iFixit recent teardown of iPod touch 6 revealed the absence of sapphire covered lens, reported Apple Insider.

Shenzhen Kaifa Technology (Kaifa) announced its LED subsidiary Kaistar will be acquiring 100% shares of a major U.S. LED company for US $130 million recently, reported China’s Securities Daily.

Ford is developing advanced lighting technology that enables drivers to more easily see potential hazards when driving at night Camera-Based Advanced Front Lighting System widens beam at junctions and roundabouts after interpreting traffic signs GPS-enabled system uses forward-facing camera to remember roadways and direct lighting to help drivers better see bends in the road – effectively lighting the way home on previously travelled routes Spot Lighting uses infra-red camera to detect pedestrians, cyclists, and animals, and highlight the potential hazards; system can detect up to eight potential hazards and highlight two highest priorities using specially designed headlights and on-screen display

To capitalize on the growing interest in cadmium-free quantum dot (CFQD) technology within the lighting industry, Nanoco Group announced the formation of a new division dedicated to furthering CFQD® Quantum Dot technology in the lighting industry. The new division is part of the company’s business expansion strategy to accelerate commercialization and further development in its four key target markets – electronic display, LED lighting, biological imaging and solar power. Nanoco’s Torsten Schanze will lead the division as its General Manager.

Recently, Spark Optoelectronics won the bidding of project of comprehensive LED lighting products for the third phase of Shenzhen metro line 7 depends on excellent R&D technological advantage and 15 years’ rich experience in LED lighting solution, which marks the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership between Spark Optoelectronics and Shenzhen metro.  

In response to Nichia Corporation’s press release posted on July 16, 2015, Everlight clarifies that all claims of Nichia’s EP 936682 (DE 69702929) patent have been declared invalid by the German Federal Patent Court. The infringement action on this patent has been stayed by the German Düsseldorf appellate court. 

Nichia is taking a very strong approach in its latest legal actions taken against Everlight. After announcing the German court has asked Everlight from refraining from using misleading or untruthful interview content about Nichia’s YAG patent status, the company followed up by enforcing its new YAG patent against Everlight in Germany a day later.

A new white LED patent which covers, among others, YAG phosphors has been granted by the European Patent Office in favor of Nichia Corporation ("Nichia"), namely EP 2 197 053.

China’s LED package market grew 19% Year-on-Year (YoY) to US $8.6 billion in 2014, according to LEDinside’s 2015 Global Sapphire and LED Chip Market Report. The lighting market has been the major growth momentum for the industry, as the LED commercial lighting and residential lighting market penetration rates soar, it has continued to stimulate market growth.

Chinese LED manufacturer Unilumen recently announced it has cancelled plans of acquiring a foreign firm for US $300 million, according to a cnledw.com report.

A team of scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has found that blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) have strong antibacterial effect on major foodborne pathogens, and are most effective when in cold temperatures (between 4°C and 15°C) and mildly acidic conditions of around pH 4.5.

It usually can be costly to transform your favorite sneakers into flashy LED ones, but Blinky Shoes is offering a much more economic DIY version for upgrading your Converse or Nike sneakers into a brightly colored shoe.

Further details of Ledman’s acquisition of a Chinese LED luminaire company has finally been confirmed today.

Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting, today announced that Hubbell Lighting, a division of Hubbell Incorporated has joined its LED Luminaires and Retrofit Bulbs Licensing Program. Through membership of its open Licensing Program, Hubbell Lighting, Inc. will benefit from Philips’ patented and leading-edge innovations in LED control and system-level technologies.

Royal Philips  announced the appointment of Andy Ho as Chief Executive Officer for Greater China per November 2, 2015, succeeding Patrick Kung, who will retire on December 31, 2015. To ensure a seamless transition, Mr. Ho will join Philips on August 3, 2015, as Executive Vice President, Royal Philips, reporting to Philips CEO Frans van Houten. Mr. Ho joins Philips from IBM Corp., where he has held a wide range of sales, technology and senior management roles across Greater China, Canada and the United States in a career spanning over 30 years. His latest roles at IBM were General Manager for Greater China North and, subsequently, General Manager Technology Partnership and Strategic Alliances for Greater China.

