED lights and other such projects will help create a more vibrant Knoxville, said Madeleine Weil, chair of the task force.

 These Star Wars lightsaber lamps are just the thing for geek lighting in your humble abode. They won’t light up a whole room or anything, running on just AAA batteries, but they will emit a subtle LED glow. Just enough for visitors to sense a minor tremor of coolness in the force. They come in your choice of Jedi green and Sith red.

New Option Lighting has developed a solar-powered LED headlamp that is ideal for outdoor activities such as camping, backpacking, hunting, fishing, bicycling, etc. Because consumers are increasingly aware of the environment, this solar LED headlamp fulfills an upsurging interest in green products. In addition to a battery charge indicator, users can also charge a cell phone, iPod or GPS device using either 12VDC or USB Converter accessories also being offered at www.newlite.com