Featured with lower energy cost and longer lifespan, LED streetlights have been adopted by more and more cities across the world. Aberdeen in the UK and Kelowna in Canada have recently announced projects of LED streetlight replacement and smart lighting system installation. Moreover, the Malaysia government also said that it will convert all the streetlights in the country into LED starting from September 2019. (Image: Pixabay) The City Council of Aberdeen is carrying out a £9 million (US$11.79 million) seven-year program of replacing conventional street...

US-based semiconductor equipment supplier Applied Materials has halted deliveries and services to Chinese companies including San’an Optoelectronics that were named in a red-flag list of “unverified” entities announced by the U.S. Commerce Department on April 10, 2019, reported Nikkei Asian Review. The U.S. Commerce Department added 37 Chinese companies and schools to a red-flag list of “unverified” entities, noting that U.S. companies should treat the listed organizations with caution. San’an Optoelectronics, the biggest LED...

The growing Mini LED adoption in monitors, notebooks, tablets and even mobile phones, as well as the increasing Micro LED display reveals indicate the booming market of advanced LED applications. Macroblock, the Taiwan-based LED driver IC specialist, might be benefitted from the wave. The company has joined the supply chain of Samsung’s LED cinema and is currently working with the Korean giant on Mini LED and Micro LED technologies. Samsung has expanded its LED cinema screen in worldwide cinemas including China, India, Singapore, US, German...

Industry players are getting ready to present their new products and novel technologies as it enters the second season of the year. This week at the National Association of Broadcaster, leading display makers including LG, Samsung and Sony have all introduced their advanced signage solutions at the show. LG was named by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) as the exclusive “Official 4K UHD TV Partner” for the 2019 NAB Show and installed more than 160 advanced LG 4K Ultra HD screens, ranging from 32- to 70-inch screen sizes, througho...

An international research team has developed near-infrared (NIR) LED based on perovskite in a laboratory at Linköping University in Sweden which achieve a record external quantum efficiency of 21.6 percent Perovskites have good light-emitting properties and are easy to manufacture. However, the external quantum efficiency of perovskite-based LED has until now been limited due to defects that arise in the material during manufacture. The defects act as traps for the charge carriers and thus cause energy losses. (Image: Linköping University) To solve the ...

The next generation display technology Micro LED is on its way to commercialization after years of development. The industry has been working on technology breakthroughs and improvements to speed up the progress of Micro LED. LEDinside has partnered with the Consortium of Intelligence Micro-Assembly System (CIMS), an organization established by Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to push the development of Micro LED technologies and provide the latest trends and updates of the industry. CIMS connects the supply...

Osram Opto Semiconductors announced that it joined a project, SmartVIZ, which aims to explore the principles of high-resolution visualization solutions using Micro LEDs. Focusing on automotive interior applications, the Micro LED project expects to present initial demonstration by October 2021. The purpose of the SmartVIZ project is to provide research basis for future transparent, high-resolution, direct-emitting visualization solutions with Micro LED technologies. Osram will partner with ASM AMICRA and Fraunhofer IISB to carry out researches focu...

Sony announced that it is building up a massive 16K screen with its Crystal LED technology in Japan at National Association of Broadcaster 2019. The size of the giant TV screen is 19.2 meters by 5.4 meters (63 ft by 17ft) with an ultra-resolution of 16K, which uses 16 times the pixel of 4K TVs and 64 times more than 1080p. Sony is currently installing the screen in Yokohama, Japan, for a new research center of Shiseido, the Japanese cosmetic group. (Image: Sony) Sony’s Micro LED technology, called “Crystal LED” by the company, is ad...

On March 26, 2019, a ruling of the District Court of Düsseldorf, Germany, (docket number 4a O 72/17) found that white LED used as flashlights in certain smartphones manufactured by HTC Corporation infringed Nichia’s YAG patent EP 0 936 682 (DE 697 02 929). The decision was also rendered against HTC’s affiliates HTC Europe and HTC Germany as well as against Digital River Ireland, which operates HTC’s European web shop. Nichia is awarded damages as compensation for the patent infringement for the period from June 30, 2007 until ...

Since Mini LED began its commercialized applications in the second half of 2018, the market of Mini LED backlight continues to expand. It is said that Apple will also start to adopt Mini LED backlight for iMac and iPad. Apple was said to release a 31.6-inch iMac with Mini LED back light in 2H19, a 10- to 12- inch iPad in 4Q20 or 1Q21 and a 15- to 17- inch Macbook in 1H21. With features of wide color gamut, high contrast ratio, high dynamic range, local dimming and long lifespan, Mini LED backlight would be a better option for devices such as monitors, tab...

Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany have developed a novel, even more economical LED street light by replacing conventional high-performance LED with a special array of weaker LEDs. The new approach succeeded in reducing power consumption by 20 percent. Michael Heidinger at KIT's Light Technology Institute (LTI) designed a smart circuit that compensates aging and failure of individual LEDs. With the new approach, it is possible to install a large number of LEDs on a single board at low cost. Moreover, the LEDs incre...

To detect cancer at early stage is critical for treatment. In order to spot tumors before they become too big to cure, researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed an optical imaging system using near-infrared light to spot tiny tumors. The MIT research team noted that near-infrared light with wavelengths from 900 to 1700 nanometers, is suitable to tissue imaging because light with longer wavelengths does not scatter as much as when it strikes objects, allowing the light to penetrate deeper into the tissue. Using the advantage of near-infrared light, r...

The love-hate relationship between human and blue light becomes more complicated with a new research published by researchers at Purdue University and Boston University. They discovered that blue light exposure can kill Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacterium that causes infection in various parts of the body and is called “superbug.” (image: Pixabay) According to the new research, published on March 30, 2019 on Advanced Science, researchers found that exposing MRSA to blue light can render it defenseless against antiseptics as m...

Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), three trade fairs will be staged in April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), namely the HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) on April 6-9, followed by the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and the HKTDC International ICT Expo on April 13-16. The three fairs will feature more than 5,000 exhibitors from around the world, including more than 10 pavilions from Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area citie...

Visible light communication, also known as Light Fidelity (LiFi), which transmits data through LED light, has attracted attention in the industry. European lighting companies and telecom operators including Signify, Zumtobel and O2 have trailed the technology for various applications. As LED technology advances, the adjustable wavelength makes it possible to transferring data wirelessly via visible light like how WiFi works with radio waves. In comparison with WiFi, LiFi has two strong advantages: high speed and safety. LiFi can offer high speed data transmission ...

Jiangsu Bree Optronics, a Chinese phosphor manufacturer, claimed patent invalidity against The National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan, who changed the licensing scheme for its comprehensive patent on red phosphor since October 2018. In October 2018, NIMS announced a new licensing scheme to the patents on the nitride red phosphor by the name of CASN, SCASN or 1113 phosphor (S/CASN phosphor). Originally, companies manufacturing LED devices were able to purchase S/CASN phosphors from phosphor manufacturing companies holding NIM...

GE announced that it has completed the sales of Current, powered by GE business unit to American Industrial Partners (AIP), following the agreement signed in November 6, 2018. Current, powered by GE was established by GE in 2015 as a startup subsidiary offering smart lighting and control services through the integration of LED technology, networked sensors and software. The business delivers energy savings and operational productivity for its customers, which include commercial offices, retail stores, industrial facilities and cities. Under a long-term licensing agre...

The developments and progresses of Micro LED have been under spotlight for years with researchers in the industry and the academic field working in related technologies. Worldwide researchers have also applied patents for their technology achievements and breakthroughs to protect their intellectual properties as well as to secure leading positions in the field. (Image: Samsung) The Korean Intellectual Property Office analyzed the patent applications related to Micro LED technology filed from 2000 to April 2018 across the world and revealed that more than 60 percent of...

LED chip maker Epistar announced the expansion of its investment in ProLight Opto, a Taiwan-based high power LED manufacturer, to intensify the cooperation between the two companies in Mini LED production and development. Facing the challenge of blue LED price drop due to global economy uncertainties, Epistar has continued its development in VCSEL and Mini LED. The company began Mini LED products shipment since last year. With increased investment in ProLight, Epistar aims to secure its Mini LED supply with ProLight’s capacity expansion....

The 2019 Digital Signage Expo (DSE), held in March 26 to 29 in Las Vegas, gathered more than 250 exhibitors across the world to showcase their innovative display technologies. IoT applications, interactive display solutions on fine pitch LED displays with high resolution are trends at the event. Leading panel brands including Samsung, NEC, , Sony and others introduced signage solutions incorporating sensors, cameras, data analytics, cloud computing and more to provide cutting-edge products for commercial and professional applications. (Image: DSE) Samsung p...

