Toshiba Lighting has been the latest international manufacturer to show interest in the Indian market, according to a report from The Economic Times.

Images associated to the British name Dyson brings to mind innovative vacuum cleaners, bladeless fans, and hand dryers. Sir James Dyson was the master mind behind the design and manufacturing of these high-end electric appliances, and now his son Jake Dyson is following closely in his footsteps in LED luminaire designs.

University of Utah physicists read the subatomic “spins” in the centers or nuclei of hydrogen isotopes, and used the data to control current that powered light in a cheap, plastic LED – at room temperature and without strong magnetic fields.

Outlines investment of INR 600 million (US $9.86 million) in next three years to set up operations, distribution and retail infrastructure, including exclusive brand stores in top 30 cities

Highlights this week, Cree sues two Taiwanese LED manufacturers Harvatek and Knightbright over LED patent infringements. New analysis on sapphire cover glass disappearance from the iPhone 6 result in two very different arguments, with one camp attempting to shield GTAT by saying it was Chinese sapphire processing manufacturers fault. However, a follow up analysis noted Apple never planned to use sapphire glass in iPhone 6 to begin with. DOE has also released new energy savings forecasts for SSL, while Rubicon announces change of CEO.

Escalating market competition in China’s LED industry has spurred vendors to acquire orders by offering customers generous loan terms, but when buyers delay payment, it adversely affects manufacturers’ liquidity. If delayed accounts receivable become bad debts or uncollectible accounts then the consequences can be dire.

Elec-Tech International (ETI) financial performance and management condition has come under the spotlight, as the company’s conflict between NVC Lighting intensifies.

The Climate Group - with the support of consulting company Orbiz - convened key Brazilian stakeholders at a workshop in São Paulo last week, the third in a series which aims to accelerate the adoption of energy efficient LED street lighting around the world.

Chinese LED lighting manufacturer Opple has announced plans of entering the India market with a wide range of low-priced LED bulbs, according to an article by The Economic Times. Opple will become the first major Chinese LED player to enter the local market.

Here's a little story about some innovation soon to show up in Copenhagen. In a city with many bus stops and cycle tracks, there is the question of coexistence. For a number of years, the City of Copenhagen has worked hard to establish islands at bus stops for the bus passengers to use when disembarking. It really is the baseline for infrastructure and the City, by and large, prefers it over anything else. Since the City starting retrofitting bus stops to provide islands, safety has increased dramatically across the city.

AFX, an industry leader in energy-efficient decorative lighting solutions has won the 2014 Lighting for Tomorrow award in the Decorative Lighting category with their Cortez LED Pendant. Equipped with a 30W 3000K LED module, the stylish Cortez LED luminaire produces more than 2,220 lumens and is rated at 50,000 hours.

Technical Vision Inc., a product development company focused on designing and manufacturing assistive devices and technologies for the visually and physically disabled, today announced the launch of the company's premier mobility aid product, My Mobile Light™ Low Vision Aid. 

Tim Bajarin, President of U.S. market intelligence company Creative Strategy, refuted an earlier report by PTT Research Senior Analyst Matt Margolis that Apple dropped sapphire substrate last minute because of Chinese sapphire glass processing manufacturers Biel Crystal and Lens Technology’s low yield rates.

Have you read Malcolm Gladwell’s longtime-bestseller The Tipping Point? In it, the author discusses the phenomenon where something goes from being marginal to mainstream. For LED (light-emitting diode) lighting, the tipping point has arrived. U.S. Department of Energy statistics show that about 49 million LEDs were installed in the U.S. in 2012 — saving about US $675 million in annual energy costs. And, switching entirely to LED lights over the next two decades could save the US $250 billion in energy costs, reduce electricity consumption for lighting by nearly 50 percent and avoid 1,800 million metric tons of carbon emissions.

Winners in the Indoor category of the sixth annual Next Generation LuminairesTM Design Competition were announced today at The LED Show in Los Angeles. Sponsored by DOE, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, and the International Association of Lighting Designers, NGL promotes excellence in the design of energy-efficient LED products for commercial lighting applications.

Rubicon Technology announced that Raja Parvez will step down as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. The Board has appointed William Weissman, currently CFO, as interim CEO to ensure a smooth transition and to lead Rubicon’s executive team. Chairman Don Aquilano will lead a Board search for a permanent CEO with the assistance of a leading executive search firm.

Telensa (www.telensa.com), the wireless street lighting control company, has enhanced its market-leading PLANet SmartGrid street light control system by adding an on-board GPS module and the new NEMA 7-pin connector to its telecell options.

A Hong Kong team has come up with an idea of encouraging social interactions on a rainy day with LED embedded UmbrellaHere.

NVC Lighting’s internal conflict has escalated in recent weeks, even after the company board voted unanimously for ETI CEO Wang Donglei to take over in early August. The transition after the merger of the two companies has been difficult, with disagreements occasionally erupting into violence.

China’s Standardization Administration has issued three new LED luminaire standards.

Harvatek Corporate announced that U.S. LED manufacturer Cree, has taken legal action against the Taiwanese company to enforce its six patents in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin on September 15th, 2014. Although, Harvatek has not received an official copy of the complaint yet, is is aware of the dispute and preparing reactive measures.

Taiwanese mid-power LED chip manufacturer and packager Prolight Opto recently submitted listing applications to the Taiwan bourse. The application is expected to be completed by the end of this quarter. Top Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Epistar is one of Prolight Opto’s investors.

U.S. LED manufacturer Cree’s stocks dropped to US $41.1 recently, after Goldman Sachs downgraded the stocks from buy to neutral, according to a report by China Post. As Cree’s lighting revenue increases, Taiwanese manufacturers believe Cree’s business focus is turning towards downstream.

Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE) has filed patent infringement lawsuits in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin to prevent Harvatek Corporation and Kingbright Corporation from infringing Cree’s patented intellectual property. These patents, among other things, protect Cree’s LED component portfolio, including Cree’s white light LEDs.

Kateeva today announced that it has closed its Series D round with US $38 million in financing. The newest participant is Samsung Venture Investment Corporation (SVIC). Existing investors also contributed. They include: Sigma Partners, Spark Capital, Madrone Capital Partners, DBL Investors, New Science Ventures, and VEECO Instruments, Inc.

Integrated System Technologies (IST) Limited, a leading British manufacturer of smart lighting solutions, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Chinese Patent Office have granted patents covering high efficiency LED luminaires for downlight applications.

When it comes Smart LED light bulbs, which can be dimmed and made to change colour, the most popular product must be Philips Hue, using the Zigbee protocol, which you can control via iOS and Android devices though a Zigbee gateway, and costs about £50 on Amazon. Alternatives have started to show up such as LIFX, with WIFI technology, that you can control with recent iOS and Android device without the need for a gateway, but with a price starting at £80. 

Refond Optoelectronics recently announced its largest shareholder and company CEO Gong Weibin has sold out 5 million stocks, or about 2.29 percent of shares on Sept. 11, 2014, according to a Securities Times report.

Much to Apple fans dismay last week, the nearly indestructible sapphire glass covers were not found on any of the iPhone 6 models. Many were scratching their heads and wondering why.

Roshow Technology is under China’s Securities Regulatory Commission’s (CSRC) watchful eye for violating financial regulations again, according to a National Business Daily report. In April, the company’s former Board Secretary Chai Shen was arrested for suspected insider trading.