Taiwanese IC driver manufacturer Macroblock has successfully developed LED drivers for small pitch displays, and is eyeing driver solutions for an innovative display technology next year, reported China Post.

German MOCVD manufacturer Aixtron and Chinese investor Grand Chip Investment are determined to complete the acquisition business transaction despite objections raised by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

U.S. LED manufacturer Cree has filed a lawsuit against another LED competitor MaxBrite over design patent and trademark infringement last week, reported Triangle Business Journal.

Boston Electronics Corporation (BEC), a leader in the distribution and advanced electro-optical products and solutions, announces a new partnership with Nikkiso USA.  This partnership combines Boston Electronics’ presence in the ultraviolet (UV) market with Nikkiso’s advanced ultraviolet light emitting diode products (UV-LED).  Under the new agreement BEC will distribute Nikkiso’s UV-LED products into the North American market.

NIPSCO announced plans to convert existing street lights to LED)technology through its LED Street Light Program. NIPSCO-owned street lights will be changed at no additional cost to participating communities. This program is the first of its kind in Indiana.

Rayvio CIO Yitao Liao has launched an Indigogo campaign to finance the launch of portable medical grade UV LED sterilizer, Ellie.

Latest developments in Germany this week are making a Chinese investor takeover of Osram, and the outlook of the approval of IDG Capital consortium’s acquisition of LEDVANCE appear rather dim. Germany’s biggest labor union has become one of the latest advocates against a Chinese merger of Osram, as it seeks to keep factory jobs and others in the country.

Since early November, many Chinese carton factories began to reject new orders or restrict orders. The situation has been ongoing till now, with factories in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai areas responded the most. As many as 18 local large and medium-sized carton factories issued emergent notices of the rise in price on the single day of November 12. Paper suddenly became in short supply. Carton factories couldn’t buy base paper even with cash in hand, causing a chain reaction of the entire manufacture industry.

Apple is asking some of its key iPhone suppliers including Foxconn and Pegatron to shift production to U.S. following President Donald Trump’s policies promoting “made in America,” reported Nikkei Asian Review.

For the first time, researchers have created light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on lightweight flexible metal foil.

Exiting from cut-throat price competitions in the blue LED lighting segment, LED epitaxial wafer and chip manufacturer Arima Optoelectronics (Arima) has halted manufacturing of blue LED chips altogether and shifted to AlGaInP production, reported DIGITIMES.

Philips Photonics, a wholly owned business of Royal Philips announced that it is doubling capacity at its laser-diode facility in Ulm, Germany, to provide the key components for some of the latest developments in data communication, consumer sensing and industrial thermal processing.

Littelfuse  announced that Gordon Hunter, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman, effective Jan. 1, 2017. Dave Heinzmann, Chief Operating Officer, will assume the position of President and Chief Executive Officer at that time and will join the company’s board of directors, bringing the size of the board to eight members.

Last night at the Printed Electronics USA conference in Santa Clara, Calif., Kateeva’s YIELDjet™ FLEX inkjet printing system was named the winner of the prestigious Technical Development Manufacturing Award. Presented annually by conference organizer IDTechEx, the award honors the most significant development of a manufacturing device process or production plant in the printed electronics industry over the previous 24 months. In particular, manufacturing developments that optimize the process of lab-scale or mass-scale production by improving productivity, quality, reliability, uniformity, or scale.

Philips Lighting, a global leader in lighting, has created a sneak preview of what urban life could be like in 2030, in a future-gazing virtual reality experience. At Smart Cities Expo World Congress in Barcelona today, Philips Lighting Research unveiled a picture of how connected lighting technology will play a key part in underpinning the smart cities we can expect to inhabit in just over a decade. 

Star Li, a senior application engineer at NXP automotive solid-state lighting team explains how automotive lighting systems can be designed using multi-phase driver IC in headlamp lighting controls.

Marktech Optoelectronics, a supplier of visible, infrared, and SWIR LED products, introduces its latest series of high-reliability metal can packages, which incorporate Cree's robust LED die. Cree combines highly efficient InGaN materials with proprietary substrates to deliver superior performance for high-intensity LEDs. Marktech's metal can packages, offered in different heights and lensing options, are available for single or multichip die configurations, depending on the application needs.

Joining the A5 model line, the all-new Audi A5 and S5 Sportback will make their US debut at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show. Featuring the distinctive Sportback body style, first introduced on the successful A7 model line, and generous interior space, the five-door coupe is a sporty yet functional choice for customers.

