Molex has solved the challenge of backlighting capacitive keys on a curved surface for user-interface designers. Molex PEDOT Clear Conductive Sensors are flexible translucent conductive circuits printed on a polyester substrate that can be implemented on three-dimensional surfaces, allowing for more elaborate designs and greater design freedom. Translucent PEDOT sensors can be used in space-restricted applications where previous methods of backlighting (light guide film or side fire LEDs) are impractical.

Digi-Key Electronics, a global electronic components distributor, was awarded ON Semiconductor's "2016 Distributor of the Year, Global High Service Distributor" Award at the 2017 EDS Banquet in Las Vegas, NV. The award was presented by Jeff Thomson, VP Global Channel Sales at ON Semi and given to David Stein, VP, Global Semiconductor of Digi-Key.

Phoseon will showcase the latest UV LED curing solutions for printing applications at the upcoming TopCon & IMDA Symposium 2017 event in Lincolnshire, IL. Visit the Phoseon exhibit to learn how Phoseon LED technology is a perfect fit for printing applications due to the compact size, ease of integration, and high intensity output achieved through optimized LED thermal management. 

Cree, Inc. announced that Chairman, President and CEO Chuck Swoboda will step down from his executive positions and as a member of the Board of Directors following a transition period.  Mr. Swoboda intends to stay on until a successor is appointed, and thereafter will remain available as a consultant to the Company to ensure a seamless transition of leadership responsibilities.

For a natural day light effect, a modish set of Luminaries comprising an assortment of Lumibright Spotlights, Track Lights, Panel Lights, Surface Profiles and Cove Lighting Corner Profiles were installed for ample illumination in the Sharjah Urban Planning Council (SUPC) New Government Office at Al Hind Towers, Sharjah.

Corning Incorporated announces Samsung Display’s selection of Corning Lotus™ NXT Glass as the carrier glass for its line of polyimide (PI) low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels, which today power the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Nike continues to bring running to a new level, this time with the world’s first LED running track. Built by BBH Singapore, a global advertising agency, the “Unlimited Stadium” is a giant reimagined pop-up arena taking over an entire city block in Manila, Philippines.

PixelDisplay is introducing Vivid Color™ technology, a new approach to improve the quality of the display experience, on smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs, VR, AR, and digital signage. Retaining the key benefits of (inorganic) LEDs, and extending to include:

Buster + Punch take their lighting to unexpected yet stylish levels with their HEAVY METAL Pendant and LED BUSTER Bulb. A London-born home fashion label that works with unusual, solid materials to make extraordinary items for everyday use, Buster + Punch's custom lighting fuses unique design and attitude to light up any room in the home from the kitchen to the bathroom and even the home bar area. Buster + Punch's striking British-infused lighting makes a design statement for all.

Merkury Innovations, designers of personal electronics and accessories that combine technology, aesthetics, and value, announced Google Assistant compatibility for its line of Geeni smart bulbs and smart plugs, building on its existing Amazon Alexa compatibility. Included is Geeni offering the first smart surge protector that works with Google Assistant to turn on or turn off each individual device plugged into the power strip.

From 2011 to 2015, the global LED general lighting market undoubtedly underwent the most dramatic changes. LED lighting technologies witnessed unprecedented advancements during these 5 years, contributing to expanded range of applications: from indicator lights to lighting fixtures; from lighting fixtures to outdoor landscape lighting; and from display backlighting to general lighting. LEDs have been invincible and grabbed the market shares of incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, and HID lamps.

Ultratech, Inc., a major supplier of lithography, laser­ processing and inspection systems used to manufacture semiconductor devices and high-brightness LEDs (HBLEDs), as well as atomic layer deposition (ALD) systems, announced that it has received a multiple system follow-on order for its LSA101 dual-beam laser spike anneal (LSA) systems. 

2017 marks an important year for Apple as it plans to release its new Apple Watch alongside the highly-anticipated next generation iPhone to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Although the tech giant has kept a low profile regarding the innovations it will bring to the market, there have been numerous rumors circulating around the devices already.

LIGHTFAIR International (LFI) 2017 is held by Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). This year is LFI's 25th anniversary. LFI is currently the largest international lighting expo in the USA and attracts the most amount of visitors among international lighting expos. LFI is held once per year, and it takes turns being held in New York City, Philadelphia, and Las Vegas. LFI is the grand event of luminaire industry in the North America.

ABCOMRENTS reports a highly successful venture at the ExhibitorLive 2017 tradeshow and event marketing conference, held March 12-16 in Las Vegas. The technology solutions rental company was part of the Exhibit Hall and saw its' Innovate 4K Digital Kiosk highlighted in the event's New Product Showcase.        

LIGHTFAIR International (LFI) 2017 began on May 9th. Among the exhibitors, FSP, ranked as 10th power device supplier globally, provides smart & highly efficient, highly reliable, and customizable products & services. FSP would like to attract more manufacturers to collaborate together.

