Following LED automotive lighting already having become a new standard in automotive accessories, high luminosity LEDs have expanded their application in the automotive lighting market. With the constant increase in capabilities of LED lighting, LED headlight demands are also continuing to rise. New facets are opening up propelling the market forward.

Honglitronic’s LED packaged products, mostly used in lighting applications, are being produced at 750KK to 800KK per month, said a member from the company’s Securities Department. Those in the industry believe the LED manufacturer’s profits will surface at the end of 2014.

The LED market for 2014 will see continued growth for the general lighting market and supply shortage of LED chips due to increasing demands from the LED lighting market, according to a recent report from UBS. In the report, the financial service company provides their outlook for Everlight and Epistar 2014 operation performance.

Universal Display Corporation, enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED® technology and materials, today announced a collaboration and evaluation agreement with Philips Technologie GmbH, Business Center OLED Lighting. Under this agreement, Universal Display will begin supplying Philips with its highly efficient phosphorescent OLED (PHOLED) materials for solid-state lighting applications.

Efore’s recent acquisition, Italian-based ROAL Electronics is launching a new, higher power Intelligent LED Driver series. First introductions were at the Strategies in Light, in Munich and at Luxlive, in London last week.

Sunpower Technology has introduced a new series of flexible constant current output LED power supplies to meet today’s demand for intelligent LED lighting control. Rated at 40W or 60W, their output current levels can be set by a built-in DIP switch. The LCM-40 and LCM-60 models have a dual dimming function, accepting either 0 – 10VDC or a PWM signal as their dimming control input. The LCM-40DA and LCM-60DA digital control versions feature a built-in DALI interface as well as a push dimming function. Both models are ideal for meeting the performance and flexibility demands of today’s intelligent digital dimming applications.

Hubbell Lighting announced two new high performance, energy-efficient LED wall sconces—Spaulding Lighting's LED Trapezoid (TRP) and Radius (RDI) fixtures. Designed to beautifully accentuate a building's architecture, the TRP and RDI are the perfect choice to efficiently light large office buildings, retail stores, chain restaurants, apartments, schools, campuses, and warehouses.

Direct-view type LED TV aka chubby TV with its cost advantages and has been a market highlight in 2013. Chubby TV has been using secondary optic lens to continually improve its features. By increasing beam angle, the LED TV has successfully met the challenge of shortening OD to 15 mm without adding LEDs. The chubby TV not only has cost advantages, it has also shed off its thick appearance and now holds the same advantages as the thin edge-view type LED TV. The industry predicts 15 mm OD TV model will become the next major industry spec in 2014.

United Mechanical and Electrical Co. (United M&E) invested RMB 320 million (US $53.33 million) in an offshore energy efficient, environmental, and clean energy project. Subsidiaries Zhejiang United Mechanical and Electrical Co. and Insigma Technology Corp. accepted Mexico City Government’s LED street light tender. 

Ultraviolet (UV) light usually are light waves with 100 to 280 nanometer (nm) wavelengths, according to a report by Chinese-language newspaper Science and Technology Daily. These lights are mostly used to kill germs, used medically, and in biochemical tests. At the same time, UV LEDs advantages have inspired many new consumer electronics to adopt these applications, for example in white household appliances disinfection modules, portable water purification systems, smartphone disinfection and others. It shows wide market applications, and has become the next popular global LED R&D and investment field after semiconductor LED. 

Showa Denko K.K. has developed a light source similar to blue LEDs through a combination of violet, red, yellow, blue, and green LED chips, according to a recent report by Nikkei on November 21st.

Universal Display Corporation, enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED(R) technology and materials, today announced that the European Patent Office (EPO) issued a decision on the previously-disclosed appeal of a prior ruling relating to the Company's European Patent No. 1449238 (the EP '238 patent). The EPO panel revoked the patent previously allowed by the lower EPO, which had upheld the broadest claim of coverage for organometallic iridium device architectures. The opposing parties included Sumitomo Chemical Company, Merck Patent GmbH and BASF SE.

With the official launch of LEED v4 at the 2013 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Philadelphia this week, North American lighting leader OSRAM SYLVANIA is showcasing at Booth #2519 the latest in traditional and solid state lighting solutions and controls that can help businesses meet and achieve LEED prerequisites and points. For over 40 years, OSRAM SYLVANIA has led the way in introducing products that deliver energy savings to customers and reduce CO2 emissions from power plants.

It’s no surprise that consumers are overwhelmed by all of the changes happening in the lighting aisle, and research shows that most aren’t ready to make the leap to newer energy-efficient lighting solutions. In fact, consumers are purchasing GE Energy-Efficient Soft White bulbs at a rate of two-to-one compared to compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, according to Nielsen.

PPG Industries and Universal Display Corporation today marked the opening of a world-class organic light-emitting diode (OLED) materials production facility at PPG’s Barberton, Ohio plant. This new site, which PPG owns and operates, commenced manufacturing earlier this month and will foster the expanded development and production of Universal Display’s phosphorescent OLED (UniversalPHOLED®) materials. “This investment furthers our commitment in this growing technology area and expands our partnership with Universal Display. As the market demand for energy-efficient, high-performance OLED displays and lighting devices continues to grow, we are better prepared today to meet their needs.

