Vuzix announced that it is developing next generation product line of smart glasses powered by Micro LED technology that are expected to become available in 2021. (Image: Vuzix) The smart glasses maker said that the Micro LED-based product line will include middle-end consumer-facing product and a higher end enterprise version with built-in cellular connectivity. (Image: Vuzix) Micro LED will be used as projectors for the smart glasses to deliver high density pixel arrays with both monochrome and full color solution. The glasses will also feature a larger field...

Mini LED backlight display technology is going to be adopted by Apple and Samsung for tablets and TVs launching next year. Meanwhile, we have seen several Micro LED technology breakthroughs recently with AUO, PlayNitride and ITRI showcasing their prototypes for innovative applications. To speed up Micro/Mini LED display technology, integration within the supply chain is a major strategy recognized by industry players. Epistar and Lextar, the two Taiwan-based LED chip manufacturers, are merging with the aim to leverage their expertise and avoid duplicated ...

Signify and ScaleAQ join forces in a global strategic partnership for sustainable Aquaculture solutions, to optimize feed conversion in the most efficient way and contribute to the food challenges the world is facing. Together the two companies will improve fish welfare, production and yield for fish farmers by providing an optimal light spectrum, light distribution and control system so farmers can customize the light recipes to their specific needs. Optimal lighting improves fish welfare and results in a better feed conversion ratio and lower maturation rate. It also protects fi...

Osram announced the expansion of its automotive LED portfolio, launching a new generation of 1 to 4-chip versions in the Oslon Compact PL product family. The company also reported settlement with its contract manufacturer Lextar. The new version of the Oslon Compact PL products feature ceramic components with an electrically insulated pad that makes it much easier to dissipate heat from the package. The design enables a higher current to allow the 1-chip version to achieve an outstanding brightness value of 395 lumens at 1A with a chip area of 1mm². Sized small as 1...

A new deal announced by Heliospectra, a Sweden based horticulture lighting technology provider, unveiled a new approach for achieving urban farming with LED grow lights. (Image: Heliospectra) Heliospectra reported that it has received an order from BBL Construction, who operates as a general contractor in the fields of commercial and institutional construction. According to Heliospectra, the two business partners are going to apply their expertise for several projects. The partnership might indicate that LED grow light and vertical farming facilities are now consi...

Planar announced the launch of its new outdoor LED display product, the Planar HRO Series. The Planar HRO Series expands the company’s portfolio of LED display solutions with a high brightness, fine pixel pitch LED offering that is built for close-up daylight video viewing. The Planar HRO Series delivers impactful visual experiences for audiences even in direct sunlight. (Image: Planar) Planar HRO Series features some of the finest pixel pitches available for outdoor LED displays, 1.5 mm and 1.9 mm. The fine pixel pitch paired with 3,500 nit ...

Allegro MicroSystems (Allegro) announced the acquisition of Voxtel, a company specializing in advanced photonic and 3D imaging technology including LiDAR. With the acquisition, Allegro aims to integrate Voxtel’s expertise in laser and imaging to enhance ADAS technology. Voxtel experts in photonics and has provided solutions for military, space, automotive and surveillance applications. Its ultra-miniature lasers, read-out integrated circuits (ROICs), and near-infrared (NIR) and short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) photodetectors are supported by more than 3...

University of Texas at Dallas researchers and their international colleagues have developed a method to create Micro LEDs that can be folded, twisted, cut and stuck to different surfaces. The research, published online in the journal Science Advances, helps pave the way for the next generation of flexible, wearable technology. The research team created a detachable Micro LED with flexibility, aiming to fulfill the growing demand for bendable, wearable electronics. Researchers develop the flexible LED through a technique called remote epitaxy. To make it detachable, res...

Accelerating the development of new display technologies is the goal for worldwide display manufacturers and some of them have decided to sell or buy new facilities as a move to approach their target. Samsung Display has sold its LCD factory in China to Chinese display maker CSOT, a company under TCL group, to further cut down its LCD capacity, which goes in line with Samsung’s plan to quit LCD business. By ending its LCD panel production, Samsung aims to expand its development in QD displays and OLED displays. The Korean giant has also reportedly t...

In early 2020, TrendForce forecasted the release of more than 10 high-end smartphone models equipped with 3D sensing solutions this year, which would drive up 3D sensing VCSEL revenue* to US$1.404 billion. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on global smartphone shipment, and the Indian consumer market exhibited strong demand for entry-level and mid-range smartphone models, smartphone brand vendors have subsequently slowed down their pace of integrating 3D sensing solutions into high-end models. TrendForce is revising its forecasted 3D sensing VCSEL (fo...

