The Neo Neon Holdings Ltd. is building its own tech support by collaborating with the elite South China University of Technology in southern mainland China to open an optoelectronics technology institute to back its expitaxy-wafer factory, which began production in Nov. 2008. Industry watchers notes the school can help improve not only Neo Neon’s LED manufacturing but also corporate plans to transform from a traditional enterprise into a high-tech manufacturer.

Recently, Universal Display Corporation, an innovator behind today's and tomorrow's displays and lighting through its UniversalPHOLED(TM) phosphorescent OLED technology, announced that the company's research advances in white OLED lighting performance was honored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) during the DOE's Annual Solid-State Lighting Workshop. With the support of the DOE, Universal Display has been working on developing highly-efficient white OLEDs for use in myriad lighting applications.

It’s reported that Cape Town-based light manufacturer Kubik has manufactured a color-changing LED floor with 95m², which is the largest of its kind in the world. The glass floor, designed by UK-based architect Darnton Elgee's Mari Stassen, was manufactured in Montague Gardens in 134 modular elements, and was shipped to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this month.

NXP Semiconductors, the independent semiconductor company founded by Philips, has launched the world’s first integrated dimmable mains LED driver - the SSL2101, and has demonstrated it on the NXP booth at the Strategies in Light Conference(SIL) form February 18 – 20 at Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California, USA.

Luminus Devices, Inc. has introduced its new white PhlatLight® LEDs - the SST-90 and the SST-90. The SST-90 white PhlatLight® LED, produced in a surface-mount package, delivers 100 lm/W at 6500 K and up to 2.25 kilolumens in total. Launched in parallel, the CST-90 features standard mounting, also delivers 100 lm/W efficacy, and reaches a maximum output of 2.75 kilolumens. Two new PhlatLight LEDs are expected to enter volume production in the second quarter of the year.

Global LED street lamps shipments are estimated to grow 224% to 1.46 million units in 2009, according to Taiwan's Photonics Industry & Technology Development Association (PIDA). PIDA reports that the total revenue from the increased number of LED street lamps ordered worldwide will double instead of tripling to US$816 million, a rise of about 99%. This means that the price charged for LED street lamps will go down somewhat in 2009.  

Cree, Inc. announces it will work with both the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Propulsion Directorate and high-power module pioneer Powerex, Inc., to develop a demonstration dual switch 1200-volt, 100-amp power module featuring all-SiC semiconductors and capable of operating at junction temperatures up to 200 degrees C. The combination of advanced SiC devices and innovative package design allows the module to operate at temperatures beyond those achievable with a silicon IGBT-based module.

Avago Technologies, a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications, has introduced a 1-Watt, miniature LED for SSL applications. The company says its features include robust package design, wide viewing angle, and extended operating life.

National Semiconductor has introduced a TRIAC dimmable LED driver - the LM3445. The company says the constant-current controller enables uniform dimming of high brightness LEDs, without flicker.

Future Lighting Solutions announced the availability of its first off-the-shelf optic for uniform mixing of multiple LED light sources. The company says Polymer Optic's 230 Color Mixer Reflector can uniformly mix light from up to four closely mounted Luxeon Rebel LEDs (from Philips) into a single +/- 5 degree full width at half maximum (FWHM) beam.

Ruud Lighting has laid off about 50 of its nearly 600 employees. Company President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Ruud says the collapse of the construction industry forced the actions. He says the company is restructuring and the layoffs are considered permanent. The privately owned Ruud Lighting, 9201 Highway 20, makes lighting fixtures for commercial, industrial, institutional and residential settings. The dearth of construction work during the recession has sapped sales, Ruud says.

The Rs 220-crore Usha Shriram Ltd, plans to enter the LED lighting products segment. It proposes to import such lighting products from Europe and market them under its own brandname. Usha Shriram's mission is to position its LED portfolio in the consumer segment and launch them at more compelling rates than the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) range. LED lighting products are more energy efficient than CFL items.

It’s reported that French Center for Building Science and Technology (CSTB), major French academic lighting laboratories and the French branch of Philips Lighting has formed a R&D program to research and promote the optimal use of LEDs in buildings.  

South Korean electronics giant Samsung Electronics Co. is reportedly setting up a 50-50 joint venture with its affiliate Samsung Electro-Mechanics to jointly produce LEDs. It’s disclosed the veture is tentatively named Samsung LED. LEDs are known to have many advantages to traditional light sources, such as low energy consumption, longer lifetime, which are increasingly used in products from mobile phones to flat-screen televisions.

