Museums around the world are swapping conventional lights in favor of LEDs to protect famous paintings from being damaged by light exposure, according to a Wired report.

Chinese LED manufacturer Honglitronic recently announced the company will release 300 million non-public offering shares to raise RMB 725 million (US $116 million). The purposes of this round of financing is mainly for the construction of SMD LED manufacturing facilities, acquiring 49% of Liangyou Hardware’s shares, and increasing bonds payable and circulating capital.

Chinese LED manufacturer Mason Technologies intends to acquire OML Technology for RMB 30 million (US $4.8 million). According to Mason Technologies, about RMB 28.2 million will be used to increase capital, while RMB 27.1 million will be used as additional paid-in capital. At the same time, the company will undergoes transfer of share. Mason Technologies will be securing 22% of OML shares through the acquisition.

The LED industry is gradually maturing in 2015, with products cost/performance (C/P) ratio becoming increasingly important. Low and mid-power flip chip products are increasingly valued by the industry. To further understand this trend LEDinside recently interviewed Lattice Power Chief Technology Officer Hanmin Zhao.

While lasers were invented in 1960 and are commonly used in many applications, one characteristic of the technology has proven unattainable. No one has been able to create a laser that beams white light.

Vivid Bike Lock is a wearable LED strip that lets bikers to be seen by other road occupants and also functions as lock that secure bicycle when needed.

Apple’s HomeKit development has been progressing at a sluggish pace, due to the company’s high security standards and specific identity chip requirements, reported MacRumors and other technology media reports.

The DesignLights Consortium™ program and trademarks are assets to the DLC, its members and stakeholders. The July 2015 issue of the DLC Industry Update states the following: "It has come to our attention that 49 manufacturers have misrepresented the nature of their products to the DLC during the application process and were able to obtain DLC qualification for products that employ screw bases. Under current requirements, the DLC specifically excludes products that employ screw bases from qualification.

Cleveland, the most populous city in Ohio, U.S. will be rolling out a major streetlight upgrade, according to a report by Associated Press (AP).

Growing vegetables in greenhouses extends crop production seasons in northern latitudes, but the greenhouse environment is far from ideal for providing plants with optimal photosynthetic light. In fact, available photosynthetic daily light in greenhouses can be reduced by up to 50% or more by the structures' glazing material, superstructure, and shading. In northern latitudes, low light is considered the most limiting environmental factor in greenhouse vegetable production.

Audi is presenting its next step in automotive lighting technology at the IAA in Frankfurt. The new Matrix OLED lights enable a previously unattainable level of lighting homogeneity, opening up further creative opportunities for design.

Different types of smart LED lighting solutions have taken the spotlight at lighting exhibitions these years. There has been a heated discussion about whether smart lighting’s entry in the market. Bestselling smart lighting products in China are not necessarily those with the best quality, and are often average quality. The fact that they are manufactured in China also doesn’t excite consumers.

A research team from Beijing Tsing Hua University has made a groundbreaking graphene LED that is capable of color tuning to most colors under the visible spectrum, according to a Phys.org report.

LED package manufacturer Everlight and Japan’s largest LED manufacturer Nichia initiated patent wars in Japan, Taiwan, Germany, U.S. and other countries for the past decade, reported Chinese-language magazine Money Weekly. Nichia is one of the top five global LED manufacturers, and spending largely on patent lawsuits against Everlight.  The reason behind these tactics is patents are the only arsenal left for LED Japanese manufacturers that are falling behind Taiwanese and Chinese counterparts production expansion.

Chinese LED manufacturer Leyard intends to expand its business in the Indian market by investing in Indian LED manufacturer MIC Electronics, according to a report from Indian newspaper The Economic Times.

The growing influence of the Industrial Internet (which connects the physical and digital worlds) is leading to designs that combine LED with wireless sensors and data-transmitting technology. When used in a ‘smart city’ environment, this kind of infrastructure is capable of far more than just lighting, providing real safety benefits for citizens. Examples of successful use of LED for safety purposes have been already implemented in cities such as Bauru in Brazil and La Garrotxa in Spain.