H5 Data Centers, a national colocation and wholesale data center provider, announced the receipt of Xcel Energy’s 2016 Data Center Efficiency Award. Xcel Energy recognized H5’s sustainability leadership through its $15 million energy efficiency and infrastructure improvement upgrades at its Denver data center campus. The energy-efficient investments resulted in the annual reduction of 3.2 million kwh – the equivalent reduction of over 1,850 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year.

New Product Introduction: liniLED® 316 S/S Curved Handrail new curved profile, with a 15 foot or greater radius, joins innovative handrail system that integrates specification-grade liniLED Top, linear LED strips, within high-quality design stainless-steel handrails.

Power Iluminare has recently joined efforts with Fortius Electromecanica to create a joint venture to supply public lighting for the next 18 years to Zapopan, a city with a population of 1.2 million. The contract for the project has a net worth of more than USD $238,751,010 and will include the installation, maintenance and operation of over 70,000 streetlights.

Higher efficiency, increased power density, smaller footprints and reduced system costs: these are the main advantages of transistors based on silicon carbide (SiC). Infineon Technologies AG is starting volume production for the EASY 1B, the first full-SiC module announced during PCIM 2016. On the occasion of this year’s PCIM in Nuremberg, the company is showcasing additional module platforms and topologies for the 1200 V CoolSiC™ MOSFET family. Infineon is now able to bring the potential of SiC technology to a new level.

Production Resource Group LLC, (PRG), a major provider of entertainment and event technology solutions, announced that a new product innovation along with the application of an industry-first technology solution – SPACEFRAME™ and a 4K Broadcast Camera System – have been integrated into the design, production and operations for the U2 The Joshua Tree Tour 2017. Both solutions demonstrate PRG's dedication to innovating products that anticipate the needs of tour managers, designers and artists seeking to push boundaries and deliver a more immersive concert experience onsite or virtually.

Epson announced it has enhanced its Carson, Calif. Demo Center with the addition of the new SurePress® L-6034VW. The Epson Demo Center provides potential customers and dealers an opportunity to see and experience the complete lineup of Epson's label and packaging printing solutions. With the addition of the SurePress L-6034VW, both prime labels and flexible packaging capabilities will now be on display.

Chroma ATE Inc. CEO Leo Huang received the Distinguished Enterprise Innovation Award, the highest honor available from the 5th Industrial Innovation Award during the awards ceremony held on April 21. Leo Huang expresses his gratitude towards the Evaluation Committee from the 5th Industrial Innovation Award for awarding Chroma this honor, "This award also belongs to all members of Chroma who have devoted their long effort in developing innovative testing solutions."

The global custom and state-of-the-art lighting market is seeing a uptick in activity in the market as a result of latest advancements in lighting technology and applications. The market is witnessing rapid advancements as well as uses for lighting technologies, while the LED lighting technologies dominated the market in terms of revenue contribution in 2016. Lighting solutions and advancements in the market of note this week include: AV1 Group, Inc., Cree Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V, Amazon.com, Inc., General Electric.

WitsView, a division of TrendForce, reports shipments of LCD TV sets for the first quarter of 2017 came to 44.05 million units, a decrease of 31% from the prior quarter and a year-on-year decline of 8.4%. Poor sales results in China during the Chinese New Year holiday period was a major factor behind the year-on-year shipment drop.

ON Semiconductor, driving energy efficient innovations, has introduced an advanced synchronous rectifier (SR) controller optimised for LLC resonant converter topologies. The FAN6248 requires minimal additional components, delivers high efficiency, eases thermal management, improves overall system reliability, and simplifies the design of LLC power supplies.

Gas Sensing Solutions (GSS) Ltd, the LED-based NDIR detector specialists, continues to push the boundaries for CO2 detectors with the launch of its new SprintIR6S.  GSS’ unique SmartIR™ technology has enabled it to create a sensor that can take up to 20 readings per second, which is a world record for NDIR CO2 detectors, and has a six times faster response rate than the current SprintIR*.  

Tridonic is expanding its range of dimmable LED modules for spotlights and downlights with the SLE SUNSET EXC. SUNSET’s light colour creates a particularly intimate atmosphere and comes very close to reproducing the familiar light of an incandescent lamp. SUNSET is the fourth member of the SLE EXC series following FOOD, ART and FASHION. It allows the manufacturer to showcase its expertise in special light spectra and special light colours on a COB (chip-on-board) basis.

Lumileds today announced that George Craford, Lumileds Solid State Lighting Fellow, was selected for the IEEE Edison Medal for “a lifetime of pioneering contributions to the development and commercialization of visible LED materials and devices.” Craford will be presented with the medal at the IEEE Honors Ceremony in San Francisco on May 25, 2017, during the IEEE Vision, Innovations, and Challenges (IEEE VIC) Summit.

DELO has introduced a new adhesive for optoelectronic applications. DELO DUALBOND OB786 is particularly suited for fixing components within seconds while ensuring precision and high strength. After an irradiation time of less than one second, the build-up of adhesion is already significant; after five seconds, the compression shear strength on glass even reaches 18 MPa. The adhesive also ensures good adhesion to other typical optoelectronic substrates such as aluminum, FR4, PPS, or LCP.