Sammi Gros has invented a new type of LED “Tail Lights.” They are not your usual LED tail lights for automotive applications, but six LED double sided strands clipped to horse tails. According to Kickstarter’s product introduction, Gros decided to launch safety lights for equestrian lovers after being hit by a car during a riding trip with a friend four years ago. The safety lights for horses aims to help avoid potential motor accidents for riders.

British LED lighting company PhotonStar Technology Ltd. has announced its new consumer Smart Bulb system Halcyon™, to be available to the general market early 2014 but with a small pre-production run to go to Kickstarter backers in the next few weeks.

Verbatim announces the launch of its ground-breaking Natural Vision VxRGB™ technology, available as realistic candle (Classic B) and MR16 retrofit LED lamps. The products are being launched at Lux Live – one of Europe’s key lighting trade shows held in London, opening today.

Chinese manufacturers offer more insight into the sapphire substrate and MOCVD market this week. Chinese MOCVD manufacturer TOPEC aims to challenge Veeco’s dominance in China’s MOCVD equipment market, while Guizhou Haotian Opto offers insights causing the market’s current sapphire substrate shortages. In addition, Chinese experts share their perspective on the recent global LED patent battles, and how Japanese manufacturers are taking the lead with core technology patents. LEDinside analysts have also come up with brand new reports this week that shed insights on the global LED lighting market trends for 2014. 

Chinese-language online media STCN.Com reporters interviewed Ji Yong, General Manager and Chairman of Guizhou Haotian Optoelectronics Technology Co. (Guizhou Haotian Opto), during the 10th OfWeek LED Seminar 2013 and OfWeek LED Awards in Shenzhen on Nov. 15, 2013. Ji shares his observations on the sapphire substrate market developments and the impact from GT Advanced Technology (GTAT) and Apple partnership.

Chinese-language online media STCN.Com reporters interviewed Tang Optoelectronics Equipment Co. (TOPEC) Chairman and CEO Steve Chen during the 10th OfWeek LED Seminar 2013 and OfWeek LED Awards in Shenzhen on Nov. 15, 2013. The TOPEC leader shares insights on MOCVD equipment market developments in China. 

Following iPhone 5S adoption of dual-flash LED, smartphones are expected to set off a new dual color flash LED trend. The market is very optimistic about growth in demand for flash LED. The two main supply chains for flash LED are separated into vertical chip manufacturers including Osram, Cree, and Samsung and flip chip manufacturers, such as Philips Lumileds, and Nichia. Taiwanese manufacturers Epistar and Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) are also following suit to grab flash LED market shares.

SemiLEDs Corporation announced the introduction and release of the 10-Watt M63 RGBW integrated 6363 LED. The 4-channel M63 RGBW delivers over 410 total lumens of combined red, green, blue and white light output. The compact 6.3mm x 6.3mm dimensions enable the M63 RGBW to fit in a wide range of color-changing applications, including entertainment (stage lights, backdrops and spotlighting), large scale displays, and color-adjustable luminaires for building façade, wall washing or specialized interior luminaires.

BOE announced the 5.5 generation AMOLED production line to be established in the still under construction subsidiary Ordos BOE. The production line will be the first in China and second in the world to launch productions.

Penetration rates for flash LED in smartphone applications has already reached 100 percent. Ample business opportunities are attracting many within the industry. Main f lash LED driver specs have been 1000mA, 500mA, and 350mA in 2013. Industry insiders believe that LED development in 2014 will take on a M shape, with 1000mA leading the pack for high= voltage flash LED drivers and 350mA on top for low-current flash LED drivers.

The story behind LED development—only the 4th lighting technology developed in human history—is remarkable. The potential ahead of LED lighting to deliver real and measurable advantages—to save energy, last years longer, significantly lower bottom-line costs—is limitless.  But for it to be the next great defining feature of the lighting landscape, LED lighting needs to work.

With ‘modest progress’ and a ‘growing sense of realism’ being widely reported to sum up the mood at this year’s climate change talks, Philips is calling for renewed optimism and action. This is based on the energy savings impact the company is seeing from the implementation of energy efficient lighting technologies such as LED.

Rubicon Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:RBCN), a leading provider of sapphire substrates and products to the LED, semiconductor, and optical markets, today announced that Warren S. Stewart III has joined the Company as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, effective immediately. Mr. Stewart was formerly Vice President, Sales, at Cree, Inc., in Durham, North Carolina. He will provide leadership to Rubicon’s global sales and marketing team, reporting to Raja M. Parvez, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Soraa, the world leader in the development of gallium nitride on gallium nitride (GaN on GaN™) LED technology, announced today that it will open a new semiconductor fabrication plant in Buffalo, New York. In partnership with the State of New York, the company will construct a new state-of-the-art GaN on GaN™ LED fabrication facility that will employ hundreds of workers. The new facility is projected to be operational in 2015. Soraa currently operates an LED fabrication plant in Fremont, California, one of only a few in the U.S.

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