Lumileds released a small and powerful new color LED, LUXEON Rubix, which is designed to deliver maximum flux at drive currents up to 3A and unmatched design flexibility. With LUXEON Rubix, engineers are freed from the design constraints of pre-configured modules and can create custom arrays with smaller optics supporting smaller size luminaires. (Image: Lumileds) “LUXEON Rubix introduces a size and power ratio that has never before existed for color LEDs,” said LP Liew, Product Marketing Manager at Lumileds. “Think of LUXEO...

After years of investment on UV LED R&D, Seoul Viosys has become one of the leading UV LED companies in the world. The company covers products with full range of wavelengths and its UVA LED and UVC LED products are taking leading positions in the industry. As COVID-19 epidemic keep sweeping the world, awareness of public health and health management has increased significantly. Many consumers and branding vendors have also begun to pay much attention to UVC LED-related products with disinfecting functions. According to “TrendForce 2020...

Nichia, the Japan-based leading LED manufacturer, has been dedicated to innovation of LED technology for a wide range of applications. LEDinside had an opportunity to interview Yoshihiko Naito, Deputy General Manager of Nichia’s Hong Kong subsidiary to learn more about the upgraded technology progress of Nichia in UVC LED. Naito indicated that the wavelength of mercury lamp is concentrated at 254nm, but it will only produce up to 70% UVC. However, UVC LED is designed for a single wavelength emission, which produces 100% UVC without wasting pow...

The pandemic urged many countries to face the issue of food security as the lockdowns have posed threats to areas replying heavily on food import. Food production based on agri-tech demonstrates a feasible solution for the problem. For example, a new vertical farm in Abu Dhabi is going to launch in September to supply fresh veggies for the UAE. The vertical farm company, Smart Acres, has set the vertical farming facilities based on LED lighting and IoT technology in Abu Dhabi at the Armed Forces Officers Club. The company collaborated with a Korean company “...

As the launch of iPhone 12 is approaching, more rumors about the new Apple product were unveiled. Las week, a new Apple leak said that LiDAR sensor is “confirmed” for iPhone 12 Pro Max. Apple predictor Jon Prosser uploaded a video and share a few alleged screenshot of iPhone 12. One of the picture demonstrate the option of “Enable LiDAR CA,” indicating that LiDAR will be featured for the new iPhone. (Image: Jon Prosser's Twitter post) This will not be the first time Apple adopting the sensor component in its product. Th...

Micro LED technology developers from Taiwan unveiled their latest progress in quantum dots (QD) color conversion and wafer production. Lextar introduced its progresses in reliable QD development to realize full color Micro LED displays while PlayNitride shared its achievement of 6-inch Micro LED epitaxial wafers with advanced uniformity. (Image: screenshot from PlayNitride video) Lextar, a vertical integrated LED company based in Taiwan, shared that the company has been working on deploying QD color conversion technology on Micro LED display. Since M...

The ultimate display technology Micro LED has improved significantly in wafer technology, full color performance and mass transferring recently. Taiwan-based industry players have shared their insights of the technology at an industry gathering last week. Jennifer Y-C Lin, Senior Associate Vice President of AUO, indicated that Micro LED will be a key technology to drive innovative applications in the era of 5G connection and IoT, especially as the world heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She explained that in addition to excellent display performance,...

Japan Display (JDI) is going to sell its LCD plant in Hakusan, Japan, to Sharp and Apple, so that the Japanese display maker can pay off its debt to Apple. The total transfer price is estimated to be JPY 71 billion (US$ 672 million). (Image: JDI) The plant will be transferred to Sharp, who is also a display supplier of Apple, by the end of September. With the transaction, Sharp will take over most of the debt of JDI which JDI borrowed from Apple when building the plant. The plant was originally built for supplying LCD panels for iPhone. But S...

ScoreVision and Samsung Electronics America announced their partnership to give teams new tools for creating professional game-time experiences for fans everywhere. Pairing Samsung’s line of LED displays with ScoreVision’s integrated platform of scoring, video capture, and fan engagement software gives teams the tools they need to provide a professional game-time experience both inside and outside of their venues. This partnership also empowers teams to explore new revenue streams by monetizing their LED displays using ScoreVision’s advertising technolo...

In addition to support autonomous driving technology, LiDAR is also adopted for scientists to reach deeper into the underwater world. A research published in Applied Optics presented an approach to detect algae and measure key properties using LiDAR, which reached deeper than has been typically possible using satellites. (Image: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences) "The LiDAR approach has the potential to fill some important gaps in our ability to measure ocean biology from space," said Collister, a PhD student at Old Dominion University. "T...