For keeping the quality and effect of tunable LED lighting used in human centric lighting applications, a new research proposed novel methods to overcome the challenges of temperature change and lumen decay of LEDs. The research team demonstrated a system to maintain consistency and stability of LED light source over an extended period of time. Featured with tunable color temperature and spectrum, LED has been increasingly adopted in the developing human centric lighting applications in medical, educational and working environment for improving human well-being. Some of th...

UK optoelectronic technology solutions provider Plessey announced its achievement of developing a novel manufacturing method of green LED which does not require color conversion. Plessey has been working on developing Micro LED technology for AR and display applications. The new green LEDs manufactured without color conversion techniques deliver higher luminance that can be used in Micro LED displays. Conventional green LED production usually applies phosphors or quantum dot conversion materials to native Blue LEDs. These materials then convert short wavelengt...

On its way of transforming to a high-tech photonic company, Osram has been challenged by the weakening global market. The German company adjusted its annual forecast for fiscal year 2019 which ends by September 30, 2019. Osram said the revenue of fiscal 2019 is expected to decline between 11 and 14 percent while the previous forecast was a revenue growth between 0 and 3 percent. The company also lowered is the range of its adjusted EBITDA margin to eight and ten percent from 12 to 14 percent. In addition, Osram expects a negative free cash flow between EUR 50 million t...

Horticulture LED applications have become more and more popular as LED lighting uses less energy and delivers more efficient light source for cultivation with its feature of adjustable intensity and wavelength. To prove the advantages of LED lighting in horticultural applications, researchers at the University of Guelph, Canada, tried to find out to what degree LED advancements could benefit greenhouses. Dave Llewellyn, Katherine Schiestel, and Youbin Zheng from the University of Guelph investigate the potential for LED lighting technologies to replace conventi...

LED driver IC manufacturer Macroblock has targeted the market of Mini LED and Micro LED. It has begun to ship Mini LED backlight module driver IC for gaming displays following the company’s schedule announced by the end of 2018 and expects to enter the supply chain of high-end TV panels by the second half of 2019. Furthermore, it plans release products for wearable Micro LED applications such as AR/VR smart glasses. The consolidate revenue of Macroblock in 2018 hit the record high at NT$ 2.985 billion (US$ 96.69 million), with an on-year incre...

Australia and New Zealand are increasing their investment in smart city applications with more LED streetlights conversion projects going on in different cities. (Image: Pixabay) Telensa, the UK-based smart city and street lighting specialist, announced the partnership with City of Darwin in Australia. The company will provide its PLANet intelligent street lighting system and replace about 10,000 street and public lights with wirelessly connected LEDs. These streetlights will then be controlled by the Telensa Central Management System (CMS) and hos...

Wearable devices have become common electronics in the modern society and they have been integrated with various smart applications to enhance life convenience. Apart from wearable accessories like glasses and watches, scientists are working on developing smart clothing to create even more diverse applications. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced its new achievement in developing a textile-based display module that is washable, wearable and self-powered. (Image: KAIST) Professor Kyung Cheol Choi from the School of Electri...

Taiwan-based LED company Everlight announced the participation of “SMART CITY SUMMIT & EXPO” in Taipei for the first time with the aim to promote smart street light and smart city. Everlight will work together with AAEON, ASKEY Computer, EverFocus Electronics and IBASE Technology to build up smart traffic, security and energy scenarios, integrating the related applications to present convenient and systematic smart city on the booth at the event (Booth No.: K824). (Smart street light of Everlight) Everlight demonstr...

In November 2018, Nikkei Asian Review has covered that Japan’s largest convenience store operator 7-eleven would set up a plant factory in Tokyo to produce vegetable for its own salads products in January 2019. The project operator and a longtime premium delicatessen supplier to 7-Eleven Prime Delica has adopted Signify’s growing light for its vertical farm facility located in the city of Sagamihara in the Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. Signify provided the Philips GreenPower LEDs to help Prime Delica to grow crops with vitamin levels and nutritional v...

Lumotive, a LiDAR startup funded by Bill Gates, announced its development of a disruptive beam-steering technology which will significantly improve the performance, reliability and cost of LiDAR systems for the emerging self-driving car industry. With its patented system using Liquid Crystal Metasurfaces (LCM) and silicon fabrication, Lumotive introduced its beam steering LiDAR that is able to simultaneously offer large optical aperture, wide field-of-view and fast scanning. LCMs, semiconductor chips that steer laser pulses based on the light-bending principle...