EarthTronics, dedicated to developing innovative energy efficient lighting products that provide a positive economic and environmental impact for its customers, offers a new line of EarthBulb filament LEDs as an energy-efficient solution for replacing incandescent decorative and general service bulbs for home, hospitality, restaurant, and commercial locations.

The value of the global market for disinfection reaches US $ 500 billion with applications across residential market, medical and industrial areas. The emergence of energy-efficient products and policy of mercury prohibition contribute to the high value of disinfection industry, enabling deep UV LED products one of market strategy in entering niche markets. Epileds, an UV and IR LED chip and High Power Lighting, manufacturer of LED packages and modules are optimistic about the potential DUV LEDs hold. The two companies reached agreement to actively develop and deploy a Taiwan-based DUV LED supply chain. Epileds and High Power Lighting announced at a product conference at the end of 2016 the joint venture company named Bioraytron. The joint company will enable vertical integration of DUV LED applications, starting from epitaxy to LED chip manufacturing while focusing on the sales of UV-C LED packages and modules.

The LED market’s downturn resulted in net losses for certain manufacturers, such as Taiwanese LED die manufacturer Genesis Photonics Inc., leading to rumors that it is on the brink of a shutdown, reported Apple Daily.

Apple’s developments in the market are a hot topic in the technology industry, market rumors that next generation iPhones would be using OLED displays ushered in a large wave of investments in the sector in China. OLED, which was a niche market product, became a hot commodity this year because of Apple’s interest in adapting the technology in next-generation iPhones.

The European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC) and China Solid State Lighting Alliance (CSA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen their partnership, reported Novus Lighting.

Exhibition Title: 9th Light-Tech Expo - Int'l Exhibition for LED/OLED Technology & Application 

Air-conditioning systems can be breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses, particularly if they are not cleaned regularly. What’s more, air conditioning systems can distribute these pathogens throughout the entire room. With Air Zing 2020 from Osram, a UV light based retrofit solution for window air conditioning units these germs and organisms are being effectively combated for the first time. The UV light produced by the device covers the air and the heat exchanger within the air conditioning system, deactivating organisms such as mold, bacteria and viruses.

On Oct.19, 2016 and Oct. 28, 2016, Nichia  filed a request for three preliminary injunctions in Germany at the Düsseldorf District Court against Everlight Electronics (“Everlight”), alleging that the white LED products “334-15/X1C5-1QSA”, „334-15/T2C2-1TVB“ and „XI3535-KT577J1-03201-000P“ manufactured by Everlight and distributed in Germany infringe Nichia's YAG patent EP 936 682 (DE 697 02 929).

Philips Lighting, a global leader in lighting, presented a new connected lighting project that transforms Madrid’s landmark office skyscraper Torre Europa into a smart, highly secure and connected office of the future. This is the first building in Spain to feature a Philips Power over Ethernet (PoE) connected office lighting system to allow office workers to personalize their office environment using their smartphones and building managers to optimize space utilization and building efficiency. 

Lighting Science announced a collaboration agreement with iHome, a division of consumer electronics manufacturer SDI Technologies. Under the terms of the two-year agreement, the two technology leaders will explore the incorporation of Lighting Science’s patented spectrum control technology into iHome’s Zenergy product line. The agreement also includes co-marketing provisions, including the endorsement of nationally-renowned sleep expert Dr. Michael J. Breus, who currently serves as a member of Lighting Science’s Scientific Advisory Board.

Vishay Intertechnology introduced a new high-brightness, tricolor LED optimized for interior automotive lighting, RGB displays, and backlighting. Featuring separate red, green, and blue LED chips inside the compact 3.5 mm by 2.8 mm by 1.45 mm PLCC-6 surface-mount package, the Vishay Semiconductors VLMRGB6112..enables individual control of each chip, making it possible to realize every color within the color room defined by the gamut triangle area inside the CIE 1931 color space through color mixing.

Transcend Lighting, leader in LED horticulture lighting, announced the release of its LED T8 bulb. The 4-foot long LED grow light is ideal for retrofit applications where fluorescent T8 bulbs are currently being used. The LED T8 uses about half the energy of fluorescent T8s, while providing the same light output. In addition, it incorporates Transcend’s patent-pending phosphor technology that provides customers with an emission spectra optimized for plant growth and production yield.