Over the last decade, advances in the technology of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, have helped to improve the performance of devices ranging from television and computer screens to flashlights. As the uses for LEDs expand, scientists continue to look for ways to increase their efficiency while simplifying how they are manufactured. 

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.

The Module-Driver Interface Special Interest Group (MD-SIG) released its new specification for a universal electrical interface between LED lighting modules and power supplies, according to an Electronic Weekly report.

MEAN WELL has been involved in the LED power supply field for years. Many models, such as CLG, HLG and HLG-C series, with the supreme product specification and high reliability, have been extensively exploited in various kinds of outdoor or indoor luminaire applications. In order to cope with the intense competition in LED lighting market, MEAN WELL is now introducing the ELG family, the optimal price-performance ratio model with a highly competitive pricing.

To help fulfill its social brand promise of sustainability and efficiency, Standard Chartered chose CommScope’s Redwood® building intelligence platform to achieve significant energy savings, improve workplace experience and capture advanced occupancy data within two new office buildings in Asia.

Versatile Fixtures Bring Intelligent LED Lighting to New Environments Digital Lumens, the leader in intelligent LED lighting systems, today unveiled the industry’s first high bay to offer both direct and indirect lighting capabilities in a single fixture, as well as LightRules 2.11, a new release of the company’s award-winning lighting and energy management software.

CSL® (Creative Systems Lighting), manufacturer of high performance, energy-efficient lighting solutions for commercial and residential projects, has released their newest Eco-Downlight offerings: 1", 3" and 5" LPD (Low Power Density) Eco-Downlights. Introduced at the June Dallas Market, the new LPDs round out CSL’s Eco-Downlight collections. As LEDs continue to become brighter and brighter you need less and less wattage per square foot. “Low Power Density” LEDs have the reliability and quality of CSL’s normal downlights in a smaller wattage package.

Bridgelux, a leading developer and manufacturer of solid state lighting (SSL) technologies, today announced it has entered a definitive agreement to be acquired by an investment group led by the China Electronics Corporation (CEC), and ChongQing Linkong Development Investment Company. Established in 1989, CEC controls 61 second-level subsidiaries, including 13 listed holding companies. With over 70,000 employees, CEC is one of the largest IT companies in China, with manufacturing facilities in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Changsha, and Xiamen. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

It has been two months since Chinese LED power manufacturer Moso halted trade on the Chinese bourse as it planned to acquire more financing on May 20, 2015.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in conjunction with Canada have recalled more than 1.62 million fluorescent lights made by Cooper Lighting over fire safety hazards.

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.

San’an Opto announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, Wuhu Anrui Opto (蕪湖安瑞光電), has signed the cooperation framework agreement with automaker BAIC Yinxiang Automobile on July 17, 2015.

Chinese LED manufacturer Yankong Lighting announced Monday, it received RMB 91.88 M (US $14.80 million) subsidy from China’s Ministry of Finance.

As part of its commitment to reduce energy consumption, the City of Oceanside recently installed more than 7,700 GE LED roadway fixtures equipped with a GPS-enabled controls system.

The National Lighting Product Information Program (NLPIP) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lighting Research Center (LRC) recently released its latest publication, Lighting Answers: Comparison of Wired and Wireless Lighting Controls for Single Rooms.

Sensity Systems, the pioneer of Light Sensory Networks (LSNs), has closed a private funding round of $36 million led by Cisco Investments and includes industry leaders Acuity Brands, GE Ventures and Simon Venture Group (corporate investment arm of Simon Property Group). Sensity has now raised a total of $74 million since its inception from venture investors Almaz Capital, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Radar Partners and Silver Creek Ventures, in addition to these four industry-leading lighting, networking and retail organizations. The investment will be used to scale Sensity’s NetSense platform and application developer program globally.

Lumileds launches the LUXEON 3535L Color Line, giving  builders of emergency vehicle lights, signs, color tunable bulbs and architectural lamps access to high quality, single color mid power LEDs in Red, Red-Orange, Phosphor-Converted (PC) Amber, Lime, Green and Blue. “The tremendous success our customers have had with our high power color emitters convinced us that multiple markets could benefit from similar colors in the mid power performance range” said David Cosenza, Product Manager for the LUXEON 3535L Color Line.

FLEXCurtain LED video screen finds a new application on “Brain Games” commercial   Working with production company Variable and design studio Meptik, the industry-leading lightweight, flexible PixelFLEX FLEXCurtain was selected for an application beyond traditional video use in a commercial for the National Geographic Channel. Featured as a futuristic, movable environment, eight panels of the PixelFLEX 100mm FLEXCurtain LED video screen were used to create a textured environment promoting the hit show “Brain Games.”

iFixit recent teardown of iPod touch 6 revealed the absence of sapphire covered lens, reported Apple Insider.

Shenzhen Kaifa Technology (Kaifa) announced its LED subsidiary Kaistar will be acquiring 100% shares of a major U.S. LED company for US $130 million recently, reported China’s Securities Daily.

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.

Designed to precisely and beautifully light small objects and spaces, Soraa, the world leader in GaN on GaNTM LED technology, launched today the first full visible spectrum 4-degree AR111 LED lamp. The IEC size standard, 6W AR111 4D LED lamp has outstanding peak intensity; flawless beam definition and edges; exceptional color (CRI of 95 and R9 of 95) and whiteness rendering; and is customizable with the company’s SNAP System.

Panasonic Corporation announced that it donated 3,000 solar lanterns to United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for use in Ebola affected regions. These lanterns have started to be distributed in 3 West African countries (Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone). Panasonic first donated 240 lanterns back in December 2014.

GlacialLight, the diversified LED technology provider, announces an emergency backup module for its PL0606 & PL0312 ceiling panel lights and an emergency light version of its TL0606 troffer light. The new GL-EM01F emergency backup module installs directly on the PL0606 and PL0312 panel lights and powers the emergency light version of the TL0606 troffer light, providing 90 minutes or more of constant-current power to keep these LED luminaires running in case of building power loss.

Recently, Spark Optoelectronics won the bidding of project of comprehensive LED lighting products for the third phase of Shenzhen metro line 7 depends on excellent R&D technological advantage and 15 years’ rich experience in LED lighting solution, which marks the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership between Spark Optoelectronics and Shenzhen metro.  

British electronica trio Years and Years are touring summer festivals and venues with an ingenious bespoke LED strip screen mapped by an Avolites Ai Infinity EX8 server.

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. 

Nichia is taking a very strong approach in its latest legal actions taken against Everlight. After announcing the German court has asked Everlight from refraining from using misleading or untruthful interview content about Nichia’s YAG patent status, the company followed up by enforcing its new YAG patent against Everlight in Germany a day later.

A new white LED patent which covers, among others, YAG phosphors has been granted by the European Patent Office in favor of Nichia Corporation ("Nichia"), namely EP 2 197 053.