Columbia University’s ultraviolet (UV) light technology has been licensed to USHIO Inc., a Tokyo-based developer, manufacturer, and marketer of light sources and instruments.

Everlight, one of the global leading manufacturers of LED lighting components, joined the Taiwanese municipality’s tender as both system integrator and LED light bulb supplier. With a goal of replacing 8,000 mercury vapor street lights with LED, Everlight deployed Billion’s Narrowed-Band Power Line (NPLC) Control and Management System to overcome the difficulties of inconvenient installation and elongated construction. Everlight was not only able to meet the municipality’s target by saving up a considerable amount of energy, but also provide instant maintenance service to broken street lights and increase traffic safety.

When driving the high-revving, 526-horsepower Shelby GT350®Mustang, drivers would do best to keep eyes on the road.

Heliospectra AB a lighting manufacturer for plant research and greenhouse cultivation, and American Cannabis Company, a full-service cannabis industry consultant and provider of proprietary and preferred products, have successfully sold one of the largest LED cultivation installations in the world to a Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. cannabis licensee. 

INDYCAR announced today the introduction of new technology that will track each Verizon IndyCar Series car’s running position and display it in real time via light emitting diode (LED) panels on the side of each racecar. The LED panels have been tested multiple times this season and will be implemented in time for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on Aug. 2.

Litecool have shown promising results for new LED package design that gives focused light beams with no secondary optics or reflectors.

Yale startup Saphlux has found a way to significantly advance LED technology and recently received US $100,000 in funding from the YEI Innovation Fund, backed by Yale, Connecticut Innovations and First Niagara Bank, as well as an additional $100,000 from Elm Street Ventures. Saphlux is building the next generation of LED chip designed by Jung Han, Professor and Chair of Electrical Engineering at Yale. Chen Chen (SOM ’16) was paired with Han by the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute (YEI) and is currently developing the venture as part of a 10-week YEI Fellowship.

Apple is objecting to bankrupt GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) financing plans, saying the terms would undermine the settlement the two companies reached last year, reported Re/code.

Ford is developing advanced lighting technology that enables drivers to more easily see potential hazards when driving at night Camera-Based Advanced Front Lighting System widens beam at junctions and roundabouts after interpreting traffic signs GPS-enabled system uses forward-facing camera to remember roadways and direct lighting to help drivers better see bends in the road – effectively lighting the way home on previously travelled routes Spot Lighting uses infra-red camera to detect pedestrians, cyclists, and animals, and highlight the potential hazards; system can detect up to eight potential hazards and highlight two highest priorities using specially designed headlights and on-screen display

To capitalize on the growing interest in cadmium-free quantum dot (CFQD) technology within the lighting industry, Nanoco Group announced the formation of a new division dedicated to furthering CFQD® Quantum Dot technology in the lighting industry. The new division is part of the company’s business expansion strategy to accelerate commercialization and further development in its four key target markets – electronic display, LED lighting, biological imaging and solar power. Nanoco’s Torsten Schanze will lead the division as its General Manager.

In response to Nichia Corporation’s press release posted on July 16, 2015, Everlight clarifies that all claims of Nichia’s EP 936682 (DE 69702929) patent have been declared invalid by the German Federal Patent Court. The infringement action on this patent has been stayed by the German Düsseldorf appellate court. 

A team of scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has found that blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) have strong antibacterial effect on major foodborne pathogens, and are most effective when in cold temperatures (between 4°C and 15°C) and mildly acidic conditions of around pH 4.5.

Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting, today announced that Hubbell Lighting, a division of Hubbell Incorporated has joined its LED Luminaires and Retrofit Bulbs Licensing Program. Through membership of its open Licensing Program, Hubbell Lighting, Inc. will benefit from Philips’ patented and leading-edge innovations in LED control and system-level technologies.

To protect investors rights, San’an Opto suspended trade on the Chinese bourse on July 8, 2015, due to the uncertain outcome of an important company decision that potentially could have impacted its stock performance. The company explained the trade suspension was to ensure all information was transparent, open and fair.