China’s A-shares started off with a strong rebound this week, after plunging to an all-time low last Thursday and Friday. In the short term, A shares are stabilizing on the market. Many listed LED manufacturers that suspended trade to avert impacted by the volatile stock market have gradually resumed trade. More than 350 listed Chinese companies resumed trade as of Monday, according to latest statistics.

To protect investors rights, San’an Opto suspended trade on the Chinese bourse on July 8, 2015, due to the uncertain outcome of an important company decision that potentially could have impacted its stock performance. The company explained the trade suspension was to ensure all information was transparent, open and fair.

Nationstar announced Monday it will be acquiring electronic manufacturer Guangdong Desheng company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guangsheng, for RMB 250 million (US $40.60 million).

Upon the request of Nichia Corporation ("Nichia"), the Munich District Court granted a preliminary injunction dated 25 June 2015 in the case 21 O 10999/15. In this decision, Mr. Bernd Kammerer and Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd. are, on penalty of an administrative fine of up to EUR 250,000 (US $ 275,169), prohibited from making in business transactions for purposes of competition the following statements as made by Kammerer in a press interview published on //www.elektroniknet.de/optoelektronik/ledlighting/artikel/120231/:

Plessey Semiconductors announced today that it will be leading a GBP1.3 million government funded project in conjunction with AIXTRON and Bruker Nano Surfaces Division. This project will accelerate high volume manufacturing of Plessey’s innovative LEDs created with GaN-on-Silicon technology at its Devon based manufacturing site.

Monocrystal, a global leader in synthetic sapphire growing and processing, recently produced the world’s first 300 kg KY crystal.

Energesco Solutions, a leading provider of energy and water conservation measures to the commercial and multifamily real estate industry in the Mid-Atlantic region, announces its award of exclusive contracts by utility companies Pepco and SMECO (Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative) to provide energy efficiency and water conservation improvements to multifamily properties in Pepco's and SMECO's service areas throughout the state of Maryland. Both contracts were awarded under the Commercial Multifamily Program, a newly announced energy efficiency rebate program designed to support the EmPOWER Maryland initiative.

According to LEDinside’s latest report Nichia once again has the greatest market share in China’s LED package market in 2014, while U.S. LED manufacturer Cree rankings drop to fourth place. Some of the important picks for last week include the impact from China’s volatile stock market on Chinese LED manufacturers. Several major Chinese LED manufacturers including San’an Opto have suspended trade on the Chinese bourse, due to upcoming acquisitions or repurchase company shares to stabilize bourse performance.

Leading LED small pitch display manufacturer Leyard, has seen continual growth in the industry as the company reaps benefits from transforming its LED plant into a wholly automated production line, according to an industry insider.

In its latest fiscal report for first half of 2015, Absen Opto announced its net profit has declined compared to the same period a year before.

Chinese LED manufacturer Ledman announced it is planning to acquire a new LED luminaire company as of July 8, 2015.

Flash LEDs in smartphones have evolved from being a “marketing gimmick” to “standard equipment.” LED usage in smartphones have also jumped up from single to dual flash LEDs, and it is increasingly common for flash LEDs to be found in latest smartphone models.

China’s biggest display manufacturer, BOE, has proposed establishing an OLED joint venture business with LG Display and Samsung Display, reported The Korea Times.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted Samsung Electronics a patent for flexible and bendable TV and tablet PC displays, reported Business Korea recently.

Barrie’s future gets a little greener, as the City begins converting streetlights to LED (light-emitting diodes).  All of Barrie’s streetlights (nearly 11,000) are expected to be converted to LED by October 2015.