AIXTRON, a leading provider of deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry, has teamed up with research institution Fraunhofer IISB (Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology) in Erlangen, Germany, to develop 150 mm Silicon Carbide (SiC) epitaxy processes using the new AIXTRON 8x150 mm G5WW Vapor Phase Epitaxy (VPE) system. 

LED streetlights are known to be bright, sometimes too bright that UK and U.S. residents have complained glare from LEDs disrupted sleeping patterns. In a recent turn of events, though, residents in Taiwan and India have reported the LED streetlights were too dim, and were underperforming in brightness compared to previous generation lights.

LG Chem has developed the world’s first OLED light panel with high luminous efficacy and long-lasting performance that can compete with LED lights, according to a report from The Korea Herald.

Lighten high performance COB offering, ultra-high power, high Ra value & high efficiency.

LED industry development has picked up pace in recent years as cities promote highly energy efficient lighting, according to a Securities Times report. Among global LED lighting applications, lighting and automotive lighting industries have been the fastest growing markets, and have become the main growth drivers in the LED industry.

The market speculated whether GE will sell its lighting division after the company recently sold the home appliance division for US $3.3 billion to Swedish company Electrolux, according to a Lighting report.

U.S. retail residential electricity prices for the first half of 2014 averaged 12.3 cents per kilowatthour, an increase of 3.2 percent from the same period last year. This is the highest year-over-year growth in residential prices for the first half of the year since 2009. Average prices rose in all areas of the country except for the Pacific Census Division (excluding Alaska and Hawaii).

The continuous increase in power usage within the country has resulted in electricity related sectors coming out to promote a reduction in electricity consumption, so as to create a stable power supply throughout Thailand.

CEA-Leti and LUCIOM, which develops visible-light communication using light-emitting diodes (LEDs), have launched a project to develop high-data-rate LiFi transceivers. With this technology, LUCIOMexpects to offer in mid-2015 one of the first high-data-rate bidirectional light-fidelity, or LiFi, products that can work with different LED lighting sources, and on mobile devices.

After finishing the grand introduction to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus at the Special Event in Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino, California, U.S., Apple CEO Tim Cook created a new climax with Steve Jobs classical statement “One more thing…” prior to unveiling the long anticipated wearable smartwatch device “Apple Watch”.

GT Advanced Technology (GTAT) stocks plummeted after Apple announced the new iPhone 6 will not be featuring sapphire cover glass, according to a Reuters report. 

Apple’s iPhone 6 is finally here. The company’s CEO Tim Cook unveiled the phones at Apple’s Special Event which took place during the twilight hours in Taiwan on Sept. 10, 2014 (Taipei time). Some of the rumors about the iPhone 6 specs proved true, such as the phones coming in two different sizes. The smaller 4.7-inch phone has been coined iPhone 6 by the Cupertino company, while the larger 5.5-inch has been named the iPhone 6 Plus.

ntematix Corporation, a leading manufacturer of phosphor solutions for LED lighting, has collaborated with SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business to create the ChromaLit Linear - a state of the art LED offering developed for the lighting industry. By using Intematix’s remote phosphor technology and SABIC’s LEXAN™ LUX resins,  lighting customers can now achieve the energy efficiency and reliability benefits of LEDs, while also experiencing increased optical efficiency and better light uniformity—a critical factor for commercial environments.

A new manufacturer in the lighting industry, Stack, has developed a smart LED bulb that does not require App interactions, according to a TechCrunch report.

Vishay Intertechnology, one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components, today announced that it has acquired 88.95 percent of the outstanding shares of Taiwan-based Capella Microsystems Inc. (GreTai Securities Market: 3582), a fabless IC design company specializing in optoelectronic products, pursuant to its previously announced tender offer.

Intelligent lighting solutions company Lighting Science® announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Edward Bednarcik as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 8, 2014. Bednarcik, a talented executive with experience developing and commercializing technology across multiple industries globally, will lead the company as it continues to bring to market new innovative LED lighting solutions and expand its presence in the office, retail, education, health care, assisted living, agriculture, government, fitness, hospitality, infrastructure and residential market segments.

Veeco Instruments announced today that Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts has ordered two GENxplor™ R&D Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) Systems for cutting-edge compound semiconductor research.

San’an Opto board has approved an equity share transfer agreement signed with Cher Detank.

On Sept. 5, 2014, Chinese LED manufacturer Honglitronic announced it signed an “investment partnership agreement” with Nanchang City government in Jiangxi Province, China, and is currently constructing a new LED manufacturing base in the city. The investment was approved by the company’s board of trustees in a recent meeting, according to a Securities Times report.

Thailand’s LED lighting market demands have increased since the government heavily promoted energy efficient lighting, while LED luminaire prices have dropped, according to a report by Economic Daily News.

The Colorado Department of Transportation is testing new in-pavement LED lighting, according to a report by Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

Agartala, the capital of Tripura State in India, has become the first northeast city in the country to use energy efficient LEDs, according to The Times of India.

Belkin International, a leading Internet of Things (IOT) company, and OSRAM SYLVANIA, a leading global lighting manufacturer, today announced that the two companies have entered into a strategic partnership to collaborate on residential solutions with the OSRAM LIGHTIFY™ smart connected lighting ecosystem and Belkin’s WeMo® home automation ecosystem. 

Batteries Plus, the Wisconsin-based operator and franchisor of Batteries Plus Bulbs stores, announced today that it has acquired privately held LED Hut Ltd., a leading provider of LED lighting products, including bulbs and light fixtures, to customers throughout Europe.

With the IFA coming up in Germany, many LED manufacturers have announced plans of introducing new products at the show. Epistar and FOREPI concluded shareholder meetings successfully, but no details about future business or management deals have surfaced yet. A couple of interesting applications have developed in the LED industry this week, U.S. navy ships are a niche market that holds huge potential for manufacturers that acquire tenders. Intel’s new luxury smart watch MICA will come equipped with sapphire screen, while Japanese researchers are now using LED lighting system to prevent illegal recordings with smart devices. 

The Cross-Strait LED industry cooperation seminar took place at Dayeh University in Changhua County, Taiwan on Sept. 4, 2014. Industry experts and academia from China and Taiwan attended the seminar.

Lextar Electronics set another new revenue record last month, after three consecutive months of growth drove up revenue by 14.7 percent YoY to NT $1.42 billion (US $50 million), according to a UDN report. On a monthly basis, the company’s growth in August was only up 0.3 percent compared to July 2014.

A research team from Ritsumeikan University in Japan has developed a LED lighting system that can prevent unauthorized video recordings via mobile devices in public spaces.

India’s Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has called off a LED streetlight plan approved 19 months ago, according to a report by The Times of India.

EarthTron, an unlimited franchised distributor, announced today their global partnership with Veritas Light. Veritas manufactures intelligent lighting systems which are designed to enable full synchronization and control between the lights and the video systems.