Taiwan is focusing on solar power and AC light-emitting diodes (LED) as the main drivers of the nation’s green technology initiatives, and is seeking to become a world leader in AC light-emitting diodes (LED), according to the Taipei Times. The AC LED Alliance of Taiwan, under the direction of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), is ready to submit the world’s first AC-powered LED technology standard proposal to the International Commission on Illumination.

Macroblock launches a new 16-bit PWM LED driver with 8-bit digital dot correction, MBI5040. To provide uniformed LED brightness and accurate LED color for high-end LED display panels, “matched LEDs” are insufficient, and dot correction of each LED pixel becomes necessary. However, it is costly and complex to process dot correction through controllers for the increasing loading of the controllers and the limited control of LED pixels.

UPEC Electronics Corp. introduced their new product – CP150 series, which used Aluminum oxide to replace for original LTCC package materials. Utilizing UPEC’s superior ceramic packing technology for high power LED, CP150 is packed with the smallest size and still can keep excellent thermal conductivity and higher CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion). Furthermore, the heat dissipation of high power LED will no longer be an issue for CP150 series and the lifetime can reach 50,000 hours.

Intematix Corp., a leading innovator in phosphors, LED components and solid state lighting modules announced today that it has completed a pan-European franchise agreement with Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH. The agreement provides Rutronik distribution rights to Intematix' entire product portfolio of chip-on-ceramic power LEDs, arrays and modules. Rutronik will also have access to Intematix full-solution line of control systems, secondary optics and heat management technologies.

IST Lighting, a UK-based designer and manufacturer of LED lighting technologies, announces that it has established a strategic partnership with Lighting Science Group Corporation to develop and produce dimmable LED fixtures which utilize its iDrive range of LED drivers. The company plans to launch the new 45W iDrive MultiDIM mains dimmable LED driver and mains dimmable LED downlight ranges in cooperation with Lighting Science Group Corporation, according to IST.

TT electronics Optek Technology has developed a new family of visible LED backlighting strips that offer high intensity, reliable and cost-effective backlighting solution. Designated OPA775 and OPA776, the "Jacob's Ladder" series of backlighting strips are offered with daylight white LEDs and designed specifically for illumination of small- and medium-size display applications where lighting intensity and reliability are imperative.

Since their inception in 2004, Spirit Circuits have proven that UK manufacturers who offer innovation in service and delivery can thrive despite economic challenges and foreign competition.

With LED backlights more and more used in LCD TVs, Taiwanese LED makers, including Epistar Corp., Formosa Epitaxy Inc. and Tekcore Co., Ltd., have seen a flood of orders in recent months, according to Taiwan Economic News.

Radionic Hi-Tech, Inc., a U.S.-based lighting company, has become the first under-cabinet LED lighting manufacturer to receive the Lighting Facts label.

The overall solid-state lighting (SSL) market will achieve worldwide revenues topping $33 billion by 2013, forecasts an industry research institute in its new report. The illumination segment of the LED market will light the way with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 22% from 2009 to 2013 as cities worldwide switch to more energy-efficient and ecologically friendly SSL solutions. The display portion of the market also will shine brightly, achieving a five-year CAGR of over 14 percent, according to the report.

Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH has entered into a pan-European franchise agreement with the USA-based LED specialist Intematix Corporation as their exclusive distribution partner in Europe. Effective immediately, Rutronik will distribute Intematix's entire product portfolio of individual components, arrays, LED modules, control systems, secondary optics and heat sinks.

The 2009 Lighting for Tomorrow (LFT) competition is to take place May 14-15. OnSpeX, a division of CSA Group and a global provider of consumer product performance evaluations, inspections and advisory services is hosting the judging event for the competition at its testing facility in Cleveland, Ohio, the U.S.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. yesterday added to its Little Star® family with a new, automotive qualified 1-W white LED that combines extraordinarily high brightness with a compact package outline. The Little Star® VLMW711U2U3XV additionally offers a low thermal resistance and high luminous intensity for a wide range of applications.

A riot of color in a compact package - Smallest multicolour LED extends OSRAM product portfolio

NeoPac Opto launches NeoPac Universal Platform (NUP) and Standard Solid-State Light Sources for accelerating adoption of LEDs for illumination applications

Luminus Devices, Inc. announced the introduction of the CSM-360-W PhlatLight LED, the newest in a series of white LEDs designed specifically for general lighting applications. Luminus said the CSM-360-W combines the benefits of large monolithic chips in a multi-chip configuration to deliver a Chip-on-Board LED package capable of delivering 6,000 lumens.