Signify and EDZCOM, the Nordic market leader in Edge Connectivity, will join forces to introduce Trulifi by Signify, two-way wireless network connectivity through infrared and visible light, into industrial applications. The partnership will apply to Signify’s LiFi solutions, branded Trulifi, in the manufacturing industries. (Image: EDZCOM/Signify) Trulifi uses infrared and visible light waves to enable a highly reliable, secure two-way wireless communication at speeds far above most conventional wireless technologies. Trulifi offers immunity to interfe...

Germany-based euroLighting introduced two new broadband LEDs, GW3535U and GW1919U (COB), featuring a special spectrum for stimulating plant growth. The LEDs are focused only on specific plant species or growth phase, but can be widely used for vertical farm and more. . Modelled on sunlight, the plant LEDs reproduce the complete light spectrum and generate all wavelengths for each growth phase. This contrasts with LEDs, which only produce a violet spectrum of red and blue wavelengths. They cover the needs of the plant throughout its entire life cycle and thus con...

Daktronics announced fiscal 2021 first quarter results. The company registered net sales of US$143.6 million, operating income of $9.5 million, and net income of $7.5 million, and earnings per diluted share of $0.17. Net sales decreased by 20.3% in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2020. Net sales decreased in all business units. The change in sales primarily relates to fluctuations and related conversion to sales. Some shipping and on-site delays continue to be caused by COVID-19 related work restrictions or customer delays in readin...

As the COVID-19 pandemic is still posing a threat to worldwide communities, UVC light incorporated products for disinfection are becoming more and more popular. Common applications include upper-room UVC disinfection integrated with lighting fixtures or air cleaners, UVC light embedded robots, UVC light boxes and other portable disinfecting products. These UVC light disinfecting products usually deploy either mercury lamps or LEDs as light source. Currently, mercury lamps are more widely adopted for disinfecting products given its lower production cost and highe...

The Singapore company OTSAW who launched UVC LED based disinfecting robot announced that the product’s efficacy has been tested using high concentrations of live samples of human Coronavirus flown from the United States. Based on results and tests carried out by A*STAR completed on August 21st, the robot demonstrated a 99.9% efficacy for disinfection within 5 minutes at a working distance of 2.5 meters. . (Image: OTSAW) The robot O-RX was built in-house by OTSAW and is equipped with a 360-degree camera and LiDAR sensors integrating AI...

The ISELED Alliance welcomed three new members to intensify the ISELED technology for automotive applications. Two German companies Marquardt, Preh and a Finland-based company TactoTek joined the open, industrial alliance developing a comprehensive system solution for innovative automotive lighting based on the ISELED technology. So as of August 2020, the ISELED Alliance consists of (in alphabetic order): Allegro MicroSystems, Brightek, Cemm Thome, designLED, Dominant Opto Technologies, Dräxlmaier, Dr. Schneider, Elmos, Everlight, ...

2021 is expected to be the year that Mini LED will illuminate the display market. Apple is getting ready to launch the new iPad Pro featuring Mini LED backlight display and Samsung will probably debut new high end TV portfolio based on the technology. Recently a Korean media added that Samsung might produce about 2 million units of Mini LED backlit TV next year. With all the upcoming Mini LED display applications, the supply chain in Taiwan covering LED manufacturers and panel makers who have been dedicating to improving the display technology based on mini...

Innolux hosted 2020 new product premiere yesterday and presented a 55-inch rollable Mini LED emissive display featuring active matrix (AM) driving technology. The panel maker also introduced new display products targeting health and entertaining applications. The rollable display adopts flexible PCB backplane and features high curvature, brightness, contrast and saturation. However, Innolux did not reveal further details such as resolution for the product. Comparing to the rollable OLED panel LG demonstrated before, Innolux claimed that direct emissive Mini LE...

Sharp’s mass production plan for Micro LED displays marked a progress of the Foxconn Group in next-gen display technology development. Incorporates LED chip production, packaging technology, panel manufacture and TV brands, the Foxconn Group is known for its ambition to set up an internal Micro LED supply chain. The Micro LED displays developed by Sharp, a 0.38-inch full color panel featuring 1053 PPI and a 0.13-inch blue display with 3000 PPI, were designed by the semiconductor group under Foxconn and manufactured by Sharp Fukuyama Semiconductor. ...

German LiDAR sensor company Ibeo Automotive Systems announced that it will begin delivery of its new ibeoNEXT LiDAR sensor starting in October 2020. The sensor is based on a completely new type of photon laser measurement technology and works completely without moving parts (real solid-state). One of the key component of the product is VCSEL provided by AMS. (Image: Ibeo) Developed in-house by Ibeo and manufactured in accordance with automotive series production standards, the new LiDAR sensor is suitable for driver assistance systems as well as for a...