ROAL Electronics announces its TROPO Series is a family of LED drivers designed specifically for powering LEDs in new and retrofit lighting applications. These drivers operate directly from the AC line and provide an isolated, low voltage constant current DC output. Wide range (10%-100%) dimming is possible with standard incandescent dimmers (triac based, standard phase – leading edge) and electronic low voltage dimmers (reverse phase – trailing edge).

ETC has announced their acquisition of the Selador™ product line from Selador co-founders Rob Gerlach and Novella Smith. That means ETC would enter the LED market.

PerkinElmer Inc., announces that it will showcase its latest range of LED solutions at Strategies in Light 2009 (SIL) from February 18-20 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California, USA.

AIXTRON AG has received a triple order for MOCVD tools from a new Chinese manufacturer of LEDs Tonghui Electronics Corp. The order is for a AIX 2800G4 HT IC Planetary Reactor system, AIXTRON’s flagship reactor for large-scale manufacturing of LEDs and other advanced devices, and two AIX 2600G3 IC systems.

TT electronics OPTEK Technology has developed a family of ultraviolet LEDs in the UV-A spectrum. The OUE8A Series offer an energy-efficient hermetic TO-46 metal can packaged UV LED source providing a uniform optical light pattern, high current pulse capability, ESD protection and a long operating lifespan.

Royal Philips Electronics announces that it will launch a new solar-powered reading light in autumn 2009. The company says the LED light enables people to both read and write after dark. It’s disclosed that Philips’s “My Reading Light” was developed specifically for the education sector in Africa and will allow school children to continue with their homework after sunset.

Toshin Electric Co Ltd has launched the "Bikei," an LED tube lamp which can replace 40W straight tube fluorescent lamps. The company enhanced the heat radiation efficiency of the Bikei by forming aluminum radiator fins on part of its tube. Also, it downsized the substrate on which LEDs are mounted and minimized the shadow made by the substrate so that light reaches farther.

Recently, ITC Inc., a leading accessory manufacturer to the RV industry, announces that it is teaming up with Dynamax Corporation, a leading OEM of luxury motor coaches, to replace traditional halogen overhead lighting with high output LED technology. ITC’s LED lighting requires much lower amp draw, saving both energy and money. LED lights also contain no mercury.

Seoul Semiconductor has announced to replace outdoor lightings of a Senator business center with exclusive solid state light, Acriche. The project has been completed by a Russian lighting expert company Vitrulux Oy.

Osram Opto Semiconductors has announced its first thermal models for computing different LED designs available online. OSRAM has demonstrated it is high level of customer support. In addition to electrical, mechanical and optical data, a compact model for Flotherm software is now permanently available at www.Osram-os.com/thermal-files for calculating thermal behavior.

Arrow Electronics, Inc. of Melville, New York USA, and Texas Instruments (TI) announce a new series of Analog eLab videocasts on solid-state lighting (SSL). Partnering with Cree, Inc., Arrow and TI will present six new videocasts that share expertise on developing driver solutions for several LED applications.

Carmanah, a maker of solar powered LED lighting based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada announces that it has sold its Road Signs business to Temple Inc. of Decatur, Alabama. Two companies have signed the definitive agreement.

Recently, AIXTRON AG announced an order received in the second quarter 2008 for an MOCVD system from a new customer, Yangzhou Zhongke Semiconductor Lighting Center Co. Ltd. The Close Coupled Showerhead CRIUS system with 31x2" wafer configuration was delivered to Yangzhou Zhongke’s state of the art facility in the Yangzhou High-Tech Venture Services Center, PR China in the fourth quarter 2008. Its application will be for the development and volume production of UHB blue/green LEDs.

Veeco Instruments has to restructure its MOCVD systems business, as the downturn continues to take its toll on the wider semiconductor industry. At Veeco Q4 earnings call, John Peeler, CEO of the company, has announced its MOCVD systems operation in New Jersey would be hit by the latest move. He said their MOCVD systems business would go to a fully outsourced model by the end of the year. He also outlined a number of wider measures to cut costs, including a 26% reduction in workforce. Veeco will employ less than 1000 employees by the end of 2009.

Elma Electronic, a leading designer and manufacturer of rotary components and electronic packaging products, offers LEDs in customizable configurations with custom brightness options.

Taiwan Opto Tech has unveiled its new Smart Street Lights using Nichia LEDs. The company says the new LED street lights have four main functions which include a modulized design, a unique cooling technology, a new optical design, and an excellent power module. The fixture is streamlined and ultra-thin, with a depth of only 80mm and will be expected to meet the global market demand. The company currently plans to mass-produce 55W and 105W street lights that can be used with either solar or AC power.