LED makers from Taiwan project that the cost of LED backlight units (BLUs) will shrink to 1.5 times that of CCFL-based units during late 2008. Despite that the current penetration rate of LED-backlit notebooks barely exceeds 10% due to LED patent issues and insufficient LED chip supplies, many industry players and research firms project that the rate will rise in the 10~20% range in 2008.

It's reported that Epistar Corp of Hsinchu has placed a third multiple order for MOCVD systems from Aixtron of Aachen, Germany. The order was placed in Q407, and includes both multiple CRIUS Close Coupled Showerhead (CCS) reactors and AIX 2800G4 HT Planetary Reactor systems for volume production of GaN-based LEDs. Aixtron says that the latest order, along with a multiple order announced last October, made Epistar the single largest individual system investor in Q407.

On 22nd，Diguang International Development Co., Ltd. reported that during the 2008 CES Show, its LED general lighting and flat panel lighting (FPL) products drew especially high levels of attention from attendees. At CES, held January 7-10 at the Sands Expo, Las Vegas, the Company displayed backlight products for a wide variety of applications.

Allegro MicroSystems Inc. has announced the release of two new LED driver ICs for use in displays, signs and control panels. The A6282 and A6285 both have 16 constant-current output channels. They have serial data inputs and outputs, which can be cascaded to create large, megapixel text or video displays. They can also be used in smaller applications such as LCD backlighting or controlling LEDs in an instrument or control panel.

Cutter Electronics provides the new 600 Lumen LED light bulb upgrade from TerraLUX which replaces the standard incandescent bulb in Maglite D cell flashlights. The TLE-300 upgrade fits into and converts a Maglite flashlight with 4, 5 or 6 D cell batteries into the bright LED flashlight available, setting a new performance milestone in flashlight brightness.TerraLUX uses three of the latest Luxeon K2 flip chip high powered bright LEDs to make this performance possible. The product will be available to upgrade other flashlight manufacturer’s products in the near future.

It's reported that Catalyst Semiconductor has expanded its recently introduced family of large LED video display drivers with the new CAT4008, an 8-channel, constant-current sink LED driver for billboard, marquee, instrument and other large, general-purpose LED displays. The CAT4008 joins Catalyst's CAT4016, 16-channel, constant-current LED driver introduced in October 2007.

Forge Europa of Ulverston, UK, has introduced a line of LED light strips. The company's strips are either rigid or flexible and can come in a choice of RGB combination or single colors such as cool white, warm white, red, amber, green, and blue. The RGB strips measure 400mm, and the single color strips measure 500mm. The strips have a single connection at one end, and up to four strips can be connected end-to-end for illumination lengths of 1600mm or 2000mm.

New Option Lighting has developed a solar-powered LED headlamp that is ideal for outdoor activities such as camping, backpacking, hunting, fishing, bicycling, etc. Because consumers are increasingly aware of the environment, this solar LED headlamp fulfills an upsurging interest in green products. In addition to a battery charge indicator, users can also charge a cell phone, iPod or GPS device using either 12VDC or USB Converter accessories also being offered at www.newlite.com

Alan recently began installing lighting built from tiny chips, light-emitting diodes or LEDs. They use less power than traditional bulbs, don't have the harmful mercury found in fluorescent lights and can last for 20 years.

Osram Opto Semiconductors of Santa Clara, California USA was presented with Electronic Products’ 2007 Product of the Year Award from Electronic Products magazine for its 1000 lumen Ostar LED for general lighting applications. The award was given in a ceremony held at the company’s North American headquarters in Santa Clara.Osram noted that Electronic Products is one of the top publications serving the electronics original equipment market.

TerraLUX, represented by Cutter Electronics has announced a 600 Lumen LED light bulb upgrade which replaces the standard incandescent bulb in Maglite D cell flashlights. The TLE-300 upgrade fits into and converts a Maglite flashlight with 4, 5 or 6 D cell batteries into a bright LED flashlight. TerraLUX uses three of the latest Luxeon K2 flip chip high powered bright LEDs to make this performance possible.

It's said that Contrel Technology, Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) LCD equipment affiliate,  will extend its presence in the LED sector with shipments to Chi Mei Lighting Technology, another CMO LED affiliate, to start in 2H08.Contrel will ship equipment to Chi Mei Lighting in the second half of 2008, though the shipment volume may be small. Corresponding sales contribution is expected to emerge from 2009, they projected. CMO will remain as the largest sales contributor to Contrel in 2008, with an expected sales contribution of over 70%.

The market scale of global lighting market totals US$70 billion every year, including the market scale of the general lighting market valued at about US$40 billion, but the penetration rate of LED products utilized in the lighting market accounts for about 1%, according to Technology Development Association (PIDA).

Marl CreativeArc of Cumbria, UK, a division of Marl International Ltd., announced the availability of a new series of dual up and down light fixtures. According to the company, the 735 Series is designed to be mounted on a vertical surface. It can emit light either vertically or horizontally. The company noted that the new fixtures are suitable for both internal and external installation. The light can illuminate of both buildings and pathways possible.

The ViewSonic VLED221wm has a staggering dynamic contrast ratio of 12000:1. This makes it, according to ViewSonic, “the ultimate monitor for life-like high-definition content.” This display also is capable of “high-quality color reproduction” via a technology which lets it display 118 percent of the color gamut based on the National Television System Committee (NTSC) guidelines. Sounds cool.

SALEM, N.H., Jan 09, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- StockerYale, Inc. (NASDAQ: STKR: 0.76, +0.00, +0.00%), a leading designer and manufacturer of structured light lasers, LED modules and specialty optical fibers for industry leading OEMs, today announced that it will place an increased emphasis on medical market business development in 2008 that will leverage its investments in medical product research and development.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) show, a lot of product launched withLED backlight technology, which is energy saving and better color capacity.LED backlight technology-based LCD screen will be will be new focus product this year, the future desktop computer screen will be lighter, thinner and more energy-efficient.