Avnet Electronics Marketing China, part of the global technology distributor, Avnet, Inc., turned the spotlight on energy efficient, high brightness (HB) LEDs at the "Symposium on Sustainability Driven Innovative Technologies" implemented by the Hong Kong Productivity Council.

Opto Tech Corp., a Taiwanese LED provider, has successfully outbid its counterparts to supply large-sized LED display screens for China Pavilion of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, according to the company.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) recently funded LED lighting maker Liquidleds Lighting Corp. NT$26 million (US$764,700) through its venture capital fund VTFA and has acquired 11% stake in the LED provider. The investment is considered as part of its plan to develop strong presence in green technology field. Liquidleds was co-founded in 2005 by a former iD SoftCapital Group executive. The company reportedly has introduced the first AC LED bulb in the industry.  In LED filed, TSMC has invested in epitaxy-wafer maker BridgeLux of the U.S.

Micron Technology is requesting for $20 million stimulus fund through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help the company expand into the LED industry and create new jobs in Idaho. LEDs (Light-emitting diodes), which use one-seventh as much energy as conventional lighting and can last much longer, can be used in lamps and fixtures, municipal streetlights and outdoor lighting such as street lamps, traffic signals and auto lights.

The top three global LED vendors, Nichia, Osram and Lumileds/Philips, are threatened by the fast growing Korean and Taiwanese companies, as competition in the global LED market becomes tougher, according to a market research firm.

Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc., a developer of power management integrated circuits, announced yesterday a new set of flash and backlight White LED (WLED) drivers for the highly competitive feature phone market. Offering new efficiencies in power usage in highly compact packages, the AAT3176 flash driver and the AAT3351 white LED driver promise to help handset designers extend battery life and reduce product footprint.

Cree Inc is "cautiously optimistic" that demand for its products will pick up in the coming months, and it could tap the debt markets to help fund its growth, said Cree’s CEO Chuck Swoboda in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday. With no outstanding debt and more than $400 million in cash, Cree is not currently planning a debt issuance, but it would be better to issue debt before the company was in need of cash, said Swoboda.

Seoul Semiconductor announced on May 12 the launch of its 120lm/W high-efficiency, SMD type LED for general lighting. The LCW100Z1 delivers over 120lm/W with an enhanced primary optic including enhanced heat transfer and the metal substrate, according to the company, while the pricing of the LCW100Z1 is comparable to similar-sized Chip LED’s that can tolerate only half of the current.

CAP-XX Limited, developer of the supercapacitor-driven BriteFlash Power Architecture, recently announced availability of supercapacitor-optimized LED flash drivers from several power management integrated circuit (PMIC) companies to facilitate design of high-power LED flash units for high-resolution camera phones and digital cameras.

Savage Marine, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of lighting to the yacht market has halved the energy consumption of its ultra bright interior and exterior downlighters by adopting state of the art 10W LED technology from Marl to replace halogen lights.

Carmanah Technologies introduced its next generation of solar-powered LED lights at the LightFair International tradeshow and conference in New York City. As part of a new "General Illumination" (GI) product line, the company featured a range of solar-powered lights for street and parking lot applications, including the new EverGEN 1500, along with a preview of the company's new EverGEN 1700-series design. 

UPEC Electronic Corp., well known for innovative ways of combining design and LED technology, announced an enhanced version of Fish Lamp. LED technology is now regarded as the lighting solution of the future. Its unique characteristics, such as low energy consumption and extreme long-life, make the use of this technology attractive in terms of practical lighting, decoration and the special application as well.  

On Lightfair International 2009, the lighting industry’s annual trade show at the Javits Center in New York last week, LED bulbs and fixtures dominated nearly every booth on the show floor. Though most people think of LEDs as the lights blinking from inside electronic devices, they are being used increasingly to light rooms.

BluGlass Limited recently announced that it has signed a term sheet outlining the material, terms and conditions to be encompassed in an Exclusive Sales and Marketing License Agreement with BLK CO., LTD (BLK) of Korea. This term sheet is a significant advancement in the commercialization of BluGlass and marks the first steps towards a full customer agreement.